Southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Caspian Sea

CaspAndyskoe mOre(Caspian) is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth. In size, the Caspian Sea is much larger than lakes such as Superior, Victoria, Huron, Michigan, and Baikal. According to formal characteristics, the Caspian Sea is an endorheic lake. However, given his big sizes, brackish waters and a regime similar to the sea, this body of water is called the sea.

According to one hypothesis, the Caspian Sea (among the ancient Slavs – the Khvalynsk Sea) received its name in honor of the Caspian tribes who lived BC on its southwestern coast.

The Caspian Sea washes the shores of five states: Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

The Caspian Sea is elongated in the meridional direction and is located between 36°33΄ and 47°07΄ N latitude. and 45°43΄ and 54°03΄ E. (without Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay). The length of the sea along the meridian is about 1200 km; average width – 310 km. The northern coast of the Caspian Sea is bordered by the Caspian lowland, the eastern coast by deserts Central Asia; in the west the Caucasus Mountains approach the sea, in the south the Elburz ridge stretches near the coast.

The surface of the Caspian Sea is located significantly below the level of the World Ocean. Its current level fluctuates around -27...-28 m. These levels correspond to a sea surface area of ​​390 and 380 thousand km 2 (without the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay), a water volume of 74.15 and 73.75 thousand km 3, average depth approximately 190 m.

The Caspian Sea is traditionally divided into three large parts: the Northern (24% of the sea area), the Middle (36%) and the Southern Caspian (40%), which differ significantly in morphology and regime, as well as the large and isolated Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay. The northern, shelf part of the sea is shallow: its average depth is 5–6 m, maximum depths are 15–25 m, the volume is less than 1% of the total water mass of the sea. The Middle Caspian is an isolated basin with an area of ​​maximum depths in the Derbent depression (788 m); its average depth is about 190 m. In the South Caspian, the average and maximum depths are 345 and 1025 m (in the South Caspian depression); 65% of the sea's water mass is concentrated here.

There are about 50 islands in the Caspian Sea with a total area of ​​approximately 400 km2; the main ones are Tyuleniy, Chechen, Zyudev, Konevsky, Dzhambaysky, Durneva, Ogurchinsky, Apsheronsky. The length of the coastline is approximately 6.8 thousand km, with islands - up to 7.5 thousand km. The shores of the Caspian Sea are diverse. In the northern and eastern parts they are quite rugged. Here are the large bays of Kizlyarsky, Komsomolets, Mangyshlaksky, Kazakhsky, Kara-Bogaz-Gol, Krasnovodsky and Turkmensky, many bays; off the west coast - Kyzylagachsky. The largest peninsulas are Agrakhansky, Buzachi, Tyub-Karagan, Mangyshlak, Krasnovodsky, Cheleken and Apsheronsky. The most common shores are accumulative; areas with abrasion shores are found along the contour of the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea.

Over 130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, the largest of which are the Volga , Ural, Terek, Sulak, Samur, Kura, Sefidrud, Atrek, Emba (its flow enters the sea only in high-water years). Nine rivers have deltas; the largest are located at the mouths of the Volga and Terek.

The main feature of the Caspian Sea, as an endorheic reservoir, is instability and a wide range of long-term fluctuations in its level. This most important hydrological feature of the Caspian Sea has a significant impact on all its other hydrological characteristics, as well as on the structure and regime of river mouths and coastal zones. In the Caspian Sea level varied in the range of ~200 m: from -140 to +50 m BS; at -34 to -20 m BS. From the first third of the 19th century. and until 1977, sea level dropped by about 3.8 m - to the lowest level in the last 400 years (-29.01 m BS). In 1978–1995 The level of the Caspian Sea rose by 2.35 m and reached -26.66 m BS. Since 1995, a certain downward trend in level has been dominant - to -27.69 m BS in 2013.

During major events, the northern coast of the Caspian Sea shifted to the Samara Luka on the Volga, and perhaps further. During maximum transgressions, the Caspian Sea turned into a drainage lake: excess water flowed through the Kuma-Manych depression into the Sea of ​​Azov and further into the Black Sea. During extreme regressions, the southern coast of the Caspian Sea shifted to the Absheron threshold.

Long-term fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea are explained by changes in the structure of the water balance of the Caspian Sea. Sea level rises when the incoming part of the water balance (primarily the water flow of rivers) increases and exceeds the outgoing part, and decreases if the inflow river waters is shrinking. The total water flow of all rivers averages 300 km 3 /year; while the five largest rivers account for almost 95% (the Volga gives 83%). During the period of the lowest sea level, in 1942–1977, the river flow was 275.3 km 3 /year (of which 234.6 km 3 /year was the Volga runoff), precipitation - 70.9, underground flow - 4 km 3 /year, and evaporation and outflow into the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay are 354.79 and 9.8 km 3 /year. During the period of intense sea level rise, in 1978–1995, - respectively 315 (Volga - 274.1), 86.1, 4, 348.79 and 8.7 km 3 /year; in the modern period - 287.4 (Volga - 248.2), 75.3, 4, 378.3 and 16.3 km 3 /year.

Intra-annual changes in the level of the Caspian Sea are characterized by a maximum in June–July and a minimum in February; the range of intra-annual level fluctuations is 30–40 cm. Surge level fluctuations occur throughout the sea, but they are most significant in the northern part, where, with maximum surges, the level can rise by 2–4.5 m and the edge “retreat” by several tens kilometers inland, and during surges it will drop by 1–2.5 m. Seiche and tidal level fluctuations do not exceed 0.1–0.2 m.

Despite the relatively small size of the reservoir, there is strong excitement in the Caspian Sea. Highest altitudes waves in the Southern Caspian Sea can reach 10–11 m. Wave heights decrease in the direction from south to north. Storm waves can develop at any time of the year, but they are more frequent and more dangerous in the cold half of the year.

In the Caspian Sea as a whole, wind currents predominate; Nevertheless, in the estuary coastal zones of large rivers, runoff currents play a significant role. In the Middle Caspian, cyclonic water circulation predominates, in the Southern Caspian - anticyclonic. In the northern part of the sea, patterns of wind currents are more irregular and depend on the characteristics and variability of the wind, bottom topography and coastal contours, river flow and aquatic vegetation.

Water temperature is subject to significant latitudinal and seasonal changes. In winter, it varies from 0–0.5 o C at the ice edge in the north of the sea to 10–11 o C in the south. In summer, the water temperature in the sea averages 23–28 o C, and in shallow coastal waters in the Northern Caspian Sea it can reach 35–40 o C. At depths, a constant temperature is maintained: deeper than 100 m it is 4–7 o C.

In winter, only the northern part of the Caspian Sea freezes; in severe winter - the entire Northern Caspian and coastal zones of the Middle Caspian. Freeze-up in the Northern Caspian lasts from November to March.

Water salinity changes especially sharply in the northern part of the sea: from 0.1‰ at the mouth shores of the Volga and Ural to 10–12‰ on the border with the Middle Caspian. In the Northern Caspian Sea, the temporal variability of water salinity is also great. In the middle and southern parts of the sea, salinity fluctuations are small: it is generally 12.5–13.5‰, increasing from north to south and from west to east. The highest water salinity is in the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay (up to 300‰). With depth, water salinity increases slightly (by 0.1–0.3‰). The average salinity of the sea is about 12.5‰.

More than a hundred species of fish live in the Caspian Sea and the mouths of the rivers flowing into it. There are Mediterranean and Arctic invaders. The fish species are goby, herring, salmon, carp, mullet and sturgeon. The latter include five species: sturgeon, beluga, stellate sturgeon, thorn and sterlet. The sea can produce up to 500–550 thousand tons of fish annually, if overfishing is not allowed. Of the marine mammals, the endemic Caspian seal lives in the Caspian Sea. 5–6 million waterfowl migrate through the Caspian region annually.

The economy of the Caspian Sea is associated with oil and gas production, shipping, fishing, seafood, various salts and minerals (Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay), using recreational resources. The explored oil resources in the Caspian Sea amount to about 10 billion tons, the total resources of oil and gas condensate are estimated at 18–20 billion tons. Oil and gas production is carried out on an ever-increasing scale. The Caspian Sea is used and by water transport, including along the river-sea and sea-river routes. The main ports of the Caspian Sea: Astrakhan, Olya, Makhachkala (Russia), Aktau, Atyrau (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Noushehr, Bandar-Anzeli, Bandar-Torkemen (Iran) and Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan).

Economic activities and hydrological features of the Caspian Sea create a number of serious environmental and water management problems. Among them: anthropogenic pollution of river and sea waters (mainly with petroleum products, phenols and surfactants), poaching and reduction of fish stocks, especially sturgeon; damage to the population and coastal economic activities due to large-scale and rapid changes in the level of the reservoir, the impact of numerous dangerous hydrological phenomena and hydrological-morphological processes.

The total economic damage for all Caspian countries associated with the rapid and significant recent rise in the level of the Caspian Sea, the flooding of part of the coastal land, and the destruction of coastlines and coastal structures, amounted to an estimated amount of 15 to 30 billion US dollars. Urgent engineering measures were required to protect the coast.

A sharp drop in the level of the Caspian Sea in the 1930s–1970s. resulted in less damage, but it was still significant. Navigable approach channels became shallow, the shallow seaside at the mouths of the Volga and Ural became heavily overgrown, which became an obstacle to the passage of fish into the rivers to spawn. Fish passages had to be built through the mentioned seashores.

Among the unresolved problems is the lack of an international agreement on the international legal status of the Caspian Sea, the division of its waters, bottom and subsoil.

The Caspian Sea is the object of many years of research by specialists from all Caspian states. Such domestic organizations as the State Oceanographic Institute, the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, the Caspian Research Institute of Fisheries, the Faculty of Geography of Moscow State University, etc. took an active part in the study of the Caspian Sea.

Caspian lake is one of the most unique places on the ground. It keeps many secrets related to the history of the development of our planet.

Position on physical map

The Caspian Sea is an internal drainage salt Lake. The geographical location of the Caspian Lake is the continent of Eurasia at the junction of parts of the world (Europe and Asia).

The length of the lake shoreline ranges from 6500 km to 6700 km. Taking into account the islands, the length increases to 7000 km.

The coastal areas of the Caspian Lake are mostly low-lying. Their northern part is cut by the channels of the Volga and Ural. The river delta is rich in islands. The surface of the water in these areas is covered with thickets. Large areas of land are swampy.

East Coast The Caspian Sea is adjacent to the On the shores of the lake there are significant deposits of limestone. The western and part of the eastern coasts are characterized by a winding coastline.

The Caspian Lake is represented on the map by its considerable size. The entire territory adjacent to it was called the Caspian region.

Some characteristics

The Caspian Lake has no equal on Earth in terms of its area and volume of water. It stretches from north to south for 1049 kilometers, and its longest length from west to east is 435 kilometers.

If we take into account the depth of the reservoirs, their area and volume of water, then the lake is comparable to the Yellow, Baltic and Black Seas. According to the same parameters, the Caspian Sea surpasses the Tyrrhenian, Aegean, Adriatic and other seas.

The volume of water available in the Caspian Lake is 44% of the supply of all lake waters on the planet.

Lake or sea?

Why is the Caspian Lake called a sea? Was it really the impressive size of the reservoir that became the reason for assigning such a “status”? More precisely, this became one of these reasons.

Others include the huge mass of water in the lake, the presence of large waves during stormy winds. All this is typical for real seas. It becomes clear why the Caspian Lake is called a sea.

But one of the main conditions that must exist in order for geographers to classify a body of water as a sea is not mentioned here. We are talking about a direct connection between the lake and the World Ocean. Exactly this condition The Caspian does not correspond.

Where the Caspian Lake is located, several tens of thousands of years ago a depression was formed in earth's crust. Today it is filled with the waters of the Caspian Sea. According to scientists, at the end of the 20th century, the water level in the Caspian Sea was 28 meters below the level of the World Ocean. The direct connection between the waters of the lake and the ocean ceased to exist approximately 6 thousand years ago. The conclusion from the above is that the Caspian Sea is a lake.

There is one more feature that distinguishes the Caspian Sea from the sea - the salinity of its water is almost 3 times lower than the salinity of the World Ocean. The explanation for this is that about 130 large and small rivers carry fresh water to the Caspian Sea. The Volga makes the most significant contribution to this work - it “gives” up to 80% of all water to the lake.

The river played another important role in the life of the Caspian Sea. It is she who will help find the answer to the question of why the Caspian Lake is called a sea. Now that man has built many canals, it has become a fact that the Volga connects the lake with the World Ocean.

History of the lake

Modern look and geographical position The Caspian Lake is caused by continuous processes occurring on the surface of the Earth and in its interior. There were times when the Caspian Sea was connected to Sea of ​​Azov, and through it with the Mediterranean and Black. That is, tens of thousands of years ago the Caspian Lake was part of the World Ocean.

As a result of processes associated with the rise and fall of the earth's crust, mountains appeared that are located on the site of the modern Caucasus. They isolated a body of water that was part of a huge ancient ocean. Tens of thousands of years passed before the basins of the Black and Caspian Seas separated. But for a long time the connection between their waters was carried out through the strait, which was on the site of the Kuma-Manych depression.

Periodically, the narrow strait was either dried up or filled with water again. This happened due to fluctuations in the level of the World Ocean and changes in the appearance of the land.

In a word, the origin of the Caspian Lake is closely connected with the general history of the formation of the Earth's surface.

Yours modern name The lake received its name from the Caspian tribes who inhabited the eastern parts of the Caucasus and the steppe zones of the Caspian territories. Throughout the history of its existence, the lake has had 70 different names.

Territorial division of the lake-sea

The depth of the Caspian Lake is very different in different places. Based on this, the entire water area of ​​the lake-sea was conditionally divided into three parts: the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian.

Shallow water is the northern part of the lake. The average depth of these places is 4.4 meters. The highest level is 27 meters. And on 20% of the entire area of ​​the Northern Caspian the depth is only about a meter. It is clear that this part of the lake is of little use for navigation.

The Middle Caspian has the greatest depth of 788 meters. The deep-water part is occupied by lakes. The average depth here is 345 meters, and the greatest is 1026 meters.

Seasonal changes at sea

Due to the large length of the reservoir from north to south climatic conditions Lakes on the coast are not the same. Seasonal changes in the areas adjacent to the reservoir also depend on this.

In winter on south coast lakes in Iran, the water temperature does not fall below 13 degrees. During the same period, in the northern part of the lake off the coast of Russia, the water temperature does not exceed 0 degrees. The Northern Caspian is covered with ice for 2-3 months of the year.

In summer, almost everywhere the Caspian Lake warms up to 25-30 degrees. Warm water, excellent sandy beaches, and sunny weather create excellent conditions for people to relax.

Caspian Sea on the political map of the world

There are five states on the shores of the Caspian Lake - Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

The western regions of the Northern and Middle Caspian Sea belong to the territory of Russia. Iran is located on southern shores sea, it owns 15% of the entire coastline. The eastern coastline is shared by Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Azerbaijan is located in the southwestern territories of the Caspian region.

The issue of dividing the lake’s waters between the Caspian states has been the most pressing for many years. The heads of five states are trying to find a solution that would satisfy everyone's needs and requirements.

Natural resources of the lake

Since ancient times, the Caspian Sea has served as a water transport route for local residents.

The lake is famous for valuable fish species, in particular sturgeon. Their reserves account for up to 80% of the world's resources. The issue of preserving the sturgeon population is of international importance; it is being resolved at the level of the government of the Caspian states.

The Caspian seal is another mystery of the unique sea-lake. Scientists have still not fully unraveled the mystery of the appearance of this animal in the waters of the Caspian Sea, as well as other species of animals of northern latitudes.

In total, the Caspian Sea is home to 1,809 species of different groups of animals. There are 728 species of plants. Most of them are “indigenous inhabitants” of the lake. But there is a small group of plants that were brought here intentionally by humans.

Of the mineral resources, the main wealth of the Caspian Sea is oil and gas. Some information sources compare the oil reserves of the Caspian Lake fields with those of Kuwait. Industrial sea mining of black gold has been carried out on the lake since the end of the 19th century. The first well appeared on the Absheron shelf in 1820.

Today, governments unanimously believe that the region cannot be viewed only as a source of oil and gas, while leaving the ecology of the Caspian Sea without attention.

In addition to oil fields, in the Caspian region there are deposits of salt, stone, limestone, clay and sand. Their production also could not but affect the ecological situation of the region.

Sea level fluctuations

The water level in the Caspian Lake is not constant. This is evidenced by evidence dating back to the 4th century BC. The ancient Greeks, who explored the sea, discovered big bay at the confluence of the Volga. The existence of a shallow strait between the Caspian and the Sea of ​​Azov was also discovered by them.

There are other data on the water level in the Caspian Lake. The facts suggest that the level was much lower than what exists now. The proof is provided by ancient architectural structures discovered on seabed. The buildings date back to the 7th-13th centuries. Now the depth of their flooding ranges from 2 to 7 meters.

In 1930, the water level in the lake began to decline catastrophically. The process continued for almost fifty years. This caused great concern among people, since all economic activity in the Caspian region is adapted to the previously established water level.

From 1978 the level began to rise again. Today he has become more than 2 meters higher. This is also an undesirable phenomenon for people living on the coast of the lake-sea.

The main reason affecting fluctuations in the lake is climate change. This entails an increase in the volume of river water entering the Caspian Sea, the amount of precipitation, and a decrease in the intensity of water evaporation.

However, it cannot be said that this is the only opinion that explains the fluctuation in water level in the Caspian Lake. There are others, no less plausible.

Human activities and environmental issues

The area of ​​the Caspian Lake's drainage basin is 10 times larger than the surface of the reservoir itself. Therefore, all changes occurring in such a vast territory in one way or another affect the ecology of the Caspian Sea.

Human activity plays an important role in changing the environmental situation in the Caspian Lake region. For example, pollution of a reservoir with harmful and dangerous substances occurs along with the influx fresh water. This is directly related to industrial production, mining and other human activities in the watershed.

State environment The Caspian Sea and adjacent territories are of general concern to the governments of the countries located here. Therefore, discussion of measures aimed at preserving unique lake, its flora and fauna, has become traditional.

Each state has an understanding that only through joint efforts can the ecology of the Caspian Sea be improved.

The Caspian Sea is located between Asia and Europe. This is the largest salt sea-lake, located on the territory of Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan. Currently, its level is 28 meters below the level of the World Ocean. The depth of the Caspian Sea is quite large. Reservoir area - 371 thousand square kilometers.

Story

About five million years ago, the sea divided into small bodies of water, including the Black and Caspian Sea. After these events they united and separated. About two million years ago, the Caspian Lake was cut off from the World Ocean. This period is considered the beginning of its formation. Throughout history, the reservoir has changed its contours several times, and the depth of the Caspian Sea has also changed.

Now the Caspian is the largest inland body of water, containing about 44% of the planet’s lake waters. Despite the changes taking place, the depth of the Caspian Sea did not change very much.

Once it was called Khvalian and Khazar, and the tribes of horse breeders gave it another name - Caspian. This is the name of the tribe living on the southwestern shore of the reservoir. In total, during its existence the lake had more than seventy names, here are some of them:

1. Abeskunskoe.
2. Derbent.
3. Saraiskoe.
4. Xihai.
5. Dzhurdzhanskoe.
6. Hyrcanian.

Depth and relief

The relief and features of the hydrological regime divide the sea-lake into northern, middle and southern parts. Over the entire area of ​​the Caspian Sea, the depth is on average 180-200 m, but the relief in different parts is different.

The northern part of the reservoir is shallow. Here the depth of the Caspian Sea-lake is approximately 25 meters. In the middle part of the Caspian there are very deep depressions, continental slopes, and shelves. Here the average depth is 192 meters, and in the Derbent depression - about 788 meters.

The greatest depth of the Caspian Sea is in the South Caspian depression (1025 meters). Its bottom is flat, and in the northern part of the depression there are several ridges. It is here that the maximum depth of the Caspian Sea is noted.

Coastline Features

Its length is seven thousand kilometers. The northern part of the coastline is lowland, there are mountains on the south and west, and hills on the east. The spurs of Elbrus and the Caucasus Mountains approach the shores of the sea.

The Caspian has large bays: Kazakh, Kizlyar, Mangyshlak, Kara-Bogaz-Gol, Krasnovodsk.

If you go on a cruise from north to south, the length of the route will be 1200 kilometers. In this direction, the reservoir has an elongated shape, and from west to east the width of the sea is different. At its narrowest point it is 195 kilometers, and at its widest it is 435 kilometers. The average width of the reservoir is 315 km.

The sea has several peninsulas: Mangyshlak, Buzachi, Miankale and others. There are also several islands here. The largest are Chygyl, Kur-Dashi, Gum, Dash, and Tyuleni Islands.

Pond food

About one hundred and thirty rivers flow into the Caspian Sea. Most of them flow in the north and west. Main river flowing into the sea is the Volga. Approximately ninety percent of the volume of runoff comes from three large rivers: the Volga (80%), Kura (6%) and Ural (5%). Five percent are from Terek, Sulak and Samur, and the remaining four are brought by small rivers and streams of Iran.

Caspian resources

The reservoir has amazing beauty, a variety of ecosystems and a rich supply of natural resources. When there are frosts in its northern part, magnolias and apricots bloom in the south.

Relict flora and fauna have been preserved in the Caspian Sea, including the largest school of sturgeon fish. As it evolved, the marine flora changed more than once, adapting to salinity and desalination. As a result, these waters became rich in freshwater species, but few in marine species.

After the Volga-Don Canal was built, new species of algae appeared in the reservoir, which were previously found in the Black and Azov Seas. Now in the Caspian Sea there are 854 species of animals, of which 79 are vertebrates, and over 500 species of plants. This unique sea-lake produces up to 80% of the catch of all sturgeon in the world and approximately 95% of the black caviar production.

Five species of sturgeon are found in the Caspian Sea: stellate sturgeon, thorn, sterlet, beluga and sturgeon. Beluga is the largest representative of the species. Its weight can reach a ton, and its length can be five meters. In addition to sturgeon, herring, salmon, kutum, roach, asp and other types of fish are caught in the sea.

Of the mammals in the Caspian Sea, only the local seal is found, which is not found in other bodies of water in the world. It is considered the smallest on the planet. Its weight is about a hundred kilograms, and its length is 160 centimeters. The Caspian region is a major route for bird migration between Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Every year, approximately 12 million birds fly over the sea during migration (south in spring and north in autumn). In addition, another 5 million remain in these places for the winter.

The greatest wealth of the Caspian Sea is its huge reserves of oil and gas. Geological exploration in the region has discovered large deposits of these minerals. Their potential puts local reserves in second place in the world after

, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan

Geographical position

Caspian Sea - view from space.

The Caspian Sea is located at the junction of two parts of the Eurasian continent - Europe and Asia. The length of the Caspian Sea from north to south is approximately 1200 kilometers (36°34"-47°13" N), from west to east - from 195 to 435 kilometers, on average 310-320 kilometers (46°-56° v. d.).

The Caspian Sea is conventionally divided according to physical and geographical conditions into 3 parts - Northern Caspian, Middle Caspian and Southern Caspian. The conditional border between the Northern and Middle Caspian runs along the line of the island. Chechen - Cape Tyub-Karagansky, between the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea - along the line of the island. Residential - Cape Gan-Gulu. The area of ​​the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian Sea is 25, 36, 39 percent, respectively.

Coast of the Caspian Sea

Coast of the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan

The territory adjacent to the Caspian Sea is called the Caspian region.

Peninsulas of the Caspian Sea

• Ashur-Ada
• Garasu
• Zyanbil
• Khara-Zira
• Sengi-Mugan
• Chygyl

Bays of the Caspian Sea

• Russia (Dagestan, Kalmykia and Astrakhan region) - in the west and northwest, the length of the coastline is about 1930 kilometers
• Kazakhstan - in the north, northeast and east, the length of the coastline is about 2320 kilometers
• Turkmenistan - in the southeast, the length of the coastline is about 650 kilometers
• Iran - in the south, the length of the coastline is about 1000 kilometers
• Azerbaijan - in the southwest, the length of the coastline is about 800 kilometers

Cities on the Caspian Sea coast

On the Russian coast there are cities - Lagan, Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Izberbash and the most Southern City Russia Derbent. Astrakhan is also considered a port city of the Caspian Sea, which, however, is not located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, but in the Volga delta, 60 kilometers from north coast Caspian Sea.

Physiography

Area, depth, volume of water

The area and volume of water in the Caspian Sea varies significantly depending on fluctuations in water levels. At a water level of −26.75 m, the area is approximately 371,000 square kilometers, the volume of water is 78,648 cubic kilometers, which is approximately 44% of the world's lake water reserves. The maximum depth of the Caspian Sea is in the South Caspian depression, 1025 meters from its surface level. In terms of maximum depth, the Caspian Sea is second only to Baikal (1620 m) and Tanganyika (1435 m). The average depth of the Caspian Sea, calculated from the bathygraphic curve, is 208 meters. At the same time, the northern part of the Caspian Sea is shallow, its maximum depth does not exceed 25 meters, and the average depth is 4 meters.

Water level fluctuations

Vegetable world

The flora of the Caspian Sea and its coast is represented by 728 species. The predominant plants in the Caspian Sea are algae - blue-green, diatoms, red, brown, characeae and others, and flowering plants - zoster and ruppia. In origin, the flora is predominantly of Neogene age, but some plants were brought into the Caspian Sea by humans deliberately or on the bottoms of ships.

History of the Caspian Sea

Origin of the Caspian Sea

Anthropological and cultural history of the Caspian Sea

Finds in the Khuto Cave off the southern coast of the Caspian Sea indicate that man lived in these areas approximately 75 thousand years ago. The first mentions of the Caspian Sea and the tribes living on its coast are found in Herodotus. Around the V-II centuries. BC e. Saka tribes lived on the Caspian coast. Later, during the period of settlement of the Turks, in the period of the 4th-5th centuries. n. e. Talysh tribes (Talysh) lived here. According to ancient Armenian and Iranian manuscripts, Russians sailed the Caspian Sea from the 9th-10th centuries.

Research of the Caspian Sea

Research of the Caspian Sea was started by Peter the Great, when, on his order, an expedition was organized in 1714-1715 under the leadership of A. Bekovich-Cherkassky. In the 1720s, hydrographic research was continued by the expedition of Karl von Werden and F. I. Soimonov, and later by I. V. Tokmachev, M. I. Voinovich and other researchers. At the beginning of the 19th century, instrumental surveys of the shores were carried out by I. F. Kolodkin, in the mid-19th century. - instrumental geographical survey under the direction of N. A. Ivashintsev. Since 1866, for more than 50 years, expeditionary research on the hydrology and hydrobiology of the Caspian Sea was carried out under the leadership of N. M. Knipovich. In 1897, the Astrakhan Research Station was founded. In the first decades of Soviet power, geological research by I.M. Gubkin and other Soviet geologists was actively carried out in the Caspian Sea, mainly aimed at searching for oil, as well as research into the study of water balance and level fluctuations in the Caspian Sea.

Economy of the Caspian Sea

Mining of oil and gas

Many oil and gas fields are being developed in the Caspian Sea. Proven oil resources in the Caspian Sea are about 10 billion tons, total oil and gas condensate resources are estimated at 18-20 billion tons.

Oil production in the Caspian Sea began in 1820, when the first oil well was drilled on the Absheron shelf near Baku. In the second half of the 19th century, oil production began on an industrial scale on the Absheron Peninsula, and then in other territories.

Shipping

Shipping is developed in the Caspian Sea. On the Caspian Sea there are ferry crossings, in particular, Baku - Turkmenbashi, Baku - Aktau, Makhachkala - Aktau. The Caspian Sea has a shipping connection with the Sea of ​​Azov through the Volga, Don and Volga-Don Canal rivers.

Fishing and seafood production

Fishing (sturgeon, bream, carp, pike perch, sprat), caviar production, as well as seal fishing. More than 90 percent of the world's sturgeon catch occurs in the Caspian Sea. In addition to industrial mining, illegal fishing of sturgeon and their caviar flourishes in the Caspian Sea.

Recreational resources

The natural environment of the Caspian coast with sandy beaches, mineral waters and healing mud in the coastal zone creates good conditions for recreation and treatment. At the same time, in terms of the degree of development of resorts and the tourism industry, the Caspian coast is noticeably inferior to the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. At the same time, in recent years, the tourism industry has been actively developing on the coasts of Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Russian Dagestan. In Azerbaijan, the resort area in the Baku region is actively developing. A world-class resort has now been created in Amburan, another modern tourist complex is being built in the area of ​​the village of Nardaran, holidays in the sanatoriums of the villages of Bilgah and Zagulba are very popular. A resort area is also being developed in Nabran, in northern Azerbaijan. However, high prices, a generally low level of service and a lack of advertising lead to the fact that there are almost no foreign tourists at the Caspian resorts. The development of the tourism industry in Turkmenistan is hampered by a long-term policy of isolation, in Iran - Sharia laws, due to which mass holidays of foreign tourists on the Caspian coast of Iran are impossible.

Ecological problems

Environmental problems of the Caspian Sea are associated with water pollution as a result of oil production and transportation on the continental shelf, the flow of pollutants from the Volga and other rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea, the life activity of coastal cities, as well as the flooding of individual objects due to rising levels of the Caspian Sea. Predatory production of sturgeon and their caviar, rampant poaching lead to a decrease in the number of sturgeon and to forced restrictions on their production and export.

International status of the Caspian Sea

Legal status of the Caspian Sea

After the collapse of the USSR, the division of the Caspian Sea has long been and still remains the subject of unresolved disagreements related to the division of Caspian shelf resources - oil and gas, as well as biological resources. For a long time, negotiations were ongoing between the Caspian states on the status of the Caspian Sea - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan insisted on dividing the Caspian along the median line, Iran insisted on dividing the Caspian by one-fifth between all Caspian states.

In relation to the Caspian Sea, the key is the physical-geographical circumstance that it is a closed inland body of water that does not have a natural connection with the World Ocean. Accordingly, the norms and concepts of international maritime law, in particular, the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of ​​1982, should not be automatically applied to the Caspian Sea. Based on this, in relation to the Caspian Sea it would be unlawful to apply such concepts as “territorial sea”, “exclusive economic zone", "continental shelf", etc.

The current legal regime of the Caspian Sea was established by the Soviet-Iranian treaties of 1921 and 1940. These treaties provide for freedom of navigation throughout the sea, freedom of fishing with the exception of ten-mile national fishing zones and a ban on vessels flying the flag of non-Caspian states sailing in its waters.

Negotiations on the legal status of the Caspian Sea are currently ongoing.

Delineation of sections of the Caspian seabed for subsoil use

The Russian Federation concluded an agreement with Kazakhstan on delimiting the bottom of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights to subsoil use (dated July 6, 1998 and the Protocol thereto dated May 13, 2002), an agreement with Azerbaijan on delimiting adjacent areas of the bottom of the northern part of the Caspian Sea (dated September 23, 2002), as well as the trilateral Russian-Azerbaijani-Kazakh agreement on the junction point of the demarcation lines of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea bottom (dated May 14, 2003), which established geographical coordinates dividing lines limiting the areas of the seabed within which the parties exercise their sovereign rights in the field of exploration and production of mineral resources.

Pearl unique beauty and identity is the Caspian Sea. This is a unique, the only enclosed body of water in the world with a fragile and invaluable ecosystem. Its uniqueness attracts world attention. The Caspian Sea is considered the largest inland body of water in the world, located at the junction of Asia and Europe. Poets, philosophers, historians, and geographers devoted a lot of their work to this amazing natural creation. Among them: Homer, Herodotus, Aristotle. The biological environment of the Caspian Sea is also unique. But first things first. We invite you to find out about the depth, level, location of this reservoir, which countries are washed by the Caspian Sea. Well, let's go...

Historical information

Many people are interested in where the Caspian Sea is located and the history of its origin. But few people know that it is of oceanic origin. Thirteen million years ago this place was the bottom of the ocean. As a result of natural disasters, the Alps arose and disconnected the Sarmatian Sea from the Mediterranean. 5 million years passed, and the Sarmatian Sea was divided into smaller bodies of water, which included the Black and Caspian Seas. The connection and division of waters continued for a long time. And so 2 million years ago the Caspian Sea was completely cut off from the World Ocean. This was the beginning of its formation. History confirms that during the period of its formation, the depth and area of ​​the Caspian Sea changed repeatedly.

Today the Caspian Sea is classified as the largest closed lake. Because of its enormous size, it is commonly called the sea. And also because it formed on the oceanic crust.

Today the Caspian makes up 44% of the planet's lake waters. Throughout its formation, different tribes and peoples gave the lake about 70 names. The Greeks called it Hyrcanian (Djurdzhanian) lake from the name of the city of Gorgan and the province of Hyrcania. The ancient Russians called it the Khvalyn Sea, from the name that lived in the coastal region of the Khvalis people. Arabs, Persians, Azerbaijanis, Turks, Crimean Tatars called it the Khazar Sea. Once upon a time, in the delta of the Kura River, which flows into the reservoir, there was an island and a city, after which it was called the Abeskun Sea. Later this city was flooded. There was also the name Saraiskoye Lake. In honor of the city of Derbant (Dagestan), it was called the Derbent Sea. There was also the name Sihai et al.

Geographical location

Many people want to know where the Caspian Sea is located on the map. This place is located at the junction of Europe and Asia. The physical and geographical conditions of the sea make it possible to divide it into three parts:

1. The share of the Northern Caspian occupies 25% of the reservoir.
2. The Middle Caspian zone has 36%.
3. The component of the southern part of the lake is 39%.

The Northern and Middle Caspian Sea separates the island of Chechen from Cape Tyub-Karagan. The Middle and Southern Caspian Sea shares Chilov Island with Cape Gan-Gulu.

The territory adjacent to the lake is called the Caspian region. The size of the Caspian Sea is amazing. Coastline stretches approximately 6,500 - 6,700 kilometers. The banks have a low and smooth structure. The northern part of the coastline is cut by water channels and islands of the Ural and Volga deltas. The banks are mostly low and swampy, covered with thickets. The east coast has a limestone structure. In the west the banks are very winding.

Relief and depth, area of ​​the Caspian Sea

These figures fluctuate constantly. As a result, they affect sea levels. The Caspian Sea thus changes the area and volume of water. If its level is 26.75 km, then its area is 371,000 km 2. What is the maximum and average depth of the Caspian Sea? In terms of maximum depth, it is second only to Baikal and Tanganyika. The maximum depth in the South Caspian depression is 1,025 m. The average depth of the Caspian Sea is helped to calculate the bathygraphic curve, which indicates a depth of 208 m. In the north, the reservoir is shallower - 25 m. The Middle Caspian has many deep depressions, continental slopes, shelves. Here the average depth reaches 192 m. The Derbent depression has a depth of 788 m.

The length of the lake from north to south is 1,200 km, and the width of the Caspian Sea from west to east is up to 435 km. The relief of the northern part of the lake is flat, with accumulative islands and banks. The southern part of the Caspian shelf is rich in shell sands and deep-sea areas with silty sediments. Sometimes there are bedrocks exposed here.

Peninsulas, islands and bays of the Caspian Sea

There are a number of large peninsulas located on the area of ​​the Caspian Sea. On the west coast, near Azerbaijan, is the Absheron Peninsula. It is here that the cities of Baku and Sumgait are located. On the eastern side (territory of Kazakhstan) is the Mangyshlak Peninsula. The city of Aktau was built here. It is also worth noting the following large peninsulas: Miankale, Tyub-Karagan, Buzachi, Agrakhan Peninsula.

The total area of ​​the large and medium-sized islands of the Caspian Sea is 350 km 2 . There are about 50 such islands. The largest and most famous are: Ashur-Ada, Garasu, Chechen, Chigil, Gum, Dash-Zira, Ogurchinsky, etc.

Such a huge body of water cannot exist without bays. The Agrakhan, Kizlyar, Mangyshlak, and Kazakh bays are famous. It is also worth remembering Kaydak Bay, Kenderli, Turkmen, Astrakhan, Hasan-Kuli, Anzeli.

The salt lake Kara-Bogaz-Gol is considered a special bay-lagoon of the Caspian Sea. In 1980, a dam was built that separates this strait from the Caspian Sea. Every year 8-10 km 3 of water flows from the Caspian Sea to Kara-Bogaz-Gol.

Which countries is washed by the Caspian Sea?

The Intergovernmental Economic Conference of the Caspian States established that five coastal countries wash the Caspian Sea. Which ones exactly? In the north, northeast and east it borders with Kazakhstan. The coastline is 2,320 km. Who does the Caspian Sea border on in the south? This is Iran with a coastline of 724 km. In the southeast is Turkmenistan with a coastline of about 1,200 km. The north-west and west of the Caspian Sea is occupied by Russia with a length of 695 km. Azerbaijan stretches for 955 km in the southwest. This is a kind of “Caspian Five”.

Coastline and nearby cities

Many cities, ports and resorts are located on the Caspian Sea. In Russia, the largest objects are considered to be: Kaspiysk, Makhachkala, Izberbash, Lagan, Dagestan Lights, Derbent. Astrakhan is the largest port city of the Caspian Sea, located in the Volga delta (60 km from the northern coast).

In Azerbaijan, Baku is considered the largest port city. Its location is at southern part Absheron Peninsula. The city is home to 2.5 million people. Sumgayit is located a little to the north. Lankaran is located near the southern border of Azerbaijan. In the southeast of the Absheron Peninsula there is an oil workers’ settlement - Neftyanye Kamni.

In Turkmenistan, on the northern shore of the Krasnovodsk Bay, the city of Turkmenbashi is located. Large resort this country is Avaza.

In Kazakhstan, the port city of Aktau was built near the Caspian Sea. To the north, in the delta of the Ural River is Atyrau. In Iran, on the southern coast of the reservoir, Bandar Anzeli is located.

Rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea

130 large and small rivers flow into the Caspian Sea. Nine of them have a deltoid opening. Among the largest rivers we highlight the Volga, Ural, Terek, Samur, Sulak, Emba, Kura, Atrek. The largest river flowing into the reservoir is the Volga. On average, 215-224 km 3 of water flows out of it per year. All of the above rivers replenish the annual water supply of the Caspian Sea by 88-90%.

Currents, flora and fauna of the Caspian Sea

For those who are interested in where the Caspian Sea flows, the answer is already clear - it is a closed body of water. The water circulates in it thanks to winds and drains. Most of the water flows into the Northern Caspian, so northern currents circulate there. These intense currents carry water to west coast Absheron Peninsula. There the current changes into two branches - one moves parallel to the western shore, the other - to the eastern.

The fauna of the Caspian basin is represented by 1810 animal species. 415 of them are representatives of vertebrates. About 100 species of fish swim in the Caspian Sea, and a large number of sturgeon live here. Freshwater fish are also found here, including pike perch, carp, and roach. There are also a lot of carp, mullet, sprat, kutum, bream, salmon, perch, and pike in the sea. It is worth remembering another inhabitant - the Caspian seal.

The flora of the Caspian Sea and coastal zone includes 730 species. It is important to note that the reservoir is overgrown with blue-green, diatoms, red, brown, and chara algae. The most common flowering algae are ruppia and zoster. The age of the Caspian flora dates back to the Neogene period. Many plants entered the Caspian Sea with the help of ships or conscious human actions.

Research works

Between 285 and 282 BC. Greek king Seleuko I ordered the geographer Patroclus the Macedonian to explore the Caspian Lake. Later this work was continued by order of Peter the Great. For this purpose, an expedition was specially organized, led by A. Bekovich-Cherkassky. Later, research was continued by the expedition of Karl von Werden. The following scientists also studied the Caspian Sea: F.I. Simonov, I.V. Tokmachev, M.I. Voinovich.

At the end of the 19th century, instrumental coastal survey was carried out by I.F. Kolodkin, later - N.A. Ivashentseva. During the same period, N.M. studied the hydrology and hydrobiology of the Caspian Sea for 50 years. Knipovich. The year 1897 was marked by the founding of the Astrakhan Research Station. At the beginning of the Soviet era, the Caspian was studied by I.M. Gubkin and other geologists. They aimed their work at searching for oil, studying the aquatic environment, and changes in the level of the Caspian Sea.

Economic sphere, shipping, fishing

Many gas and oil deposits have been found in the Caspian Sea. Scientists have proven that there are about 10 billion tons of oil resources here, and together with gas condensate - 20 billion tons. Since 1820, oil production began on the Absheron shelf, near Baku. Then oil production began on an industrial scale in other areas. Oil production from the bottom of the Caspian Sea began in 1949, at Neftyanye Kamni. Mikhail Kaverochkin was involved in drilling the long-awaited oil well. In addition to oil and gas, salt, limestone, stone, sand, and clay are mined in the Caspian Sea.

Shipping is also given a lot of attention here. Ferry crossings operate constantly. The most famous directions: Baku - Aktau, Makhachkala - Aktau, Baku - Turkmenbashi. The Caspian Lake is connected to the Sea of ​​Azov through the Don, Volga and Volga-Don Canal.

Local residents catch sturgeon, bream, carp, pike perch, and sprat in the waters of the sea. People here are engaged in seal fishing and caviar production. Unfortunately, in this reservoir you can also encounter illegal sturgeon fishing and caviar extraction. Popular are the flounder and mullet caught here, different types shrimp. Sturgeon fish here feed on the Nereis worm, which was specially brought to the Caspian Sea. The “Five” countries of the Caspian Sea, washed by its waters, specially organize fish breeding and spawning farms.

In the northern shallow waters, sturgeon are most abundant, especially near Russia. It is worth listing the sterlet, beluga, sturgeon, thorn, and stellate sturgeon that live there. Many people like to catch carp species: bream, roach, asp. Many catfish, grass carp, and silver carp live here. There are more small inhabitants in the Caspian Sea than large ones. In the south of the lake, herring winter and spawn. Fishing in the Caspian Sea is allowed all year round, except April - May. It is allowed to use fishing rods, spinning rods, donks and other devices.

Most people choose for fishing in Russia Astrakhan region. Fishing for some sturgeon is temporarily prohibited here, but you can catch pike, catfish, and pike perch. In spring, sabrefish and rudd often bite here. In Kalmykia, industrial fishing is carried out in Lagan. Large specimens of carp are found here. Often fishermen have to spend the night right in their boats. The water in these areas is very clear, so spearfishing is used.

Holidays on the Caspian Sea

Sandy beaches, mineral waters, healing mud of the Caspian coast are a good help for treatment and relaxation. The tourism industry and resorts here are not as developed as on the Black Sea, but there are many people who want to relax. It is at a fairly popular level in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Russian Dagestan. Azerbaijan has developed resort area near Baku. They just relax here, mostly. local residents, foreign tourists lack a sufficient level of service and good advertising.

The Russian coast is mainly located in Dagestan. Potential tourists are afraid to come here. But the beauty of the Caspian Sea is simply mesmerizing! It is here that you can admire the waves with gray scallops, the bitter salinity of the dark water, and small shells on the shore. Holidays on the Caspian Sea are often considered exotic. After all, it's more of a lake...

The increased salinity of water in the Caspian Sea increases its medicinal properties. The water in the reservoir warms up early, so you can easily come here in May. In September you can have a great time, because the water stays at +21°C.

What are the conditions for holidays in Dagestan near the sea? Here the coast is covered with yellow velvety sea sand. The water of the Caspian Sea warms up faster than in the Black Sea, because the former is much shallower. The swimming season here begins in mid-May. The beauty of the Caspian coast is enhanced picturesque mountains, which is not far from Derbent. Here you can admire the oldest marine fossils, which were raised to a thousand-meter height by gas formation. After this, many caves were formed here, about which there are various legends. Many local residents come to these places to worship higher powers.

During the Soviet period, Dagestan was a holiday destination for tourists from different corners THE USSR. Holidays here are cheaper than in Black Sea coast, the sea is warmer and Sandy shore more pleasant.

The Caspian coast in Dagestan has many kilometers of beaches: Makhachkala, Samur, Manas, Kayakent. On their territory there are recreation centers (150 units), boarding houses, sanatoriums, and children's camps. You can book rooms not only in state hotels and boarding houses, but also in large and small private hotels. Take off Single Room here it costs from 500 to 1,000 rubles, double - 700-1,500 rubles, luxury apartments - 1,500-2,000 rubles.

If you get tired of swimming in the sea, then in Dagestan you can go to the snow-capped peaks. Rafting enthusiasts can go to fast mountain rivers. The guides offer interesting excursions to historical places.

Not far from the Caspian coast, it is worth seeing the capital of Dagestan - Makhachkala. This beautiful and well-equipped city has a highly developed infrastructure. Makhachkala residents are trying to attract as many tourists as possible to their city and are building a resort area " Cote d'Azur" This development occupies 300 hectares of area.

The South Dagestan coast with its center in Derbent is the most attractive place for tourism. This area has a temperate continental climate, being located in the subtropics. The territory is rich in citrus fruits, figs, pomegranates, almonds, walnuts, grapes and other crops.

No less colorful is the city of Izberbash. There is beautiful nature here with clean mountain-sea air, rich in the aroma of forests that grow low on the foothills of the Greater Caucasus. Sand beach you can change it to a walk to mineral springs, among which there are geothermal ones, which help restore health.

Rosstourism has taken measures to develop cruise holidays in the Caspian Sea. Not only domestic Russian routes, but also international ones have been thought out. Sea cruises are often connected to the Volga route. For such events, very good ships are needed, because there are often storms on the Caspian Sea.

Another direction sea ​​holiday in the Caspian Sea is health-improving and therapeutic. Many ailments can be overcome by local sea ​​air. Many sanatoriums have been built on the seashore in Dagestan. People get healthier here mineral waters, mud, healing climate. It cannot do without health and sports tourism. Leisure quite popular today. For those interested, extreme, ski, and eco-tourism are offered. You can be sure that the Caspian Sea and its coastal areas deserve to be visited.