Sea of Azov geography. Economic importance and environmental problems. Water transparency in the Sea of Azov
Located in the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine. It is connected to the Black Sea by the Kerch Strait and is currently located within the borders of Ukraine and Russia.
The Sea of Azov is smaller and, as a result, warmer than the Black Sea. This is the shallowest sea of the World Ocean, its depth does not exceed 15 meters. In Crimea, there are a lot of different reservoirs, rivers, lakes, estuaries, for example, Lake Chokrak, but the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov stands out from them.
Sea of Azov Photos
In ancient times, on the shores of the Sea of Azov, there was a constant change of peoples who inhabited these lands. That is why the sea had many names in the past: Mother Ponta, Timirinda, Meotian Sea (lake), Scythian Ponds, Akdeniz, Surozh Sea, Kargulak, Mare Fane. Around the middle of the thirteenth century, the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov gained its modern name from the name of the ancient Turkic city, the center of trade, Azak.
Since the Sea of Azov is quite shallow, it quickly warms up to thirty degrees in places, which makes it attractive for families. An additional plus is that the summer here is dry and warm, the mild climate does not require a long period of acclimatization and therefore causes a minimum of discomfort to the child on vacation.
The bottom of the sea is flat, covered with sand and shell rock. The sea shores are mostly flat and sandy, only occasionally there are hills that grow into mountains in places.
Photos of the bottom of the Sea of Azov
No wonder the Scythians called the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov - "rich in fish". Fishermen have long chosen it: pilengas, horse mackerel, glosik, herring, anchovy. Fishing for every taste - spinning, fishing rod or hook - you just need to choose right place and time.
Rutile, zircon, and ilmenite were found in the rich subsoil of the Sea of Azov. The waters of Azov contain 92 trace elements, and the air is saturated with useful salts. Azov water endowed with healing and preventive properties: swimming in the sea enhances the respiratory function of the body, improves blood circulation, increases vitality.
A notable feature of the Sea of Azov is the presence of a large number of spits, sandbanks and small islands.
The coast of the Sea of Azov has all the advantages for a pleasant, useful and unforgettable vacation.
The Sea of Azov is a truly unique gift of nature, which we must appreciate. It is unique in its appearance, depth, size, composition of flora and fauna and plays a very important role in the ecosystem of the region.
short historical reference. In ancient times, the Sea of Azov did not exist! full flowing river The Don flowed into the ancient Black Sea (approximately in the area of the modern Kerch Strait).
There is a theory that around 5600 BC there was a very strong rise in the water level of the Black Sea, which was caused by a major earthquake. (Perhaps it was this event that gave rise to the legends of the Flood).
Sea of Azov - Origin of the name. This area has always been at the crossroads of the historical paths of different peoples and, therefore, has managed to change a large number of names. The ancient Greeks living on these shores affectionately called him Meotida (Nurse - translated from Greek). The ancient Romans jokingly called it for its shallow water - Palus Maeotis (Meotian swamp). The Scythians called it - Kargulak (Sea rich in fish). The Meotian tribes called him - Temerinda (meaning the Mother of the Sea). The Turks called it Barh el-Assak (Dark Blue Sea). The Horde conquerors called it - Balyk-dengiz (Fish Sea).
The main theory of the origin of the original name - Azov came from the Turkic adjective "azak" (meaning the mouth of the river, a low place). Subsequently, the word "Azak" was transformed into the modern one - Azov.
The Sea of Azov is inland sea in the eastern part of Europe. By its distance from the world ocean, the Sea of Azov is considered a continental sea. The Sea of Azov is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through a very long chain of seas and straits. (Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea).
On the world map, it is "indicated by a small blue speck" and is the most shallow sea in the world. Greatest depth Sea of Azov does not exceed thirteen and a half meters, and average depth no more than seven meters. Such rivers as Don, Kuban, Mius, Berda, etc. flow into it.
Scientists attribute the Sea of Azov to the so-called "flat seas", shallow water bodies with low shores, the bottom is replete with sand and shell deposits. The sea coast is mostly sandy and only in the southern part there are sometimes small hills volcanic origin. The coast of the Sea of Azov is indented with bays. The coastline is a popular resort and recreational area, there are also nature reserves and National parks. great example protected area are - Priazovsky national park and Spit Biryuchy Island.
Sand and shell spits have advanced into the open sea for many kilometers and are a real decoration. Azov coast. The most famous spits of the Sea of Azov: Berdyansk Spit, Fedotova Spit, Spit Peresyp, Stepanovskaya Spit, Obitochnaya, Curve, Long, Belosaraiskaya. It is here that sanatoriums, boarding houses and popular recreation centers are located.
Temperature regime of the Sea of Azov.
The water temperature of the Sea of Azov is variable, which is quite normal for shallow waters. The minimum temperature is usually fixed at the end of January or February and is close to the freezing point. Only near the Kerch Strait is the water temperature in the Sea of Azov on the surface always positive. Average annual temperature on the surface about +11 degrees Celsius.
In summer, a fairly uniform temperature is established on the surface of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov. Most warm water in July and reaches +28 ... +28.5 degrees Celsius. In the period from March to August, the water temperature drops from the surface to the bottom by about 1 degree. The temperature distribution may change after the first big storm.
Salinity of the Sea of Azov
Due to the difficult water exchange with the Black Sea and the abundant inflow of fresh river water (up to 12% of the volume of water), the salinity of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov is not uniform. The salinity of the water in the northern part in the area of the Taganrog Bay and the salinity of the water in the area of the Kerch Strait may differ by several ppm. The average salinity is kept at 11% and seasonal fluctuations in the salinity of the Sea of Azov usually do not exceed 1%.
In winter, the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov freezes quite easily due to the lower salinity of the water in the northern part of the water area from December to March. South part freezes quite rarely, and ice is carried into the Black Sea through Kerch Strait.
The ionic composition of water is quite different from salt composition ocean and has a different set of sodium and chloride ions. At the same time, there is an increased content of carbonates, sulfates and calcium.
Water transparency in the Sea of Azov
It should be noted that the water transparency of the Sea of Azov is quite low. Moreover, water transparency is uneven at different times of the year and ranges from 0.5 to 8 meters. The color of the water in the Sea of Azov can also vary from greenish-blue to yellowish.
To uninitiated people, it may even seem quite “dirty”. Actually it is not. Abundant supply influences transparency river waters, presence in sea water plankton and rapid resuspension of bottom silt during storm winds. late autumn and in winter time The water of the Sea of Azov is more turbid. During the Summer period, transparency improves significantly, with the exception of the “sea bloom” period, when many plant microorganisms develop in the upper layers of the water. Best time for recreation on the Sea of Azov June, July and early August.
The relief of the bottom of the Sea of Azov.
The bottom of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov has a fairly uniform relief. The bottom depth increases smoothly, there are practically no holes and significant differences in depth. Moreover, near the shore, small “splash pools” are often washed up in which children love to frolic. This is not surprising, there is usually a shallow depth and even warmer water. It is this feature that parents who have small children really like. Indeed, on the one hand, you can not be afraid that the kids will go too deep, and on the other hand, a comfortable depth for swimming adults begins after 15-20 meters from the shore. In the northern part of the water area there is shallow water (20 kilometers with depths of no more than 6 meters). The maximum depth of the Sea of Azov is 13.5 meters.
Ecology of the Sea of Azov.
Ecologists record quite severe pollution of coastal waters near large industrial cities on the coast. So, the most polluted area of the Sea of Azov is the area in the area of Taganrog and Mariupol. At the same time, the section from Berdyansk to Genichesk is environmentally friendly, since it does not have large settlements and industrial enterprises. Sea water should not be drunk (during bathing) or used to gargle for small children. This can cause intestinal upset and fever.
The true pearl of the coast of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov is, which has an exclusively recreational and resort direction and access to the Milk Estuary. On the other side of the Milk Estuary, the Priazovsky National Park begins and a small village is located -.
Currents in the Sea of Azov.
The currents are often affected by blowing winds and the direction of the currents change quite often. The south-east and north-east winds have the strongest attention. Most often, a circular current is recorded along the coast of the sea (counterclockwise).
Flora and Fauna of the Sea of Azov
It is difficult to find a more diverse inland sea in the world in terms of the number of animal and plant organisms. In terms of productivity, the Sea of Azov is 160 times greater than the Mediterranean Sea, forty times greater than the Black Sea and six times greater than the Caspian Sea. This is really an amazing property, considering that the area of the Black Sea exceeds the area of the Sea of Azov ten times!
Phytoplankton and benthos abound in the waters of the Sea of Azov. Mollusks occupy a dominant place and their remains are just formed bottom sediment.
The ichthyofauna is represented by 103 species of fish (both marine and freshwater). Anadromous species of fish are in the sea until puberty, and only for spawning enters rivers or estuaries. The breeding period in most cases does not exceed 2 months. Among migratory fish in the Sea of Azov, the following are most valued: Beluga, Sturgeon, Severyuga, Herring.
Semi-anadromous fish species enter rivers to breed, but they can remain there much longer than anadromous fish species. Sometimes they can stay in the rivers for up to one year, and the young in most cases remain in the rivers for winter period time. The most popular semi-anadromous fish species in the Sea of Azov are Taran, Pike perch, Bream, Chekhon.
goby
Marine fish species (permanently remaining in sea water) are divided into those permanently living in the Sea of Azov and entering from the Black Sea. We refer to the permanently living species of fish: All types of gobies, pelengas, flounder, kalkan, tyulka, needle fish, gloss. To the group of fish entering the Sea of Azov, we include: Azov and Black Sea anchovy, Black Sea herring, red mullet, striped mullet, Black Sea kalkan, mackerel, horse mackerel, sharp nose, etc.
Freshwater fish constantly lives in one area of the reservoir, without moving over long distances. These species of fish inhabit the coastal waters of the sea containing minimal salinity. This is silver carp, pike, ide, sterlet, bleak.
Sea of Azov. Minerals.
The bowels of the Sea of Azov abound in minerals. Geologists have discovered zircon, rutile and ilmenite here. Under the bottom of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, if you search well, you can find almost half of the entire periodic table. Significant reserves of natural gas were found in the bowels.
The main thing for the inhabitants of the coast of the Sea of Azov is to preserve this priceless gift of nature and pass it on to the next generations.
Stanitsa Golubitskaya
Popular holiday destination Taman Peninsula. A small village (population a little over four thousand) is surrounded by greenery and vineyards and is located 8 km from the city of Temryuk (the nearest railroad station), 55 km from Anapa (here is the nearest airport) and 149 km from Krasnodar.
Sandy, mixed with small shell rock, enriched with healthy minerals, the beaches of the village of Golubitskaya are ideal for families with children. Warm and shallow sea, sandy and flat bottom.
There are many natural attractions on the territory of the village. For example, Golubitskoye Lake is a large but shallow lake with healing mud It is convenient for taking mud baths not only by adults, but also by children. Or amazing beauty estuaries overgrown with lotuses and representing an unforgettable sight during the flowering period.
From entertainment - the largest water park on the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, on the territory of which there is a guest house, which gives the right to free access to all recreational activities on the territory of the water park and the water park itself, as well as the Dolphinarium, where funny performances are held twice a day.
On Taman you can also visit ethnographic complex"Ataman" - a museum under open sky dedicated to the life and way of life of the Cossacks, or go to an ostrich farm in Abinsk, visit the Tizdar mud volcano, take a ride on horseback or on a boat along the Kuban River.
And there is also the opportunity to take a flight on a light aircraft of the Sky flying club and visit a sailing school, a windsurfing club or a paragliding center.
During the season, many residents rent out housing to vacationers. Right on the seashore next to the beach, you can rent, if desired, a guest house, a room in a boarding house or at a recreation center.
Stanitsa Dolzhanskaya (Dolzhanka)
The village of Dolzhanskaya is located on the Dolgaya Spit, 40 km from the city of Yeysk (the nearest airport is also located here). The nearest railway station from the village is Starominskaya, and Dolzhanka itself has its own pier.
Calm quiet rest without much entertainment in this small sea village, which is nature reserve With unique nature also good for families.
The sandy-shell sloping beach is located on the Dolgaya spit, which goes into the sea for 11 kilometers and separates the Sea of Azov and the Taganrog Bay.
Pine forest, steppe herbs and flowers enhance the healing effect of the local healing mud rich in minerals shell beaches. And all this as a whole creates a healing and very useful environment for the human body.
For accommodation - several guest houses and boarding houses and a hospitable private sector.
From entertainment, in addition to relaxing on the beach, enterprising locals offer horseback riding tours in the area and horseback riding lessons. Also, these places are very popular with windsurfers.
Yes, yes, this is the very famous one thanks to the popular comedy series resort village on the shores of the Sea of Azov. To be honest, I didn't know it existed. . Kuchugury is located 80 kilometers from Anapa, 40 kilometers from the city of Temryuk, 25 kilometers from Kerch.
In Kuchugury - sand beach with fine golden sand and small shell rock, and always clean, shallow Sea of Azov in this place. The water is warm and warms up well. Just right for little kids.
The convenient location of the village allows you to get to the beach from any point on foot in no more than 15 minutes.
There is not much entertainment, but on the beach you can ride a "banana", fly on a parachute. Plus to this - quiet place, relaxing holiday, fresh fruits and dishes from freshly caught fish - what else do you need for a relaxing holiday with children. Not far from the sea in the center of the village there is an amusement park for children "Emelya".
From housing - mainly the private sector. But there are mini-hotels, a small hotel, guest houses. From the names I remember the guest house "Matchmakers". Prices, according to reviews, are quite affordable.
Peresyp village
A small village, pleasant for families, is also located in the Temryuk region. Approximately 15 kilometers from the village of Kuchugury and 7 kilometers from the village of Golubitskaya. This is another great place for families with children. Sand and shell beaches on the Peresyp spit, shallow water, warm and clear sea. Very close - the Lotus Valley, the healing lake "Blue Balka".
Resort Primorsko-Akhtarsk
Another resort Krasnodar Territory on the shores of the Sea of Azov. The city is located 150 kilometers from Krasnodar (there is an airport here, there is also an airport in the city of Yeysk). In Primorsko-Akhtarsk itself there is a bus station, a railway station, a pier.
Several days were spent on choosing a place to stay. And, although I really liked the resorts of the Temryuk region, I had to postpone these options for the time being, because they are located farther away. And we would not want the trip by car to be very long and tiring. The city of Yeysk turned out to be the closest resort to us on the Sea of Azov.
Yeysk is our choice
Yeysk - southern seaport in the northwestern part of the Krasnodar Territory with many parks, green alleys and shady squares and numerous beaches from the side of the Yeysk estuary and the Taganrog Bay.
Enough in Yeysk and children's entertainment:
- Water park "Nemo" on the shore of the Taganrog Bay on Primorskaya Embankment
- Dolphinarium (Shmidt St., 16/1)
- Crocodile canyon with amazing snakes, crocodiles, turtles (Schmidt st., 16/1)
- Children's center "Bingo-Bongo" (Krasnaya St., 74/2), where you can have a lot of fun and organized time with children of different ages
- Oceanarium " shark reef» (Schmidt st., 15/1).
- Park them. Poddubny with more than 30 types of attractions. This oldest park Kuban, which is located on the shores of the Taganrog Bay.
In addition, Yeysk is one of the best mud resorts on the Azov-Black Sea coast, with a healthy climate, a shallow, well-heated sea and sandy, shell and pebble beaches.
The resort is located at the base of the Yeisk Spit on the peninsula and is washed by the Sea of Azov from three sides. Yeysk is located 180 kilometers from Rostov-on-Don and 250 kilometers from Krasnodar.
You can get to Yeysk in different ways: by car, by plane, or by water transport.
Peak rest was taken as the initial parameters. tourist season(second half of July), accommodation - in budget hotels(2-3 stars), location - near the sea and the beach area, food - set meals in inexpensive cafes, the cost of the tour, popular in this place, and the cost of a ticket for public transport, as well as the cost from railway station or airport to your accommodation (but only for public transport). According to these parameters, the city of Yeysk entered the top five budget beach holiday. Here you can relax for 2140 rubles.
All this in general and in general, as well as the formed opinion based on the study of a large number of reviews already resting in these places with children, put an end to the choice. The only thing left to do was to find suitable housing. We counted on a budget in the range of 12-14 thousand for 7 days for four: two adults and two children.
Preference was given to mini-hotels, guest houses and turnkey houses. I want to say that good options for these dates were already, for the most part, booked. People took care of the future summer holiday. Therefore, they chose from what was left. Although, of course, sometimes the thought crept in: do not book anything, but go to the "maybe" and find your bearings on the spot. But we were traveling with children. Therefore, the surprise factor could play a bad joke on us in this case.
The choice of housing in Yeysk
First, it was necessary to understand in which area it is better to choose. Because the sea is there from all sides: from the east - the Yeisk Estuary, from the west - the Taganrog Bay.
We were focused on a calm, quiet rest, so the following were important:
- Sea within walking distance
- Sandy beach with good conditions for children
- Small number of guests
- Any children's entertainment
- Comfortable accommodation with all amenities.
I must say right away that on the first day I was simply confused by the abundance of offers and, after spending half a day, I did not understand where and what to look for. A lot has been offered different types housing - hotels and boarding houses, guest houses and recreation centers, mini-hotels, apartments and private houses.
In order to somehow streamline and narrow the search area, I decided to understand for myself and try to figure out which area of the city has the most suitable conditions for us. And since the main condition is a good children's beach in the immediate vicinity, it was decided to start by exploring the beaches of Yeysk.
Yeysk beaches
As it turned out, there are several of them in the city and they are very diverse: sandy, pebble, shell, stony and, most often, mixed (sand-shell and pebble-sand).
The main beaches are located on the Yeisk Spit: Central City Beach, Children's Beach, located opposite the Central Beach, Youth Beach, Kamenka Beach. There are also small individual beaches on the coast of the Yeisk estuary (area of the second microdistrict).
To make it clearer, let's take a closer look at each.
Central city beach
Stretched along the Taganrog Bay for about half a kilometer. It is considered (according to reviews) the best beach in the city. Clean, the bottom and shore are sandy, a gentle entrance, a small depth at the entrance and a maximum depth of up to 1.5 meters. The water warms up well.
Lots of entertainment for adults and children. The beach is equipped with cabanas, paid toilets, there is a rental of sun loungers and umbrellas, sprawling trees create a natural shade. There are places to eat.
The central city beach is divided into two parts: Central - from the side of the Taganrog Bay and Children's Beach from the side of the Yeysk estuary. They are located across the road from each other.
Children's city beach
Its length is approximately 300 meters, not a very large coastal beach area. Sandy-shell (mixed) coast. Not deep, the greatest depth is 1-1.5 meters. A lot of entertainment for children (trampolines, waterslides, "bananas", jet skis, "pills").
For children - perfect and perfect safe place. Complete absence of waves. If among adults there are no lovers of swimming at a depth, it is quite a suitable place to relax with children.
The central city beach, both for adults and for children, is considered by many vacationers to be the best. The only drawback is that there are a lot of people there, and you need to come there early.
At the very end of the Yeisk Spit there is also Molodezhny Beach (here is the maximum depth), but we will not talk about it, since its name speaks for itself.
The beaches of the Yeisk Liman
They are located in the water area of the Yeisk Liman in the right part of the city in the form of small sections along the coastline. According to reviews, the most popular sections of the beach are near Nizhnesadovaya Street at the intersection with Pionerskaya, Plekhanova, Krasnaya, Barrikadnaya and Svoboda streets.
The beaches that are located closer to the Central Beach are mostly small pebbles, further along the coast - sand and shells. The entrance to the sea is gentle, even, the bottom is sand and silt, the maximum depth is up to 1 meter. It's quiet calm beaches, but, according to reviews, not equipped (“wild beaches”).
Kamenka beach
If we go down a little to the south from the Central Beach from the side of the Taganrog Bay, then we get to the Kamenka beach. This is a little south of the Yeysk port. The beach stretches for about a kilometer along the coast along the Taganrog Bay. The depth does not reach more than one and a half meters.
The coastal coast is heterogeneous: the sandy beach is interspersed with areas covered with stones (apparently, because of this, the beach got its name).
On the northern side of the beach, from the port to Rostovskaya street, the coast is mostly sandy and comfortable. From Rostovskaya and further, the beach becomes more and more rocky and gradually turns into pebble.
Another children's beach - "Goat Beach"
This is the part of Kamenka beach, which is located between the port and the water park. "Goat Beach" is ideal for families with young children (it is also called "children's beach"), but it is located in the waters of the Taganrog Bay south of the port. This is the shallowest (at the deepest point the water barely reaches the knee) sandy beach in the city. Its length is about 300 meters. A lot of sand, the water warms up well. Little kids love this beach. In addition, it is located next to the water park.
As far as I understand, Goat Beach is also called Melyaki Beach (probably because it is the shallowest sea in the city). Initially, I thought that these were two different beaches, but after comparing their descriptions, I decided that we were talking about the same children's beach.
There are other children's entertainments on the Kamenka beach: an oceanarium and a dolphinarium. There are other advantages of this beach: few people, silence, calmness, warm sea, magnificent sunsets that open from the Primorskaya embankment, almost everywhere is shallow, sand islands, formed as a result of low tides - a real creative workshop for young architects and builders of castles and palaces.
What I noticed: the sea in Yeysk is shallow. For us, this is a plus, but who counts on great depth may be disappointed. And the water in the sea (judging by the description and reviews) is not transparent, but muddy, due to the suspension of sand particles and silt mud present in it (by the way, useful for the human body). And there are no big dangerous waves and storms in Yeysk.
After analyzing all this information and re-reading a lot of reviews, I came to the conclusion that swimming with children is best on Kamenka or on Central beach. But since I wanted not very noisy and crowded beach, then preference was given to housing from the side of the Taganrog Bay in the area of Kamenka beach.
It is in this area, or rather at the location children's beach"Melyaki" (or "Goat's Beach") and the main children's entertainment were focused on the search for housing (at the intersection of Schmidt, Morskaya, Kalinin, Oktyabrskaya from Nizhnesadovaya to Rostovskaya).
Yeysk hotels on the map:
All sorts of options were offered to choose from: hotels and boarding houses, guest houses, apartments in high-rise buildings, turnkey houses and the private sector. But we wanted to stay in mini-hotels or guest houses.
After reviewing the various options, a selection was made according to the following criteria: close to the sea (so that you can walk), so that the shore is sandy or sandy-shelly, so that it is good for children to swim, so that there are entertainment centers, good conditions accommodation with amenities, not a very large number of guests. And also we were looking for the first floor as the kids are small.
And, after much debate and discussion, the choice was made. We stayed at a mini hotel. I contacted his owner, after which an advance payment was made. Arrangement about booking - on parole. Now we are preparing for the trip and are looking forward to when two weeks fly by and we go on a trip with children to the sea by car.
The Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov is a shelf semi-enclosed reservoir, and it belongs to the Mediterranean system. In general, this natural reservoir is a mixing zone of the Black Sea and river waters, therefore some researchers consider it as a bay (shallow) of the Black Sea or a spacious, vast river estuary.
From this article you can learn about the area of the Sea of Azov, its location, the origin of the name, and more. others
Sea of Azov: general information
This body of water represents the northeastern basin of the Black Sea. Connects them together
According to its morphological features, Azov belongs to flat types and is a shallow water reservoir with not very high slopes of the coast.
A rather small area and depth of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov are noted (the latter is not more than 14 meters, and its average depth is only about 8 meters). Moreover, more than 1/2 of the territory has a depth of up to 5 meters. And this is the main feature.
Without taking into account the Sivash, the Sea of Azov has an elliptical shape elongated to the southwest from the northeast. It is the smallest natural body of water in the World Ocean.
Two great rivers flow into it - the Kuban and the Don - and many (more than 20) smaller ones, which for the most part flow from its northern shore.
Parameters of the Sea of Azov: area
The Sea of Azov basin has an area of about 570 thousand square meters. km. Its longest is 343 km, and the widest part is 231 km. 2686 kilometers - the length of the entire coastline.
The area of the Sea of Azov in sq. km. is about 37,600 (this does not include the area of islands and spits, occupying 107.9 sq. km). The average volume of all water is 256 km 3. As noted above, approximately 43% of the territory falls on depths from 5 to 10 meters.
origin of name
The sea received its modern, relatively new name several centuries ago from the name Turkish city Azov. The latter, in turn, comes from the name of the local feudal lord (Azak or Azum).
But even earlier, the ancient Greeks called it "Meotis limne", which means "lake of the Meots" (the peoples who lived on the shores). The Romans called it ironically - "Palus Meotis", which means "swamp of the Meots." And this is not surprising for the Sea of Azov. The area, and especially its depth, is not very large.
The Arabs called "Baral-Azov" and "Nitshlakh", and the Turks - "Bahr-Assak" (Dark blue sea) and "Baryal-Assak". There were many more names in antiquity, you can’t count them all.
Azov in Rus' became famous in the 1st century AD. e., and the name was given to him - the Blue Sea. After it was formed, it was called Russian. Then the sea was repeatedly renamed (Mayutis, Salakar, Samakush, etc.). In the 13th century, the sea was approved with the name of the Saksinsk Sea. The Tatar-Mongolian conquerors gave him the name "Chabak-dengiz" (bream or chabach) and "Balyk-dengiz" (translated - "fish sea"). As a result of the transformation last name(chabak - dzybakh - zabak - azak - azov) and today's name arose (doubtful version). All the speculations about the origin cannot be described here.
Animal species, water volumes, area: comparisons of the Sea of Azov with other seas
It is almost 2 times larger in area than Azov, and Chernoye is almost 11 times larger, and, accordingly, in terms of water volume it is 1678 times larger.
And yet, two European states, such as Luxembourg and Belgium, could freely accommodate on this square.
It is interesting to compare the number of species of Mediterranean plants and animals in different seas looking from west to east. In the Mediterranean - more than 6000 species of various organisms, in the Black - 1500, in the Azov - about 200, in the Caspian - about 28, and only 2 species of organisms live in the Aral. This explains the fact that all of them, sometime in the distant past, gradually separated from the Mediterranean Sea.
The water expanses of the Sea of Azov, the area of \u200b\u200bthe territories of the coastline contain a huge number of various species of animals.
There are many diverse waterfowl on the shores: ducks, geese, steppe waders, geese, lapwings, mute swans, black-headed gulls and many others. etc. In the sea and in the mouths of the rivers flowing into it, as well as on the estuaries, a total of 114 species (together with subspecies) of fish live. This body of water is also called the Sea of clams.
And in terms of biological productivity, it ranks first in the world.
Relief underwater
The relief of the bottom of the sea is simple. The depths here generally increase gradually with distance from the coast, and, naturally, the most deep places are located in the very center. Almost flat bottom at Azov.
The entire territory of the Sea of Azov arose thanks to major bays. There are no large islands on it. There are small shoals (Islands Turtle, Biryuchy, etc.).
Climate
The area of almost the entire surface of the water already warms up quickly in April-May. June to September average temperature water is more than 20 ° C, and in July-August it reaches 30 ° C. And in Sivash (for comparison) the water warms up to 42 degrees.
The swimming season lasts 124 days. During this favorable period, there are only a few days of relatively low or very high water and air temperatures.
Due to the small size of the Sea of Azov (area, depth, volume), its influence on the climate of the land surrounding it is rather weak and barely noticeable only in a narrow strip (coastal).
The water here quickly heats up in summer and cools down in the same way in winter. The sea freezes completely only in the most harsh winters. Moreover, throughout the winter, ice forms and thaws several times, since thaws often occur in these places.
In conclusion, some interesting facts
There are some very interesting and curious facts from history.
1. The sea has been part of vast ocean called Tethys by geologists. Its endless expanse stretched from Central America across the Atlantic Ocean, part of Europe, the Black, Mediterranean, Caspian and Aral Sea and further east across India to the Pacific Ocean.
2. Russian prince Gleb in 1068 measured the distance from Kerch to Taman on the ice. The inscription on indicates that the distance from Korchevo to Tmutarakan ( ancient name respectively Kerch and Taman) was about 20 km. It turns out that in 939 years the distance has increased by 3 km.
3. Sea water contains little salt (another feature). As a result, water freezes fairly easily. Therefore, the sea is not navigable from the end of the year (December) until the very middle of April.
The Sea of Azov is the inland sea of Europe, located in its area - 39 thousand square meters. km. The body of water belongs to the pool Atlantic Ocean. The depth of the Sea of Azov is average, does not even reach 10 m, the maximum is about 15 m.
That this reservoir is located deep inside the continent of Eurasia, however, it is not considered completely internal, rather semi-closed. Through a long way - 4 straits and 4 seas - nevertheless, the waters of Azov fall into the ocean. The sea is 380 km long and 200 km wide. The length of the entire coastline is more than 2,500 km.
Historical information
The Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov is considered a fairly young sea. Previously, there was a version that the Don flowed directly into the Black Sea. But Azov was formed presumably between the 5th and 6th millennium BC.
The history of the name of the reservoir is quite interesting. It is worth noting that it has changed several times. Currently, the most plausible version of the origin of the name is directly related to such an indicator as the depth of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov (the average varies from 6 m to 8 m). This reservoir is considered the smallest on planet Earth.
IN ancient time The Sea of Azov often changed its names: the ancient Greeks called it Meotida; Scythians - Kargaluk; the ancient Meotian tribes who lived on the coast in the 1st century BC. They called the sea Temerinda. Modern name entrenched behind the reservoir only at the end of the 18th century - "Azov", which means "low" in Turkic.
Depth of the Sea of Azov: average, minimum, maximum
The Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov will not surprise you with its depths. The highest figure was recorded only in the central part. In this area, the depth practically reaches 13-15 m. This reservoir - perfect place for a holiday with small children, as you need to walk a few meters from the shore until the water reaches at least the waist of an adult. IN coastal zone at a distance of 10 m, the depth varies within 1 m. This indicator increases only when deepening in the sea by 1-2 km, reaching 5 m. From this we can conclude that the depth of the Sea of Azov: average - 7.4 m, and maximum - 13-15 m. But the minimum was recorded in the area between the Elenina spit and the Zhelezinskaya bank. Here there is a relief rise of the bottom, so the depth in these places does not exceed 3-4 m. There are depressions of 9-10 m in the area, and closer to the top - 5 m.
The Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov is also called flat. It is characterized by shallow depths and shallow shores. The depth increases gradually. The coastal slope of the northern and southern regions differs: wide shallow water is widespread in the north, up to 30 km inland, while southern regions have a steep underwater slope.
Features of the reservoir
The shallow depths of the reservoir contribute to the low indicator of the catchment area. It is 586 thousand square meters. km. predominantly flat and sandy, consisting of small shell rock. The width of the beaches tends to be completely submerged during high tides.
At sea they are unstable - they depend on the incoming north and west winds, only one thing is constant here - the local circular counterclockwise.
Bays and spits
The sea is not full of bays. There are only four large ones: Sivash, Obitochny, Berdyansk and there are few islands in the sea. A characteristic feature of the coastline is long spits, which, alternating with the smooth edge of the coast, make coastline rugged. The largest of them is Arbatskaya, its length is 115 km. Except Arbat Spit, Fedotova, Berdyansk, Belosaraiskaya spits crash into the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov. Large rivers flowing into the Sea of Azov - Don, Kuban.
Climatic features
The type of climate characteristic of Azov is temperate continental. Due to the fact that the maximum depth of the Sea of Azov does not exceed 15 m, in summer the water temperature can reach + 20 ... + 25 ° С. in winter in northern regions it drops to 0…-3°С, in the southern ones to 0…+3°С. The sea is covered with ice unevenly and only in coastal areas. In severe winters, the reservoir can freeze completely over the entire territory by 90 cm. The main period for the formation of freeze-up is January.
Salinity
The waters of the Sea of Azov are getting saltier every year. The reason for this is the reduced annual flow of large rivers. The point is that in the 20th century major rivers who carried water to the sea, built reservoirs, thereby significantly reducing the volume of water. And the salinity of Azov is supported by the Black Sea, in which this figure is much higher. According to the latest data, the salinity of the water in the Azov reservoir varies within 13.5% and continues to increase every year. This factor adversely affects the organic world of freshwater species.
natural features
The organic world that inhabits the Azov Sea basin is quite highly productive. Only one representative of mammals is found in the waters. This is an Azov dolphin. In total, there are about 103 fish species that constantly live in the reservoir. Of these, there are those that are most valuable for industry. Anchovy, tyulka, flounder, goby, herring and sturgeon are caught here. Last years the acclimatization of bearings is successfully carried out.
Usage
The coast of the Sea of Azov is successfully used for recreation. Despite the fact that the reservoir is shallow and rather small, it has importance for two states: Russia and Ukraine. In Mariupol and Berdyansk built major ports. The shelf is promising for the search for oil, gas and other minerals. Salt is mined on the Sivash. Since 1999 officially on south coast(at Cape Kazantip) oil is being produced.
Tourism
The climate of the coast is very comfortable for living and recreation. Holiday season here it starts in May and lasts until October, about 150 days in total. The air on the coast is saturated with ions of iodine, bromine, calcium and other trace elements. Mostly the sea is surrounded by a steppe area, small winds always blow here. The shallow depths of the reservoir allow the water to warm up well during the tourist season. The air temperature in summer can reach +45°C in the hottest month - July. Average t° in season +25°…+30°С. Precipitation - 400-600 mm/g, most of it falls in autumn. The average t° of January is 0…+6°С, but due to the winds blowing in the territory and constant air humidity (75-85%), the actual weather condition is much more severe.
The Sea of Azov, due to its shallow depth, has become a favorite place for families, especially with young children. Due to its shallow water, the water warms up well in summer to + 23 ° С. Houses and recreation centers, sanatoriums and dispensaries have been built along the entire coast.
