During World War II, German submarines took advantage of a unique ocean physics aspect to navigate the Strait of Gibraltar unnoticed by the British army. By entering the Mediterranean, they would rise into shallower waters, shutting off their engines to be carried along by the current. Submarines wanting to transition to the Atlantic would dive into deeper waters, also relying on their buoyancy to cross the threshold silently. This maneuver demonstrated the intriguing relationship between water density and marine navigation.
The Mediterranean Sea's connection to the Atlantic has been vital for its marine ecosystem. A recent study reveals that this crucial exchange was severed six million years ago, leading to widespread marine life extinction. The Mediterranean, once teeming with biodiversity, faced a stark transformation after this separation. When the Strait of Gibraltar reopened, the remaining marine life differed drastically from what had thrived prior, introducing long-lasting ecological changes that still influence the Mediterranean today.
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