Countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, or at least those parts of them that are climatically influenced by the Mediterranean—for example, the southeastern thirds respectively of France and Spain, most of Italy, all the southern Balkans and much of Turkey. Only a narrow fringe of the coast and mountains of North Africa is truly Mediterranean. The Mediterranean climate is characteristically mild and wet in winter but hot and dry in summer. Similar climates in other parts of the world, notably California, western South Africa and coastal southern Australia are often termed ‘Mediterranean’.