Mediterranean Water that leaves the Alboran Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar below a depth of 150 m, penetrating the North Atlantic Central Water in the Gulf of Cadiz. Initially, Gibraltar outflow water is advected by a turbulent contour current. It transforms into a neutrally balanced middepth flow at between 700 and 1200 m south of the Algarve coastline (south Portugal). Also called a Mediterranean Water tongue, its high salt content is caused by the arid climate of the European Mediterranean Sea.