As its name suggests, Mediterranean vegetation is mostly found in Mediterranean Europe. Similar vegetation is also found in some parts of the Americas, such as California and Chile, where the vegetation type is called chaparral.

In many areas, especially in Europe, the original Mediterranean vegetation has vanished as the result of human habitation and agriculture.

The vegetation zone is characterized by a long and hot summer that is balanced out by a short, temperate winter.

The plants of the Mediterranean vegetation zone have adapted to these climatic conditions with small, wax-covered leaves. These kinds of leaves prevent water from evaporating during the hot summer. Dry areas are dominated by shrubs, whereas regions that receive more rainfall are characterized by forests.


A typical Mediterranean landscape. The long, thin cypresses are characteristic to Mediterranean vegetation.​