Azov reservoir. Which sea is better for health, for children - Black or Azov: comparison, map of the coast of the Azov and Black Seas. Which sea is warmer, cleaner, saltier, deeper: Black or Azov? What is the difference between the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov

The Sea of ​​Azov is the shallowest in the world, its depth does not exceed 13.5 m. It is also the warmest, with a record number of sunny days a year and surprisingly gentle sandy shores. Understand that this huge paddling pool is under open sky- Just perfect place for holidays with children, it is not difficult. And, I must say, their "family" status resorts Sea of ​​Azov actively developing: opening new water parks and dolphinariums, improving infrastructure, luring tourists with kids to their boarding houses and hotels in every possible way.

In addition, the Sea of ​​Azov can be safely called unique: the rivers that actively flow into it not only greatly desalinated the reservoir, but also helped to form a surprisingly diverse flora and fauna. Simply put: here is first-class fishing and amazingly picturesque landscapes.

People who know appreciate the Sea of ​​Azov for the right winds: you can’t pull kite and windsurfers by the ears from local stations in Dolzhanka or Golubitskaya.

How to get to the Sea of ​​Azov

There are several major Russian and Ukrainian airports a short distance from the coast of the Sea of ​​Azov. From our side, these are the air hubs of Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Anapa and Simferopol; from Ukrainian - the airport in Mariupol.

The most convenient and fastest way to get to the resorts of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is by air (about 2 hours from Moscow). In second place in popularity is the railway. There are large transport hubs in the same Rostov, Krasnodar, Simferopol, and also in Taganrog and Yeysk. In the summer season, trains, as a rule, run several times a day, but it is better to buy tickets in advance (compartment - from 3800 RUB). Finally, in the summer, direct buses run to many major resorts (from Yeysk to Kerch and beyond). A ticket from Moscow to Kerch costs from 2500 RUB, and to Rostov-on-Don - from 1000 RUB. But you will have to spend at least a day on the way. Prices on the page are for November 2018.

Cities and resorts of the Sea of ​​Azov

The most childish sea in the world can boast great choice beaches, resorts and simply cozy deserted corners where autotourists with tents aspire. From the Russian side (from north to south), everything starts with the old and charming city Ranevskaya and Chekhov - Taganrog. You can also swim here, but still the main thing for which people come here is worthy museum collections and the atmosphere that is still felt county town the end of the 19th century. Next comes Rostov-papa, wise, old, a little sassy, ​​but surprisingly pleasant Southern City, the entrance gate to the land of the sun, warmth and the Sea of ​​Azov. Next - Azov with its thousand years of history, well, and behind it - kilometers and kilometers of sand. It is south of Azov that the main beach mecca: Pavlo-Ochakovskaya spit, Chumbur-Spit, Glazing and handsome Yeysk - largest resort region.

About 20 kilometers from it is the same Dolzhanka, from which water extreme sports of all stripes trudge. Tourists with children echo them - the local sand is too good. Even further south - Primorsko-Akhtarsk, another beach area for those who like to spend their holidays actively, with windsurfing at the ready. Completes resort area on the side Krasnodar Territory the village of Golubitskaya: the abode of sand, therapeutic mud and paragliders. To the west, across the narrow Kerch Strait - Crimea. Here tourists are waiting for the old Kerch, the main dance class of the country Kazantip, as well as a scattering of small and cozy resorts.

On the part of Ukraine, the main wealth of the Sea of ​​​​Azov is the popular Berdyansk health resort and several braids that go far into the sea, natural reserves and simply very beautiful places.

Transport

The main transport in the resort is wheeled. Despite a well-developed network railways, exactly intercity buses and minibuses are more convenient and popular to get from one resort to another. As a rule, tourists, having reached Yeysk, Rostov-on-Don or Krasnodar, transfer to buses, which take them to places of rest. The average fare for short distances is 40-70 RUB, if you need to travel 100-150 km, then the ticket price increases to 400-500 RUB and more.

Resorts usually don't public transport, except for taxis (and, with rare exceptions, minibuses) - simply not. The minimum cost of a taxi ride is 50 RUB, on minibuses - from 25 RUB.

Beaches

The Sea of ​​Azov is the smallest in the world, and, therefore, the warmest. You can comfortably swim here already from mid-May, the season ends at the end of September, or even earlier - the sea cools down too quickly. Almost on the entire coast - fine shell sand, the entrance to the water is gentle, and the depth increases gradually (sometimes, even too gradually). Therefore, the beaches of the Sea of ​​Azov are so loved by families with children - a warm and shallow paddling pool saves parents from close attention to bathing kids. Another "feature" of the local coast is the abundance of secluded and wild areas, which is especially appreciated among fishermen or fans of spending holidays in peace and quiet. For such places, you should go to Achuevskaya, Kamyshevatskaya, or Long Spit. Well, for those who cannot imagine a vacation without beaches that are comfortable and equipped with all sorts of benefits of civilization, there is a direct path to Yeysk or Taman.

The Sea of ​​Azov has two more specializations that are worth mentioning. Firstly, all kinds of healing mud and estuaries, for example, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe village of Golubitskaya. And secondly, developed infrastructure for water extreme sports - kite and windsurfers, especially in the area of ​​Dolzhanka and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

The beaches are mostly municipal, that is, free, with the exception of very rare areas assigned to certain hotels. Renting a deck chair on average costs from 150 to 250 RUB per day, depending on the popularity of the village.

Treatment

Due to the dry hot climate, extensive sandy beaches and good warming of the Sea of ​​Azov, holidays here are ideal for children, so there are many sanatoriums and health camps on its coast.

Sanatorium institutions of Berdyansk, Yeysk, Kerch, Taganrog and other cities and villages offer medical and health programs based on the use of local healing mud. Salt Lake Sivash and smaller lakes of varying degrees of salinity and mineral composition water can have a life-giving effect on a variety of diseases. Natural mineral springs of the region are its recognized wealth and have long been known to specialists in balneology for their remarkable properties. It has been established that the water itself in the Sea of ​​Azov is healing. Due to its small depth, natural mixing of water occurs in its entire thickness, therefore particles of silt, saturated with minerals important for human health, are constantly in the upper layers.

An important factor in the treatment of allergic diseases is dry air, saturated with phytoncides of steppe plants.

Diving

The Sea of ​​Azov is not the best spot for divers, despite its depth (very, very small) and good temperature (it is difficult to freeze here). But this reservoir has one terrible property for diving - disgusting visibility. Therefore, it is customary to dive into the sea early, early in the morning, when it was barely dawn and until the daytime breeze turned over all the turbidity at the bottom. Then there is a chance to see at a depth of 5-6 m a lot of the remains of ships from the Second World War. Alas, most of them are heavily covered with mud or have changed almost beyond recognition, which does not detract from the value and fantasticness of the picture they saw - combat vehicles sleepily immersed in the abyss of water, finding their eternal refuge at the bottom of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov.

Diving is offered far from everywhere, but only in more or less developed resort villages where constant strong winds do not blow. For example, in Kuchugury or Yeysk.

Sea of ​​Azov Hotels

On the coast of the Sea of ​​​​Azov, there are many hotels, boarding houses, guest houses offering accommodation different type, for different money and with varying degrees comfort. The only thing that is the same is that guests are always welcome here, if only because the resort business brings considerable income to local residents.

It can be seen with the naked eye that, in general, the prices for living on the Sea of ​​Azov are lower than in the Crimea or in Krasnodar Territory, and lower by 30 percent. Another feature is the abundance of proposals from the private sector. Of course, houses and apartments are rented all over the world. Black Sea coast, but perhaps in the area coast of Azov there are a lot of such options.

A room in a 2-3 * hotel in the season can be found from 1400 RUB, apartments will cost about the same amount, but it will not be one room with a bed, but a whole apartment, it happens that it is not a one-room apartment.

What to bring

The set of souvenirs is obscenely standard - shells and crafts made from them, all kinds of boats and figurines of a marine theme, postcards, magnets, plates, juniper products, products of local alcoholic beverages and wineries(of course, very good, especially in the Taman region). The local fish stands apart - smoked, dried and simply delicious.

The best photos of the Sea of ​​Azov

Entertainment and attractions

Exceptionally well located in the very center of Byzantine and medieval life, the Sea of ​​Azov boasts a lot of worthy sights. Just think about it: on the one hand, it washes the Crimean peninsula, about the palaces, monasteries and parks of which only the lazy have not heard. On the other hand, Taman, a marvelous land full of ancient ruins and mud volcanoes. Only an encyclopedia could fully describe the sights of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, therefore we will briefly go over only the main places.

The main museum collections of the region are kept by Taganrog, Rostov-on-Don and Azov. Perhaps only Krasnodar or Yalta can compete with these cities in terms of expositions, but that's a completely different story. Taganrog, first of all, attracts attention with its museum collections dedicated to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. Azov - military history, but the status obliges the museums of Rostov-on-Don to be one of the leading ones in the region.

Something "older" can be found in Taman, more precisely - in the ruins of Phanagoria, already several millennia old. Right there, in the neighborhood, there are a lot of natural sights: the Tizdar mud volcano, and no less mud lake in Golubitskaya, and the famous Lotus Valley, and protected area"Taman Switzerland".

Tired of the idyll of pastoral landscapes, you can have a good break in local water parks, dolphinariums or kite stations. Sea of ​​Azov, despite its family status, is considered one of the most extreme. The right winds blow here, allowing you to quickly get on the surf and catch a good wave - moderately fast and moderately calm.

Sea of ​​Azov for children

Amazing beaches, well, very warm water and shallow depth - already enough reason to take the children to the Sea of ​​Azov. Well, in case the guys get tired of the monotony of swimming in the sea (hard to believe), you can take them to the water park: "Nemo" in Yeysk, "Azure" in Taganrog, "Cape of Good Hope" near Berdyansk, "Treasure Island" in Kirillovka, "Amazons" in Golubitskaya. Will it be too little? In the same Yeisk, Berdyansk, Kirillovka and Golubitskaya there are also their own dolphinariums - with colorful performances with fur seals and dolphins.

In addition, it is worth going with the whole family to river trip towards the Lotus Valley or visit the village of Ataman, where the life of the Cossacks is recreated. And in ethnographic complex"Circassian village" whole theatrical shows with horses, dances and national dishes are held.

Weather on the Sea of ​​Azov

The climate in most of the cities of the Sea of ​​Azov is temperate continental, with mild winters and hot summers. Spring comes early, autumn lasts a long time, and winters tend to have little snow. Due to the shallow depth of the sea, almost its entire surface is covered with ice in winter, but, again, this is highly dependent on temperature. But in summer, it is the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov that is the warmest, in some years the water warmed up to fantastic +32 ° C, although the normal temperature of the reservoir near the coast at the height of the season is +24 ... +26 ° С.

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, this area could easily accommodate two European states such as Luxembourg and Belgium.

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.

Water expanses of the Sea of ​​Azov, area of ​​territories coastline contain a wide variety of animal species.

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. From June to September, the average water temperature 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. In that favorable period here only a few days there is a relatively low or very high temperature of water and air.

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. For many millions of years, the sea was part of a huge 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 testifies that the distance from Korchevo to Tmutarakan (the ancient name of Kerch and Taman, respectively) 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 located in the south of the European part of Russia. It is connected by narrow (up to 4 km) and shallow (4–3 m) Kerch Strait With .

The Sea of ​​Azov is the shallowest and one of the smallest seas in the world. Its area is 39 thousand km2, the volume of water is 290 km3, average depth- 7 m, greatest depth- 15 m.

The sea has a relatively simple outline. The northern coast is flat, steep, with alluvial sandbars. In the west, it separates from the sea a bay, which is connected to the sea by the Genik Strait. In the southeast, the delta of the Kuban River stretches for 100 km with extensive floodplains and numerous channels. The Kuban River flows into the Temryuk Bay. In the northeast, it juts out into the land for 140 km, the most big bay sea ​​- Taganrog, the top of which is the delta of the Don River.

Shallow shores of the sea pass into a flat flat bottom. Depths gradually increase with distance from the coast. Most great depths are located in the central part of the sea, the depths in the Taganrog Bay are from 2 to 9 m. Mud volcanoes are known in the Temryuk Bay.

Almost all river runoff into the sea (more than 90%) comes from the Don and Kuban rivers. The vast majority of runoff falls on the spring-summer season.

The main exchange of the waters of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov occurs through the Kerch Strait with. According to long-term average data, about 49 km3 of water annually flows out of the Sea of ​​Azov as surface runoff. The resulting runoff of water from the Sea of ​​Azov to the Black Sea is about 15 km3/year.

The climate of the Sea of ​​Azov, deeply penetrating into the land, is continental. It is characterized by cold winters, dry and hot summers. In the autumn-winter season, the weather is determined by the influence of the spur of the Siberian anticyclone with a predominance of east and northeast winds at a speed of 4–7 m/s. Strengthening the impact of this spur causes strong winds (up to 15 m/s) and is accompanied by cold air intrusions. The average monthly temperature in January is –1…–5°С, during northeastern storms it drops to –25…–27°С.

Warm, clear weather with light winds prevails in spring and summer. In July average monthly temperature throughout the sea is 23–25°C, and the maximum is more than 30°C. During this season, especially in spring, Mediterranean cyclones quite often pass over the sea, accompanied by western and southwestern winds at a speed of 4–6 m/s, and sometimes squalls.

The main types of bottom sediments common in the Sea of ​​Azov are silts, silts, sands, shell rocks and sediments of a mixed type.
Silts accumulate in the deepest parts, in a hydrodynamically calm environment and occupy the maximum areas of distribution. Silts are transitional varieties bordering the central part of the reservoir and accumulating at a slight distance from the shore and in the apex of the Taganrog Bay. Sands and shell rocks are most widespread on accumulative forms, sand and shell banks, as well as spits and beaches.

The small size and shallow depths of the sea contribute to the rapid development of wind waves. A few hours after the start of the wind, the wave reaches a steady state and just as quickly fades when the wind stops. The waves are short, steep, in the open sea they reach a height of 1–2 m, sometimes up to 3 m.

Interannual fluctuations in sea level, determined by long-term changes in the components of the water balance, are several centimeters. Seasonal level changes mainly depend on the regime. The annual course of the level is characterized by its increase in the spring-summer months and decrease in autumn and winter, the range of fluctuations is on average 20 cm.

The winds prevailing over the sea cause significant surge fluctuations in the level. The most significant level rises were noted in Taganrog - up to 6 m.

With sharp changes and wind in the Sea of ​​Azov, seiches can occur - free standing fluctuations in the level. In the water areas of ports, seiches are excited with periods of several hours.

Currents in the sea are excited mainly by the wind. The slope of the level, created as a result of the action of the wind, causes compensatory currents. In the pre-estuary areas of the Don and Kuban rivers, runoff currents are traced.

Under the action of the western and south-western winds, a clockwise circulation of waters is formed in the sea. Cyclonic circulation is also excited by easterly and northeasterly winds, which are stronger in the northern part of the sea. With the same winds, but stronger in the southern part of the sea, the currents have an anticyclonic character. At weak winds and calms, slight currents of alternating directions are noted.

Since weak and moderate winds prevail over the sea, currents with speeds up to 10 cm/s have the highest frequency. At strong winds(15–20 m/s) current velocities are 60–70 cm/s.

In the Kerch Strait, with northern winds, a current from the Sea of ​​Azov is observed, and with winds with a southern component, Black Sea water enters the sea. The prevailing current velocities in the strait increase from 10–20 to 30–40 cm/s in its narrowest part. After strong winds compensatory currents develop in the strait.

Ice forms annually on the Sea of ​​Azov, and the ice coverage strongly depends on the nature of winter. In moderate winters, by the beginning of December, ice forms in the Taganrog Bay. During December, fast ice is established along the northern coast of the sea, and a little later - along the other coasts. The width of the fast ice strip is from 1.5 km in the south to 6 km in the north. In the central part of the sea, only at the end of January - beginning of February, floating ice appears, which then freezes into ice fields of high density (9–10 points). The ice cover reaches its maximum development in the first half of February, when its thickness is 30–40 cm, in the Taganrog Bay - 60–80 cm.

Ice conditions during the winter are unstable. When changing cold and warm air masses and wind fields over the sea, ice fields are repeatedly broken and drifted, and hummocks are formed. In mild winters, the central part of the sea is usually free of ice; ice is observed only along the coast, in bays and estuaries.

The clearing of the sea from ice in mild winters occurs during March, first in southern regions and estuaries, then - in the north and last of all - in the Taganrog Bay. The average duration of the ice period is 4.5 months.

In winter, almost throughout the entire water area, the water temperature on the surface is negative or close to zero, only near the Kerch Strait it rises to 1–3°C. In summer, throughout the sea, the temperature on the surface is uniform - 24–25 ° С. Maximum values in July-August in the open sea it reaches 28°C, and off the coast it can exceed 30°C.
The shallowness of the sea contributes to the rapid spread of wind and convective mixing to the bottom, which leads to the alignment of the vertical temperature distribution: its difference in most cases does not exceed 1°C. However, in summer, when there is calm, a layer of temperature jump is formed, which limits the exchange with the bottom layers.

The spatial distribution of salinity under conditions of natural inflow of river waters was rather uniform, horizontal gradients were observed only in the Taganrog Bay, at the outlet of which salinity 6–8‰ prevailed. In the water area of ​​the open sea, salinity was within 10–11‰. Vertically, in almost all areas, gradients were observed sporadically, mainly due to the influx of Black Sea waters. Seasonal changes did not exceed 1‰, only in the Taganrog Bay they increased under the influence of the intra-annual runoff distribution.

Hydrocarbon fields of the Sea of ​​Azov

Two areas are distinguished in the Sea of ​​Azov: the oil and gas Indolo-Kuban, which corresponds to the trough of the same name in the structure of the basement and sedimentary cover, and the gas-bearing West Ciscaucasian, which includes almost the entire rest of the water area, with the exception of the eastern part of the Taganrog Bay. The latter is assigned to the Central Ciscaucasian gas-bearing region.

The oil and gas potential of the Sea of ​​Azov is associated with a wide range of deposits. It includes pre-Cretaceous (Triassic) deposits of the transitional (intermediate) complex and Cretaceous-Cenozoic sequences of the sedimentary cover of the Scythian plate. According to the data of deep exploratory drilling and well testing, five oil and gas bearing and promising complexes have been identified in the water area: pre-Cretaceous, Lower Cretaceous, Upper Cretaceous-Eocene, Maikop and Middle Miocene-Pliocene. At the same time, industrial productivity was established only in the deposits of the Maikop series and the Middle-Upper Miocene, in which gas deposits were discovered.

In the Western Ciscaucasian region, in the zone Azov shaft Maikop deposits are productive in Morskaya, Small, Zapadno-Beisugskaya, Beisugskaya and Strelkovaya areas. The gas content of the Middle-Upper Miocene deposits was established in the Obruchevskaya, Signalnaya, Zapadno-Beisugskaya and Oktyabrskaya areas. It should be noted that in the Beisugskaya area, which is, as it were, the boundary between the local uplifts of the Azov and Kanevsko-Berezansky swells, the main gas reserves are associated with the Eocene sandy-clayey formations of the Tikhoretskaya and Cherkasskaya formations; Lower Cretaceous deposits are also productive, although their gas reserves are insignificant.

In the offshore part of the Indolo-Kuban region, industrial gas content has been established in the Middle Miocene clay-carbonate formations in the Severo-, Severo-Bulganakskaya, Severo- and Vostochno- and Seismic exploration areas.

All gas deposits identified in the water area are located in the depth interval of 300–1500 m, reservoir pressures in them are close to hydrostatic ones, the initial well flow rates are small and amount to a few tens of thousands of m3/day.

The volume of predicted hydrocarbon resources in the Sea of ​​Azov, estimated in 2002, amounted to about 1.5 billion tons of reference fuel (CF), including 757.4 million tons of fuel equivalent in the Russian sector of the Sea of ​​Azov. Of these, in the Indolo-Kuban trough - 35.7 million tons of coal fuel, at the Timashovskaya step - 372.8 million tons of coal fuel, on the Azov swell - 342.1 million tons of coal fuel and in the North Azov trough - 6.9 million tons of coal fuel.

Until recently, the Sea of ​​Azov was the most productive fishing reservoir in the world. The ichthyofauna of the Sea of ​​Azov has a complex genesis and includes representatives of various faunal complexes - Mediterranean, Ponto-Caspian, boreal-Atlantic and freshwater. Currently, it includes 103 species and subspecies of fish. Of these, 14 species are rare, endangered and vulnerable - 7. The number of marine species is 39, freshwater - 8, anadromous and catadromous migrants - 14, brackish water - 42. The average catch per unit of its water area was 70–80 kg/ha. In the second half of the 1930s, the annual catches of “white” and “red” fish, together with herring, reached 140–170 thousand tons.

This was mainly determined by exceptionally favorable physical-geographical and, in particular, hydrometeorological conditions, which include:

• the inland location of the Sea of ​​Azov in temperate latitudes on the southern margin of the Russian Plain;
• temperate continental climate;
• a large influx of total solar radiation (from 4.9 to 5.3 thousand MJ / m2), positive for the year, causing a relatively high average annual and summer (11.5 ° C and 24–25 ° C, respectively);
• the character that determines, in particular, the intense wind mixing of waters;
• a large, relative to the volume of the sea, inflow of nutrient-rich river waters, which leads to a positive freshwater balance;
• reduced, approximately three times, in comparison with the waters of the ocean, salinity;
• high concentrations of biogenic salts in its waters (total nitrogen on average 1000 mg/m3, including mineral - 120 mg/m3; total phosphorus - 65 mg/m3, including mineral - 9 mg/m3; silicon - 570 mg/m3; m3).

To a large extent, the high fish productivity of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov was associated with the presence of huge areas (most of which are now lost as a result of hydraulic engineering), floodplain and estuary spawning grounds for anadromous and semi-anadromous fish, whose reproduction was ensured by a high and long spring (55% of the annual volume in the natural period and 29% in modern) or spring-summer flood.

Characterized by low inertia and rapid response to the variability of river runoff and processes that determine the large spatial and temporal variability of not only hydrophysical and parameters, but also biological characteristics.

At present, due to the impact economic activity(mainly irrational fishing), commercial catches in the Azov Sea basin do not exceed 40 thousand tons, and the basis of the catches are only low-value fish species: tyulka, anchovy, gobies, as well as an acclimatized species - pilengas. Such valuable fish species as sturgeon, herring, fish, shemaya, bream, carp, etc., which in the recent past formed the basis of fishing, have now almost completely lost their commercial value.

The regulation of the Don River in 1952 (the creation of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir), the reduction in runoff by 13–15 km3 per year, and other consequences of economic activity in the sea basin caused serious negative changes in the sea ecosystem.

The decrease in the annual runoff of the Don River by 30%, a significant reduction in the volume of floods caused a decrease in the area of ​​spawning grounds, violated the conditions for the reproduction of freshwater species.

The amount and composition of biogenic substances entering the sea and their distribution throughout the year have changed greatly. Most of suspended matter settles in the Tsimlyansk reservoir; their quantity introduced into the sea in spring and early summer has significantly decreased; the supply of mineral forms of phosphorus and nitrogen was reduced, and the number of organic forms, which are more difficult to assimilate by organisms, increased sharply. Nutrients reaching the sea are mainly consumed in the Taganrog Bay and are carried out to the open sea in small quantities.

The pollution of river and sea waters has increased with various harmful chemicals - phenols, in some areas of the sea - with oil products. The greatest pollution is observed in the mouth areas of the Don and Kuban rivers and in the water areas adjacent to major ports. These environmental changes have led to a sharp drop in the biological productivity of the sea. The forage base of fish has decreased several times, and the total catches, mainly of valuable fish species, have decreased.

The water management situation in the sea basin is very tense. Currently, an average of about 28 km3 enters the sea river water in year. With such a volume of runoff, it is possible to maintain its salinity within 13–14‰. A further increase in water consumption in the basin of the reservoir is unacceptable, as this will cause an irreversible increase in salinity to the level of the Black Sea and will lead to a deterioration in the conditions for the habitat of the most valuable marine organisms.

The Sea of ​​Azov, especially its Russian part, is a zone favorable for the accumulation of various pollutants, primarily because the bottom of this basin is almost completely covered with silts of various compositions that accumulate various pollutants. At the same time, most of the main sources of these pollutants are concentrated in the Russian part of this basin. These are, first of all, the large rivers Don and Kuban, as well as a number of port cities, including such big center like Rostov-on-Don. Almost all such sources are located in the Taganrog Bay, and Mariupol, which is one of the main polluters, is located on the territory, its influence is also felt in the Russian part of the bay. In addition, the Taganrog Bay has the largest length of abrasion shores in the Sea of ​​Azov, many sections of which are subject to catastrophic erosion. Thus, the Taganrog Bay and its shores are the least ecologically stable in the entire Sea of ​​Azov. Smaller pollution zones associated with the removal of pollutants from land are outlined on the pre-estuary seashore of the Kuban and at the mouth of its Ponura channel, where water comes from rice paddies.

An important place in the Sea of ​​Azov in terms of the nature of pollution is occupied by a special strip of water area - the route of passage of ships from the Kerch Strait to the Taganrog Bay. Special in terms of environmental hazard area on Russian coast The Sea of ​​​​Azov is a zone of Kuban floodplains from Primorsko-Akhtarsk to Temryuk. Over the past 100 years, this entire area has twice been subjected to catastrophic flooding during storm surges from the northwest.

Recreational resources

The total length of the Sea of ​​Azov (within Russia) is about 1000 km and covers a vast territory within the Rostov Region and the Krasnodar Territory. The coastal zone of the sea has favorable natural and climatic conditions for the development of recreational economy. Recreational resources flat territory and the Eastern Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, of course, lose popular resorts the Black Sea, but upon closer examination, they can make a certain contribution to solving the problems of treatment and active rest population. At present, it is expedient to use the territory for the creation of recreational types of systems proper (that is, only for recreation), the organization of medical resort areas is possible only on the basis of deposits mineral waters and therapeutic mud. Favorable natural conditions (sunshine, warm sea, sandy beaches, the presence of balneological sources) create a relatively favorable combination for the organization of recreation, tourism and, possibly, treatment, designed to meet the needs various groups population. To improve the recreational qualities of the territory, it is necessary to resume work on the preparation of a regional program for recreational nature management, the creation of a network of medical and recreational enterprises that use the local natural potential and are designed primarily for local resident, as well as measures to develop norms and recommendations for the rational use of the coastal zone.

Located in the south and eastern parts 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 some places, which makes it attractive for family vacation. 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 is endowed with healing and preventive properties: swimming in the sea enhances the respiratory function of the body, improves blood circulation, and 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.