The smallest sea on earth. The deepest and shallowest sea in Russia

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

A bit of geography

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

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

A bit of history

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

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

Temperature and other features

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

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

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

Who lives here

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

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

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

Resorts and attractions of the Marmara Sea

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

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

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

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

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

The smallest seas in the world ocean

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

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

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

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

The shallowest seas

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

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

The smallest sea in Russia

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

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

The smallest sea in the world

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

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

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

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

The site has a detailed article about the largest seas in Russia.
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Sea of ​​Marmara

The smallest sea in the world is located in Turkey. Its area is only ten thousand nine hundred square kilometers. This is the Sea of ​​Marmara, it is considered the most dangerous despite its small size.

The Sea of ​​Marmara connects the Black and Aegean with the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. The most important shipping routes pass through it. Despite the fact that the sea is in a zone of increased activity, its shores are densely populated. It got its name due to the extraction of valuable white marble on the island of Marmara. It is believed that the smallest sea in the world appeared during an earthquake as a result of a deep split in the earth's crust.

Sea Depth

The depth of the sea reaches one thousand three hundred and fifty-five meters. Its rocky shores are surrounded by numerous picturesque bays and estuaries. Nearby there is a popular resort area. Water in the summer warms up to twenty-nine degrees Celsius, and in winter it does not fall below nine degrees Celsius. Therefore, the sea never freezes and shipping lanes are always open.

All kinds of underwater plants grow in abundance in the Sea of ​​Marmara. As well as diatom algae, some varieties of which can be seen in modern aquariums. The sea abounds with pyraphites, botanists refer them to flora, and zoologists to fauna. Delicious shellfish live here: oysters, sea dates, mussels. There are octopuses, crabs, lobsters, squids, anchovies, herring, mackerel and mullet are loved by everyone, as well as dietary fleshy horse mackerel. Sushi lovers will be delighted with a dish made from freshly caught tuna.

Most big Island Sea of ​​Marmara, Marmara is located in its western part. This favorite place for lovers a relaxing holiday, picturesque hills and mountains, steep banks create an atmosphere of peace. Marble has been mined on the island since antiquity to the present day, and it will be interesting for tourists to see how it is done.

Museum, groves

Interesting to visit the museum open sky where works of art are exhibited ancient rome and Byzantium. On the island of Turkeli are located luxurious beaches with crystal clean water, vineyards and many wine cellars. Here is the ancient Byzantine monastery of St. Mary. The island attracts attention with its unusual beauty and many wonderful resorts.

There are many coniferous and olive groves on the coast of the Marmara Sea, so the air there is unusually clean and fragrant. locals are mainly engaged in fishing. These places, since ancient times, are famous for the sources of warm mineral water. In the city of Yalova and on the outskirts of the city of Bursa Chikirge there are resorts on the terminal waters. The most popular resort on the coast of Balıkesir-Genen is famous for its baths with healing mineral water.

Accidents on the Sea of ​​Marmara

In 1999, a Russian tanker sank during a storm in the Sea of ​​Marmara and oil spilled into environment. The consequences of the disaster were eventually eliminated. Earthquakes and tsunamis happen very often here, scientists have recorded water shaking three hundred times, and tsunamis - more than forty times. Seismologists predict the possibility of a strong earthquake in the Istanbul region in 2030.

The Sea of ​​Marmara is considered the smallest and one of the most dangerous in all the globe, but despite this, numerous tourists tend to its shores in search of new experiences.

The smallest sea on Earth is the Sea of ​​Marmara. Its name comes from the island of Marmara, where once upon a time the development of white marble was carried out. This reservoir is located between Asia Minor and European part Turkey. In the south it is connected to the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles, in the east - to the Black Sea and the Bosphorus Strait. Length 280 km, width - 80 km, area - 11472 sq. km, depth - 1355 m, volume - 4000 cubic km.

Sea of ​​Marmara, Bosphorus and Dardanelles

What is the smallest sea in the world, you ask? The answer is very simple - Marble, which was first described in the 19th century by the captain of the Russian fleet Mangari. At the end of the same century, scientists Spindler and Makarov conducted biological and hydraulic studies. It was they who believed that this small body of water was formed as a result of the fragmentation of the Earth's crust, which subsequently divided Asia, Europe and Africa. It happened 2.5 million years ago.

Now the reservoir is in a seismically active zone, where earthquakes often occur. Also, this sea was often mentioned in Greek culture, because it was here that the famous Argonauts swam, and this reservoir was the springboard for the Scythian battles.

What is the smallest sea in the world

The Sea of ​​Marmara is framed by a coastline, along which there are several mountain ranges. The seabed is made up of three basins, and the main part of the territories is coastal zone. By salinity, our sea can be compared with the Mediterranean. And closer to the surface - with Black. The salinity of this reservoir is not uniform.

On the map, it has indented shores, since there are a lot of coves here. The shores in the north have a large number of underwater reefs, which hinder navigation, but attract tourists.

In winter, the water temperature is no more than minus 10 degrees, and in summer it can exceed 30 degrees. These data are relevant only to surface waters, the depth of which is about 20 meters. Deep waters are much colder.

Who lives in these depths?

Due to the fact that this is the smallest sea in the world, the fauna is not so rich. Here you can meet such fish as:

• Horse mackerels.
• Mackerel.
• Bonitos.
• Lobans.
• Anchovies.

Most commercial fish migrate to the Black Sea when the cold comes.

Resorts and beautiful places of the Marmara Sea

Despite the fact that the Sea of ​​Marmara is the smallest sea in the world in terms of area, a lot of tourists come to these places every year. On its banks lies the most charming and a beautiful city- Istanbul. This city with rich history and culture will always be of interest to tourists. In these places you can see the amazing interweaving of living ancient history With modern technologies. In addition to the great Istanbul, guests are attracted here by the mass of picturesque and colorful resorts located in these places. One of the most paradise can be considered the neighborhood of the city of Bursa.

Here the national color and incredible views are clearly expressed. natural landscapes. In a short period of time, you can visit both snow-capped peaks and fall on the sea coast, see green plains and enjoy colorful waterfalls.

by the most popular resort Sea of ​​Marmara is deservedly considered Erdek. Here is the most beautiful sand beach, with a length of almost 12 km. Thanks to amazing nature and good service for tourists, interest in the coast is growing every year, and it becomes the first in the list of attendance. Business and trade are developing well in these places, even if it is the smallest sea in the world. But for such ardent attention to yourself, the Sea of ​​Marmara pays a huge price - its waters are very dirty and need careful maintenance.

Sea of ​​Azov - the best place to relax

The smallest and shallowest sea in the world and of course the warmest - Azov. It refers to the waters mediterranean sea, Atlantic Ocean and be in Eastern Europe, washes some territories of Ukraine and Russia. Max Depth reaches 13 m, length - 380 km, width - 200 km, area - 145,700 square kilometers.

This sea is characterized by bays, estuaries, sandbars and shoals, so in ancient times it was called a swamp or a lake. The Sea of ​​Azov is connected to the Black Sea. The temperature in winter reaches 0 degrees and freezes for 2-4 months, in summer it warms up to 30 degrees.

Despite the fact that this is the smallest sea in the world and shallow, strong storms sometimes occur. There were cases when during such severe floods ships disappeared. In addition, the waters of the sea are polluted with waste from factories and cities that are nearby. Seashores are sandy south coast hills are located volcanic origin With steep mountains Here you can find resorts, recreation centers with beautiful beaches.

Marine life of the Sea of ​​Azov

reservoirs Sea of ​​Azov dirty, salinity is lower than in the ocean, since the water is desalinated by rivers, especially the Don and Kuban. It has a lot of marine life, these are:

• Gobies.
• Tulka.
• Flounder.
• Pike.
• Ram.
• Sterlet.
• Horse mackerel.
• Mackerel.
• Herring.

As for mammals, porpoises and the Azov dolphin are found here. In addition, the bowels of the sea are rich not only in living creatures, but also in natural gas reserves and various other minerals.

Recently, tourists have noticed that the Sea of ​​Marmara has acquired an orange color. Everyone was suddenly worried, what happened and why? Some thought it was ship chemicals, others thought it was household waste.

In fact, everything is simple: the water is stained due to the plankton Noctiluca scintillans living in it. It is a unicellular organism somewhat similar to a jellyfish, it has colored pigments. During spring activity, it multiplies rapidly and changes the color of water bodies where it lives.

It was also noted that plankton can color water brown, pink, green, red, and it does not harm nature.

Territory Russian Federation vast, its lands washed by the waters of thirteen seas, five of which deserve special attention due to their unimpressive size. The subject of the description is the smallest sea with a water area of ​​less than 500 sq. km. So, the five smallest salty reservoirs in descending order of their size.

The depths of the Black Sea waters

The area of ​​the Black Sea waters is 422 thousand square meters. km, while Russia adjoins 400 km coastline. It was recognized as moderately polluted due to numerous effluents from industrial enterprises, but even this does not diminish its importance, both for transport and for resort purposes.

It is not only a small sea of ​​Russia, but also unique in its essence. The top layer of water is rich in oxygen, and the bottom is completely uninhabited due to the release of hydrogen sulfide. Under the water column below 200 meters, the habitat of animals becomes impossible. This is also due to the low salinity of the water.

A Varangian breeze hovers over St. Petersburg

The Baltic Sea was previously called the Varangian Sea, its water area is 415 thousand square meters. km. Its waters wash the shores of Kaliningrad, as well as the territory in the district of St. Petersburg. It is cold and inhospitable, but rich in fish. Every year a good catch of perch, sprat and cod is produced and sold from the Baltic waters.

There is very little salt in the Baltic Sea. This is due to the fact that the abundant flow river water enters the reservoir. Scholars tend to call it fresh sea. For this reason, in winter time The Baltic is covered with ice.

The Caspian Sea is not really a sea, but drainless lake. And, despite the fact that the Caspian is considered largest lake in the world, in Russia it is only in third place among the shallow seas, its water surface area is 371 thousand square meters. km. The status of the sea behind it was retained only because of the oceanic nature of the bottom.

The Caspian Sea has more than seventy names. The reason for this was the many peoples who lived in different times on its banks. An amazing feature of an endorheic reservoir is that its level either drops or rises. In the period from 1929 to 1977, the water level was constantly decreasing, at present the average mark is increasing every year, and according to scientists' forecasts, this trend will continue for several more years.

Tranquil Bay of Serpents

The White Sea was nicknamed the Bay of Serpents due to its excessively winding coastline. And even though it is the smallest oceanic sea in the world, in our country the largest reservoir occupies only the second place. It is small in area, only 90 thousand square meters. km, but very relief. It is entirely an inland part of the country, so all crafts are aimed at developing the economy.

The variety of fish living and wintering in the waters of the White Sea make the reservoir popular place for fishermen. Shellfish and mussels are also often caught in the catch. A noble fish of the salmon family spawns in all flowing rivers. Partly because of the rich flora and fauna, it is attributed to the source clean water.

The Sea of ​​Azov not only leads in the ranking of the country's small seas, but according to world estimates, it is in fifth place with a water area of ​​37 thousand square meters. km. In terms of depth, this is the shallowest sea in the world with an average of 14 meters. Due to this, the waters quickly warm up, from which it is rich in inhabitants. It is here that a very impressive biomass per square meter has been recorded.

Due to the abundance of useful minerals, its hue seems greenish. This is the only body of water that looks green from space. Due to the rich composition, there are many agricultural lands near the sea; in summer, the shores are clogged with tourists who are in a hurry to improve their health.

There are many water bodies in Russia, both inland and washing the coast, but only a few are small in size. But even a small area does not allow them to get lost among other water bodies, since each sea is interesting for its features, they are unique and valuable for the country.