Which sea is the smallest in area. The shallowest sea in the world

There are a huge number of seas on our Earth. All of them differ from each other in their size, depth, location, water composition and marine life. Some seas are warm, others are cold, there are very large ones, deep seas, but there are very small ones. And which of the seas is the smallest on our planet?

The deepest sea in the world - Azov. It refers to the system mediterranean sea Atlantic Ocean and is located in Eastern Europe, washes part of the territory of Ukraine and Russia.

Southern part of the sea Kerch Strait connects with the Black Sea. Its depth is only 13.5 meters, the total water surface area is 37,800 square meters. km, and the length of the sea stretches for 380 km, the width is 200 km. This shallow sea is partially covered with ice in cold winters, the summer water temperature reaches up to +28.5°C.

Periodically, strong storms are noted at sea, despite the shallow depth, there were cases when during strong storms people drowned sea ​​vessels.

The waters of the Sea of ​​Azov are heavily polluted with waste from industrial enterprises and cities located along the coast.

Seashores are sandy, flat, on south coast there are hills volcanic origin, passing into steep mountains. On the coast of the Sea of ​​​​Azov there are resorts, health resorts, recreation centers with beaches.

The waters of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov are muddy, the salinity of the water is three times less than the salinity of the ocean, since the water is desalinated by rivers, especially the Don and Kuban seas are rich in marine life. More than a hundred species of commercial fish live in its waters, such as gobies, sprat, flounder, pike, ide, ram, sterlet, horse mackerel, herring.

There are also the most valuable commercial species - beluga, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, and other types of fish. Of the mammals in the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, there is a harbor porpoise or an Azov dolphin.

There are more than 80 seas on our planet. These are large bodies of water that are part of the oceans and are isolated by land or towering underwater landforms. The seas differ in size, temperature and composition of the water, depth and other features. Each body of water has its own characteristics that make it unique.

There are seas that have the greatest depth, the highest concentration of salt and other substances in the water or largest area. They are also distinguished by the inhabitants who inhabit their waters. Readers will be interested to know which sea is the smallest in the world and where it is located.

The Sea of ​​Marmara is the smallest on the planet

The Sea of ​​Marmara is located in Eurasia and is the territory of Turkey. Its area is only 11,472 km 2, so it is considered the smallest sea on the planet. A reservoir was formed as a result of a break in the earth's crust, which separated the continents of Africa and Eurasia. The sea is 20 km long and 80 km wide. It refers to the Atlantic Ocean. The reservoir is connected with the Aegean and Black Seas by straits through which water exchange occurs.

Its banks are connected by three bridges:

• Çanakkale bridge 1915;
• the Osman Gazi bridge;
• Sultan Suleiman Bridge.

The Sea of ​​Marmara got its name from the island of Marmara located in it, rich in white marble. It is surrounded predominantly by mountainous shores. The areas around the sea have been densely populated since ancient times. the biggest locality located on its banks is the city of Istanbul. The Sea of ​​Marmara is important tourist attraction. Fishing is well developed on it.

The second place in the list goes to the Ligurian Sea, whose area is 15 thousand km 2. It is located on the territory where the borders of Italy, France and Monaco pass. The reservoir is located in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea basin. It is surrounded by mostly rocky steep banks. There are also sandy beaches near the water surface, which are intensively used in the tourism industry. The water in the Ligurian Sea is quite cold: in the hottest months it reaches 23.5 o C. Despite its small size, the reservoir is very deep, maximum value which is 2 546 m.

This reservoir got the third place in the list of the smallest seas in the world. Its area is 18 km 2. As the name implies, the sea is located on the territory of the Country rising sun. Scientists have found that it was formed as a result of a rise in the level of the world's oceans about 12 thousand years ago, which was caused by the melting of the glacier.

The shores of the sea are heavily indented by bays. There are many islands in the reservoir, the number of which reaches 1,000. The Inland Sea of ​​Japan is an important transport artery of the country. The main industrial enterprises of Japan are located on its coasts. Tourism is well developed in this region.

The fourth position in the list goes to the Davis Sea, whose area is 21 km2. It is part of the Indian Ocean. The Davis Sea washes the shores of Antarctica. The reservoir was named after the captain of the ship "Aurora" John King Davis. On this ship in 1912, an expedition arrived in this region, discovering a reservoir.

Davis Sea most year covered with ice. Only in the summer period, expanses of water appear on it, on which icebergs and drifting ice meet. The greatest depth of the reservoir is 1369 m.

The list of the smallest on the planet also includes the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, which belongs to the Atlantic Ocean. It has an area of ​​39 thousand km 2. The Sea of ​​Azov is located in the eastern part of Europe. The length of the reservoir is 380 km, and the width is 200 km. Oil is being produced in the Sea of ​​Azov. On the banks of the reservoir belonging to Russia and Ukraine, there are many resort areas. The water in it has a high level of pollution. To the Sea of ​​Azov long time waste from industrial enterprises located in large settlements was dumped.

The Bali Sea has an area of ​​​​40 thousand km 2. It ranks sixth in the list of the smallest seas on the planet. The reservoir is interisland and belongs to Pacific Ocean. On the islands located south side the sea is several active volcanoes, therefore, at the bottom of the reservoir contains a lot of volcanic sediments. The sea of ​​Bali is one of the most popular tourist sites. This is due to the excellent climatic conditions and the beautiful nature that you can admire on the territory of the islands.

Is not different large sizes and the Irish Sea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The reservoir is located between Ireland and Great Britain. Its area is 46 thousand km 2. The Irish Sea has a shallow depth, the maximum figure of which is 175 meters. It has a well-developed shipping and fishing industry. Throughout almost the entire year, westerly winds blow over the sea, which in winter time cause severe storms. Several wind farms have been built on the coasts of the sea.

The Alboran Sea also has a small area. It is only 53 km 2. The reservoir is located in the northern part of the African continent and is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The border separating Africa and Eurasia passes through the territory of the Alboran Sea. The reservoir is located in the subtropical zone and is surrounded by areas with beautiful nature.

As a result, it is an important tourist attraction. Warm dry weather prevails here in summer, while the winter months are quite cool and rainfall is frequent. Shipping is well developed on the Albaron Sea. On its shores there are many large ports.

The ten smallest seas on the planet include another body of water located in Indonesia - the Halmahera Sea. It is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The area of ​​the reservoir is 75 km2. The Halmahera Sea is located in the equatorial zone. It has a warm, humid climate, typical of this area. The Halmahera Sea is an important tourist attraction. His clear waters and many marine life attract divers from all over the world.

This body of water occupies last place in the list. Its area is 86 thousand km 2. The sea washes southern part Europe and eastern part Iberian Peninsula. It refers to the Atlantic Ocean. On the shores of the sea and on the islands located in it, many world famous resorts. The water temperature here in summer reaches 25 o C, and in winter it does not exceed 13 o C. Navigation is well developed on the Balearic Sea.

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A sea is a part of the World Ocean, separated from it by land, islands or underwater relief. There are about 90 seas on Earth. All of them are unlike each other. The differences are in the composition and temperature of the water, depth, bottom topography, flora and fauna, the presence of islands and archipelagos. The key parameter by which these reservoirs are compared is size.

Top 10 smallest seas in the world

1. Marble.
2. Ligurian.
3. Japanese.
4. Davis.
5. Azov.
6. Bali.
7. Irish.
8. Alboran.
9. Halmahera.
10. Balearic.

Officially the smallest sea on Earth recognized Marble. It is considered inland, as it is sandwiched between Europe and Asia and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Dardanelles (in the southwest). It communicates with the Black Pond by the Bosporus Strait (in the northeast). Thanks to this strait, the Black and Azov Seas have access to the World Ocean.

In administrative-territorial terms, it is completely located on the territory of Turkey. Sea of ​​Marmara It has tectonic origin - it was formed at the fault between the continents of Africa and Eurasia. The water area of ​​the reservoir has a shape elongated in the latitudinal direction.

Interesting to know: How many exist on Earth?

Figures and facts about the smallest sea on the planet

• Area - 11,472 km 2
• Length - 20 km.
• Width - 80 km.
• Volume - 4,000 km 3
• Maximum depth - 1,355 m
• Salinity - 38 ‰ at the bottom, 26 ‰ at the surface. According to this indicator, it is similar to the Mediterranean. Salinity is much higher than in the Black Sea and lower than in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Water temperature - 29°С (summer), 9°С (winter)

Terrain and climate

The shores of the reservoir are rocky, several mountain ranges stretch along them. Since it is located in a seismically active zone, here earthquakes often occur. The bottom has three deep basins, more than half of the bottom area is occupied by the coastal shelf with depths up to 100 m. Major bays- Izmitsky and Gemliksky. The largest in the water area are the Princes' Islands, the island of Marmara. north coast dotted underwater reefs. From the Asian side, small rivers Granik and Susurluk flow here.

The smallest sea by area is located in subtropical climate zone . In the warm season, hot air prevails here, which comes from the continent. Peak summer temperatures occur in July and August. average temperature air above the water surface is 25-28 ° C, it rarely drops below 12 ° C, which is very uncharacteristic for the same latitudes of the Atlantic Ocean.

In summer, sultry weather reigns in the shallow sea with slight winds and clear skies. In autumn, the winds become more frequent, the humidity of the air rises significantly, but compared to the ocean, the weather here is much milder.

Animal and plant world

The fauna of the smallest sea is similar to the Mediterranean. Fishing is developed here, due to the fact that 500 species of fish live in the waters. Among them are many commercial ones:

1. Mackerel.
2. Anchovy.
3. Horse mackerel.
4. Mullet.
5. Tuna.

It is not so often possible to meet representatives of the animal world of the ocean here, however, there are sea ​​turtles, seals, oysters, octopuses and squids, crabs, spiny lobsters, red corals and sponges. In 1999, the Russian tanker Volgoneft-248 sank in the Sea of ​​Marmara near Istanbul, causing spilled a significant amount of oil. This caused significant damage to the animal and flora region.

Water level

Since the smallest sea in the world is far from the ocean, there are practically no ebbs and flows in it - the fluctuation of the water level is calculated by several centimeters. Also, atmospheric processes practically do not affect the water level. Annual fluctuations are imperceptible as in coastal areas, as well as at depth.

Since the surface of the water is dominated by light winds, unlike the ocean, storms are rare here. The waves here are also not as big as in the larger seas of the planet. The largest waves reach a height of 1.5 meters. Most often they are found in the southwestern part during the cold season. In summer, the surface of the water is completely calm.

Story

Since pre-antique times, the banks of the reservoir have been densely populated. Name geographical feature originated from the island of Marmara, which is rich in white marble. The area is also well lit. in ancient Greek literature. So, the famous Argonauts plowed these waters, and there were also fighting during the Scythian war.

First scientific description the reservoir was made by the Russian captain-lieutenant M.P. Manganari. Representatives of the Russian geographical society, including S.O. Makarov and I.B. Spindler. Of the entire World Ocean, the Marmara Sea is one of the most well-studied.

The shores of the small sea are the most densely populated in Turkey. largest port water areas - Istanbul. Thanks to the surface of the water does not freeze in winter, industry, trade and tourism are well developed here. Travelers from all over the world are attracted by numerous historical sights. Since large highways, it is very polluted.

Three bridges have been thrown across the straits that connect Europe and Asia - Osman Gazi, Canakkale, Sultan Suleiman.

So, the smallest sea in the world is the Sea of ​​Marmara. It is far from the ocean, which determined the peculiarities of its hydrology. For example, unlike the ocean, there are no strong storms, fluctuations in water levels and waves. This unique place perfect for recreation and tourism, as you can see for yourself!

Do you know which is the smallest sea in the world? It is very difficult for scientists to come to a consensus. They still continue to argue about which bodies of water should be considered seas, which lakes, and which bays. Only one thing is known for sure: out of a huge number of water basins, only 59 are recognized as seas. Of these, the Marmara Sea is the smallest in terms of area.

A bit of geography

The Sea of ​​Marmara is a link between the Black Sea and the Aegean. The strait connecting the large Black Sea with the small Sea of ​​Marmara is called the Bosphorus. With it is connected. Still, the sea can be considered a kind of feature that separates Asia and Europe. The area of ​​the water basin is less than 11 thousand square meters. km.

Such a definition as the smallest sea in the world does not mean that it is also the smallest. The fact is that the sea arose as a result of a break in the earth's crust, which, in fact, divided a single continent into Asia, Europe and Africa. This explains the fact that the depth in some places is very solid - up to 14 km. And because of the ongoing tectonic processes in the Sea of ​​Marmara, earthquakes and, as a result, tsunamis often occur.

A bit of history

The name of the sea comes from a rich marble deposit found on the island of Marmara. It was from here that this stone was transported around the world. And since marble as a building and finishing material was in great demand, the name of the place where it was delivered from was on everyone's lips. When translated from Greek into English and Russian, the word was modified from sea of ​​marmara to the Sea of ​​Marmara.

The Sea of ​​Marmara was the crossroads of busy trade arteries between Europe and Asia. On its shores, the largest civilizations developed and disappeared. And the power over the connecting straits promised unlimited possibilities.

Temperature and other features

The smallest sea in the world has enough salt water. The salt content here is much higher than in the waters of the Black Sea. However, a denser mass of saline waters is located at a depth and does not mix with surface, less saline waters.

The Sea of ​​Marmara on the map has very indented shores. Here is located a large number of bays and coves. The northern coast has many underwater reefs, which makes navigation difficult, but attracts a stream of tourists.

Winter temperature sea ​​water not more than 10º C, and in summer it can exceed 29º C. These data refer to surface water, the depth of which is about 20 m. Deep waters have a much lower temperature.

Who lives here

Fauna Sea of ​​Marmara not too varied. Its composition is close to the Mediterranean. Commercial fish species are caught here, such as:

• horse mackerel;
• mackerel;
• bonito;
• striped mullet;
• sole;
• anchovy.

Many species of commercial fish migrate with the onset of cooling to more warm waters Black Sea.

Resorts and attractions of the Marmara Sea

Despite the fact that we are talking about the smallest sea in the world, an inexhaustible flow of tourists passes here every year. On its banks is one of most beautiful cities peace - Istanbul. This city has been and will always be of interest to people. Here you can see the unique interweaving of living history and modern technologies. But besides Istanbul, many more tourists are attracted picturesque resorts Marmara Sea.

Hereby paradise can be considered the resorts of the city of Bursa. Here, guests are immersed in a pronounced national flavor and admire a variety of natural landscapes. In a short period of time, you can visit snowy peaks, fall on sea ​​coast, visit the green plains and admire the picturesque waterfalls.

The most visited resort of the Marmara Sea can be considered Erdek. Here is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches with a total length of almost 12 km.

Resorts of the Sea of ​​Marmara - a mixture of styles and eras. Here everyone finds interesting activity. And thanks unique nature and a high level of service, interest in the coast is growing every year.

Have you ever wondered how many seas there are on our planet? And how big are they? From geography lessons, we remember about the largest seas on the planet. And which ones are at the very bottom of the list?

The smallest seas in the world ocean

By the way, the largest sea on Earth is the Philippine Sea. It was in it that scientists discovered the deepest Mariana Trench, which still continues to amaze them with its riddles and secrets. It contains the most deep point in the world, open by people- Challenger Abyss.

But back to those seas that geographers have classified as the smallest. In fact, the position of scientists is ambiguous, since according to different classifications of the seas, their list may differ. Some bodies of water that were considered seas already belong to lakes, and vice versa - there are bays that are considered seas.

Off the coast of Antarctica is the Davis Sea, which covers an area of ​​​​only 21 thousand square kilometers. Of course, it is not intended for swimming, because even in summer the air temperature in this place is minus 12-16 degrees Celsius. And the weather there is overcast, with frequent snowfalls.

But the Savu Sea, which is only slightly larger than the Davis Sea in area, belongs to Indian Ocean. It is located between several islands that are part of Malay archipelago. And in this sea you can splash even all year round - the water temperature on the surface is as much as 26-28 degrees. This sea is also notable for the fact that almost half of all whales migrate through it.

The shallowest seas

The Sea of ​​Azov owes this feature primarily to its location. It is located deep in the land of the mainland, and its bottom is mostly flat, without depressions or elevations. The Sea of ​​Azov is widely popular among vacationers, as the air temperature in summer season is about 25-27 degrees. Fishing is also widely developed in this sea.

In the list of the most shallow seas world are including the Persian Gulf, greatest depth which is 90 meters; Yellow Sea - 106 meters; The Chukchi Sea - 160 meters and the Irish Sea - 175 meters of maximum depth.

The smallest sea in Russia

coast White Sea are predominantly sheer cliffs. Numerous birds like to nest in them, arranging the so-called "bird markets". To spend their mating season on the coast of this harsh sea, many seabirds travel great distances.

The water in the White Sea is relatively warm and summer time reaches 18 degrees. That's why locals and tourists enjoy spending time on its beaches. unusual nature And unique fauna of this place make the White Sea an attractive place for people who prefer a non-standard vacation.

The smallest sea in the world

The area of ​​the Sea of ​​Marmara is only 11 thousand square kilometers. But it cannot be called shallow, its depth is only half the depth of its neighbor, Aegean Sea, and is 1355 meters. The sea is of great transit importance for many countries, because it connects almost two worlds - Asia and Europe. The bridge connecting them is only 1.5 kilometers long and is located in the Bosphorus.

Its tourist value cannot be overestimated. Numerous vacationers enjoy visiting the islands located in this sea. On the notorious island of Marmara, guests are waiting for gorgeous beaches, and the island of Buyukada is interesting in that it has preserved the local flavor, since it is forbidden to build modern buildings on it. It is not even allowed to travel by car here, and the main transport is horse-drawn carts and bicycles.

The Sea of ​​Marmara also has a great attraction for swimming enthusiasts. Annual swims for those wishing to cross the Bosphorus have become almost a tradition. Hundreds of participants and thousands of fans gather for this event. But the Sea of ​​Marmara itself submitted to brave swimmers! Ukrainian marathon swimmers Anatoly Vyalets and Oleg Sofyanik were able to overcome 105 kilometers of the water surface in 33 hours.

It should be noted that the Sea of ​​Marmara is also quite dangerous, since it still retains high seismic activity. Big waves- not uncommon for its waters. And earthquakes happen with an enviable frequency. Therefore, be careful when going on vacation to these places.

The site has a detailed article about the largest seas in Russia.
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