The Balkans are bordered by the Ionian Sea on the southwest.
=== Current ===In other languages of the region, the region is known as:Slavic languages:Bulgarian and Macedonian:  , transliterated: Balkanski PoluostrovBosnian, Montenegrin and Serbian: Balkansko poluostrvo /  Bosnian and Croatian: Balkanski poluotokSlovene: Balkanski polotokRomance languages:Aromanian: Peninsula Balcanic or BalcaniRomanian: Peninsula Balcanic or BalcaniItalian: Penisola balcanica or BalcaniOther languages:Albanian: Gadishulli Ballkanik and Siujdhesa e BallkanitGreek:  , transliterated: Valkaniki chersonisosTurkish: Balkan Yarmadas or Balkanlar== Definitions and boundaries ===== Balkan Peninsula ===The Balkan Peninsula is bounded by the Adriatic Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea (including the Ionian and Aegean seas) and the Sea of Marmara to the south and the Black Sea to the east
Balkan countries control the direct land routes between Western Europe and South-West Asia (Asia Minor and the Middle East)

