The Caspian Sea is fresh or salt water. Shipping is developed in the Caspian Sea. Ferry crossings operate on the Caspian Sea, in particular, Baku - Turkmenbashi, Baku - Aktau, Makhachkala - Aktau. The Caspian Sea has a navigable connection with the Sea of ​​Azov

The Caspian Sea is a residual (relic) body of water of the much larger Khvalyn Sea, which once occupied the entire Caspian lowland. In the era of the Khvalynsk transgression, when the level of the Caspian Sea was much higher than the present, it was connected to the Black Sea through a strait that passed on the site of the Kumo-Manych lowland. The modern Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world, only for its size it is ranked among the seas. The area of ​​its water surface is 424,000 km2. Sea level after ice age decreased and currently lies 28 m below sea level.

Geographic location of the Caspian Sea. Extended map

The huge basin of the Caspian Sea is morphologically divided into three parts:
1) northern- shallow water (less than 10 m), separated from the middle part by a line passing from the mouth of the Terek to the Mangyshlak peninsula,
2) middle- with an average depth of 200 m and a maximum depth of 790 m and
3) southern- the deepest greatest depth up to 980 m and with an average of 325 m.
Deep depressions in the middle and southern parts of the sea are separated by an underwater sill running from Absheron Peninsula to Krasnovodsk.

Water balance of the Caspian Sea

The bays of the Caspian Sea - Kaydak, Komsomolets and Kara-Bogaz-Gol - are shallow. The first two have now dried up and turned into litter due to the lowering of the sea level. The Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay, in essence, is a huge shallow (up to 10 m deep) independent lake, with an area equal to Lake Ladoga. The salinity of the waters of the Caspian Sea is relatively low, on average about 12.6°/oo, which is about 3 times less than the salinity of the waters of the world ocean.

A large number of tributaries flow into the Caspian Sea: the Volga, Ural, Terek, Kura, etc. The Volga is of primary importance for it, delivering about 80% of the total annual inflow into the sea, equal to approximately 325 km 3. All this huge mass of water entering the sea evaporates from its surface into the atmosphere. The Caspian Sea is considered drainless, but this is not entirely true. In fact, it has a constant flow into the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay, the level of which is 0.5-1.0 m lower than the level of the Caspian Sea. Kara-Bogaz-Gol is separated from the sea by a narrow sandy spit, leaving a strait up to 200 m wide in places. Through this strait, water flows from the Caspian Sea to the bay (an average of more than 20 / km 3 per year), which, therefore, plays the role of a giant evaporator. The water in the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay reaches exceptionally high salinity (169°/oo).

Kara-Bogaz-Gol has great importance for the chemical industry. This is literally an inexhaustible source for the extraction of mirabilite. In relation to the Caspian Sea, Kara-Bogaz-Gol plays an important role as a kind of watermaker. If there were no runoff from the sea to Kara-Bogaz-Gol, its salinity would increase. In table. 1 shows the water balance of the Caspian Sea according to B. D. Zaikov.

Table 1. Water balance of the Caspian Sea

The rivers carry a huge amount of sandy-silty sediments into the Caspian Sea. The Volga, Terek and Kura annually bring about 88 million tons of sediment. Approximately the same amount (71 million tons) comes in the form of a runoff of chemically dissolved substances.

In the Caspian Sea, there are more or less constant currents with a general counterclockwise direction. IN summer time the waters of the Caspian Sea are very warm, and the water temperature near the surface reaches 25-27 ° (see Fig. 84). In winter, the sea cools slowly and for the most part maintains a positive temperature (1 °). Only its shallow water freezes Northern part, where they appear annually floating ice and the ice cover is established. There are no ice phenomena in the middle and southern parts of the sea.

The Caspian Sea is one of the seas that do not have tidal currents. Fluctuations in water level are relatively small. If we take into account historical data, then the long-term amplitude of level fluctuations can be taken equal to 5 m. The low standing of the sea level in the past is evidenced by the ruins of a caravanserai under water in the region of Baku, as well as a number of other historical data.

Lowering of the level of the Caspian Sea

At the very beginning of the 19th century, the sea level was very high and reached 700 cm. Then, starting from 1930. In 15 years (from 1930 to 1945), the sea level fell by almost 2 m, As a result, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bits water surface decreased almost 20,000 km2. The shallow bays of Kaydak and Komsomolets have dried up and turned into sores, and in some places the modern sea has receded by 10 km or more. The lowering of the level caused great difficulties in the work of the ports of the Caspian coast and sharply worsened the conditions of navigation, especially in the Northern Caspian. In this regard, the problem of the level of the Caspian Sea in the 20th century attracted much attention.

There are two points of view on the issue of the reasons for the decrease in the level of the Caspian Sea. According to one of them, the lowering of the level is explained by geological factors, i.e., the ongoing slow sinking of the coast and the entire basin. In favor of this view are known facts lowering of the seashores in the region of Baku and in other places. Proponents of another, hydrometeorological point of view (B. A. Apollon, B. D. Zaikov, and others) see the main reason for the decrease in sea level in a change in the ratio of elements of the water balance. As B. D. Zaikov showed, the drop in the level of the Caspian Sea is connected and explained by the exceptionally low water content of the Volga in 1930-1945; its flow was significantly below the norm. As for the influence of epeirogenic fluctuations on the level of the Caspian Sea, their role is apparently very insignificant, since the magnitude of the ongoing lowering of the coast and the bottom of the sea is calculated in millimeters.

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

Story

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

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

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

1. Abeskun.
2. Derbent.
3. Saray.
4. Sihai.
5. Dzhurdzhanskoe.
6. Hyrcanian.

Depth and relief

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

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

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

Coastline Features

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

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

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

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

Reservoir nutrition

About one hundred and thirty rivers flow into the Caspian. Most of them flow in the north and west. The main river flowing into the sea is the Volga. Approximately ninety percent of the volume of runoff falls on three large rivers: the Volga (80%), the Kura (6%) and the Urals (5%). Five percent - to the Terek, Sulak and Samur, and the remaining four bring small rivers and streams of Iran.

Caspian resources

The pond has amazing beauty, the diversity of ecosystems and the richest reserves natural resources. When there are frosts in its northern part, magnolias and apricots bloom in the south.

Relic flora and fauna have been preserved in the Caspian Sea, including the largest flock of sturgeons. As the marine flora evolved, it changed more than once, adjusting to salinization and desalination. As a result, there are many freshwater species in these waters, but few marine ones.

After the Volga-Don Canal was built, new types of algae appeared in the reservoir, which were previously found in the Black and Azov Seas. Now there are 854 animal species in the Caspian Sea, of which 79 are vertebrates, and over 500 plant species. This unique sea-lake provides up to 80% of the world's sturgeon catch and about 95% of black caviar.

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

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

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

Caspian Sea short description drainless salt lake of Eurasia and the largest lake on the planet is described in this article. The information about the Caspian Sea will help you prepare for the lessons.

Caspian Sea: report

This water body is located at the geographical junction of Europe and Asia. The water level is 28 m below the level of the oceans. For my long history The Caspian Sea "changed" more than 70 names. And my modern name it received from ancient tribe Caspians, who were engaged in horse breeding and settled along the southwestern shore of the lake.

Salinity of the Caspian Sea not constant: near the mouth of the Volga River, it is 0.05%, and in the southeast the figure increases to 13%. The area of ​​the water body today is about 371,000 km2, the maximum depth of the Caspian Sea is 1025 m.

Features of the Caspian Sea

Scientists conditionally divided the lake-sea into 3 natural zones:

• Northern
• Average
• Southern

Each of them has a different depth and composition of water. For example, the smallest part of the North. It flows here deep river Volga, therefore, the salinity is the lowest here. And the southern part is the deepest, and, accordingly, salty.

The Caspian was formed more than 10 million years ago. It can be called part of the ancient super-ocean Tethys, which once ran between the African, Indian and Eurasian continental plates. Its long history is also evidenced by the nature of the bottom and geological coastal deposits. The length of the coastline is 6500 - 6700 km, and taking into account the islands up to 7000 km.

The shores of the Caspian Sea are predominantly smooth and low-lying. The northern part of the coastline is indented by islands and channels of the Ural and Volga deltas. The shore is swampy and low, covered with thickets. The east coast is characterized by limestone coasts that adjoin deserts and semi-deserts. The west and east coasts have winding coastlines.

Where does the Caspian Sea flow into?

Since the Caspian is an endorheic reservoir, it is logical that it does not flow anywhere. But 130 rivers flow into it. The largest of them are Terek, Volga, Emba, Ural, Kura, Atrek, Samur.

Climate of the Caspian

The climate is continental in the northern part of the sea, temperate in the middle part and subtropical in the southern part. in winter average temperature ranges from - 8 ... - 10 (northern part) to +8 ... + 10 ( South part). Summer average temperature ranges from +24 (northern part) to +27 (southern part). On east coast was fixed Maximum temperature- 44 degrees.

Animal and plant world

The fauna is diverse and includes 1809 species. 415 invertebrates, 101 species of fish live in the sea. It is concentrated most of world reserves of zander, sturgeon, roach, carp. In the Caspian Sea there are carp, mullet, bream, sprat, perch, kutum, pike, as well as such a large mammal as the Caspian seal.

The flora is represented by 728 species. The sea is dominated by diatoms, brown, red, blue-green, charophytes, ruppia and zostera.

Importance of the Caspian Sea

On its territory there are many reserves of gas and oil, the deposits of which are at the development stage. Scientists have calculated that oil resources are 10 billion tons, and gas condensate - 20 billion tons. The first oil well was drilled in 1820 on the Absheron shelf. Limestone, sand, salt, stone, and clay are also mined on its shelf.

In addition, the Caspian Sea is popular among tourists. Resort modern zones are being created on its shores, mineral water and dirt contribute to the development health-improving complexes and sanatoriums. Most famous resorts- Amburan, Nardaran, Zagulba, Bilgah.

Environmental problems of the Caspian Sea

The waters of the sea are polluted as a result of the extraction and transportation of gas and oil on the shelf. Pollutants also come from the rivers flowing into it. Poaching of sturgeon caviar led to a decrease in the number of these fish.

We hope that the report on the Caspian Sea helped you prepare for the lesson. And you can add an essay about the Caspian Sea through the comment form below.

The territory of Russia is washed by twelve seas belonging to the basins of three oceans. But one of these seas - the Caspian - is often called a lake, which sometimes confuses people who are poorly versed in geography.

Meanwhile, it is really more correct to call the Caspian a lake, not a sea. Why? Let's figure it out.

A bit of geography. Where is the Caspian Sea located?

Occupying an area that exceeds 370,000 square kilometers, the Caspian Sea stretches from north to south, dividing Europe and Asia with its water surface. Its coastline belongs to five different countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Geographers conditionally divide its water area into three parts: Northern (25% of the area), Middle (36% of the area) and South Caspian (39% of the area), which differ in climate, geological setting and natural features. Coastline mostly gentle, indented by river channels, covered with vegetation, and in the northern part, where the Volga flows into the Caspian, it is also swampy.

The Caspian Sea has about 50 large and small islands, about a dozen bays and six major peninsulas. In addition to the Volga, about 130 rivers flow into it, and nine rivers form fairly wide and branched deltas. The annual drainage of the Volga is about 120 cubic kilometers. Shared with others major rivers- Terek, Ural, Emba and Sulak - this is up to 90% of the total annual runoff to the Caspian Sea.

Why is the Caspian called a lake?

The main feature of any sea is the presence of straits connecting it with the ocean. The Caspian Sea is a closed, or endorheic body of water, which takes in river water, but does not connect to any ocean.


Its water contains a very small amount of salt compared to other seas (about 0.05%) and is considered slightly salty. Due to the lack of at least one strait connecting with the ocean, the Caspian Sea is often called the largest lake in the world, since the lake is completely closed reservoir, which is fed only by river water.

The waters of the Caspian Sea are not subject to international maritime laws, and its water area is divided among all countries that adjoin it, in proportion to the coastline.

Why is the Caspian called the sea?

Despite all of the above, most often in geography, as well as in international and domestic documents, the name “Caspian Sea” is used, and not “Caspian Lake”. First of all, this is due to the size of the reservoir, which is much more typical for the sea than for the lake. Even, which is much smaller in area than the Caspian, locals often referred to as the sea. There are no other lakes in the world whose shores belong to five different countries at the same time.

In addition, attention should be paid to the structure of the bottom, which near the Caspian Sea has a pronounced oceanic type. Once the Caspian Sea, most likely, was connected with the Mediterranean, but tectonic processes and drying up separated it from the World Ocean. More than fifty islands are located in the Caspian Sea, and the area of ​​some of them is quite large, even by international standards they are considered large. All this makes it possible to call the Caspian a sea, not a lake.

origin of name

Why is this sea (or lake) called Caspian? The origin of any name is often associated with ancient history terrain. Different peoples who lived on the shores of the Caspian called it differently. More than seventy names of this reservoir have been preserved in history - it was called the Hyrcanian, Derbent, Sarai Sea, etc.


Iranians and Azerbaijanis still call it the Khazar Sea. It began to be called Caspian by the name of the ancient tribe of nomadic horse breeders who lived in the steppes adjacent to its coast - a large tribe of Caspians. It was they who gave the name to large lake on our planet - the Caspian Sea.

The Caspian Sea is simultaneously considered as drainless lake, and a full-fledged sea. The reasons for this confusion are brackish waters and a marine-like hydrological regime.

The Caspian Sea is located on the border of Asia and Europe. Its area is about 370 thousand km 2, the maximum depth is just over one kilometer. The Caspian has a conditional division into three almost equal parts: Southern (39% of the area), Middle (36%) and Northern (25%).

The sea washes simultaneously Russian, Kazakh, Azerbaijani, Turkmen and Iranian shores.

Coast of the Caspian Sea(Caspian) has a length of about 7 thousand kilometers, if you count together with the islands. In the north, the low sea coast is covered with swamps and thickets, and has multiple water channels. Eastern and West Coast The Caspian has a sinuous shape, in some places the coast is covered with limestone.

There are many islands in the Caspian Sea: Dash-Zira, Kyur Dashi, Dzhambaisky, Boyuk-Zira, Gum, Chigil, Khere-Zira, Zenbil, Ogurchinsky, Tyuleniy, Ashur-Ada, etc. Peninsulas: Mangyshlak, Tyub-Karagan, Absheron and Miankale. Their total area equals approximately 400 km 2.

flows into the Caspian Sea more than a hundred different rivers, the most significant are the Ural, Terek, Volga, Atrek, Emba, Samur. Almost all of them provide the sea with 85-95% of the annual runoff.

The largest bays of the Caspian Sea: Kaydak, Agrakhansky, Kazakh, Dead Kultuk, Turkmenbashi, Mangyshlak, Gyzlar, Girkan, Kaydak.

Climate of the Caspian

The Caspian is located in three climatic zones: subtropical climate in the south, continental in the north and temperate in the middle part. In winter, the average temperature varies from -10 to +10 degrees, while in summer the air warms up to about +25 degrees. During the year falls from 110 mm of precipitation in the east and up to 1500 mm in the west.

The average wind speed is 3–7 m/s, but in autumn and winter it often increases to 35 m/s. The windiest areas are coastal areas Makhachkala, Derbent and the Absheron Peninsula.

Water temperature in the Caspian Sea fluctuates from zero to +10 degrees in winter, and from 23 to 28 degrees in summer months. In some coastal shallow waters, the water can warm up to 35‒40 degrees.

Only the northern part of the sea is subject to freezing, but in especially cold winters, coastal zones middle part. The ice cover appears in November and disappears only in March.

Problems of the Caspian region

Water pollution is one of the main environmental issues Caspian. Oil production, various harmful substances from flowing rivers, waste from nearby cities - all this adversely affects the state of sea ​​water. Additional troubles are created by poachers, whose actions reduce the number of fish of certain species found in the Caspian Sea.

Sea level rise also causes serious financial damage to all the Caspian countries.

According to conservative estimates, the restoration of destroyed buildings and the implementation of comprehensive measures to protect the coast from flooding costs tens of millions of dollars.

Cities and resorts on the Caspian Sea

by the most major city and the port washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea is Baku. Among the others settlements Azerbaijan, located in close proximity to the sea, are Sumgayit and Lankaran. On eastern shores the city of Turkmenbashi is located, and about ten kilometers from it by the sea is the large Turkmen resort Avaza.

On the Russian side, the following cities are located on the seashore: Makhachkala, Izberbash, Derbent, Lagan and Kaspiysk. Astrakhan is also often called a port city, although it is located about 65 kilometers from northern shores Caspian.

Astrakhan

Beach holidays in this region are not provided: along sea ​​coast there are only continuous reed thickets. However, tourists go to Astrakhan not for idle lying on the beach, but for fishing and various types active rest: diving, catamaran, jet skiing, etc. In July and August, excursion boats ply the Caspian.

Dagestan

For a classic seaside vacation, it is better to go to Makhachkala, Kaspiysk or Izberbash - this is where not only good sandy beaches but also decent recreation facilities. The range of entertainment on the seashore from the Dagestan side is quite wide: swimming, therapeutic mud springs, windsurfing, kiting, rock climbing and paragliding.

The only disadvantage of this direction is the underdeveloped infrastructure.

In addition, among some Russian tourists There is an opinion that Dagestan is far from the most peaceful territory that is part of the North Caucasian Federal District.

Kazakhstan

Much more relaxed atmosphere can be found in the Kazakh resorts of Kuryk, Atyrau and Aktau. The last one is the most popular tourist city Kazakhstan: there are many good entertainment venues and well-maintained beaches. In summer, the temperature here is very high, reaching +40 degrees during the daytime, and dropping only to +30 at night.

Disadvantages of Kazakhstan tourist country- the same poor infrastructure and rudimentary transport connection between regions.

Azerbaijan

by the most the best places Baku, Nabran, Lankaran and other Azerbaijani resorts are considered for recreation on the Caspian coast. Fortunately, everything is fine with the infrastructure in this country: for example, several modern comfortable hotels with pools and beaches.

However, in order to enjoy relaxing on the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan, you need to spend a lot of money. In addition, you can get to Baku quickly enough only by plane - trains run rarely, and the journey from Russia itself takes two to three days.

Tourists should not forget that Dagestan and Azerbaijan are Islamic countries, therefore, all "infidels" need to adjust their habitual behavior to local customs.

Subject to simple rules stay, nothing will overshadow your vacation on the Caspian Sea.