Who discovered the Sea of ​​Azov. Sea of ​​Azov: Useful Properties, Origin and Depth of the Sea of ​​Azov. Western coast of the Sea of ​​Azov

Sea of ​​Azov(Ukrainian Sea of ​​Azov) - an inland sea in the east of Europe. This is the shallowest sea in the world, its depth does not exceed 14 meters. It is connected by the Kerch Strait with the Black Sea, the geographical line with which runs along the strip - Cape Takil (Kerch Peninsula) and Cape Panagia (Taman Peninsula). Belongs to the Mediterranean system Atlantic Ocean.

Since ancient times, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov has had different names among different peoples: the Meotian Sea, the Meotian Lake, the Scythian Ponds, Temeriada, the Mother of Pontus, the Sourozh Sea.

Because the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is rather shallow, its bottom is covered with silty soil in a consistency with a small shell, it warms up rapidly, which is why it is perfect for families with children, since the water temperature in June is already 20-23 degrees.

General information

Last points Sea of ​​Azov lie between 45°12"30" and 47°17"30" N. latitude and between 33 ° 38 "(Lake Sivash) and 39 ° 18" east. longitude. Its greatest length is 343 km, the greatest width is 231 km; coastline length 1472 km; surface area - 37605 km². (this area does not include islands and spits, occupying 107.9 km²).

According to morphological features, it belongs to flat seas and is a shallow water body with low coastal slopes. In terms of distance from the ocean to the continent, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is the most continental sea on the planet.

Bathymetry

The underwater relief of the sea is relatively simple. As you move away from the coast, the depth slowly and smoothly increases, reaching 13 m in the central part of the sea. The main area of ​​the bottom is characterized by depths of 5-13 m. The distribution of the isobaths, which is close to symmetrical, is disturbed by their slight elongation in the northeast towards the Taganrog Bay. The 5 m isobath is located approximately 2 km from the coast, moving away from it near the Taganrog Bay and in the bay itself near the mouth of the Don.

In the Taganrog Bay, the depths grow from the mouth of the Don (2-3 m) towards the open part of the sea, reaching 8-9 m at the border of the bay with the sea. western (Sea and Arabat banks) coasts, the depths over which decrease from 8-9 to 3-5 m. For the underwater coastal slope north coast typically vast shallow water (20-30 km) with depths of 6-7 m, for the southern coast - a steep underwater slope to depths of 11-12 m.

Square The catchment area of ​​the Sea of ​​Azov Basin is 586,000 km².

The sea coasts are mostly flat and sandy, only on south coast there are bumps volcanic origin, which in some places run into steep advanced mountains.

sea ​​currents are dependent on the very strong northeast and southwest winds blowing here and therefore very often change direction. The main current is a radial direction along the coast of the Sea of ​​Azov counterclockwise.

Salinity

The hydrochemical features of the Sea of ​​Azov are formed primarily under the influence of abundant inflow river waters(up to 12% of the volume of water) and difficult water exchange with the Black Sea.

The salinity of the sea before the regulation of the Don was three times less than the average salinity of the ocean. Its value on the surface varied from 1 ppm at the mouth of the Don to 10.5 ppm in the central part of the sea and 11.5 ppm near the Kerch Strait. After the creation of the Tsimlyansk hydroelectric complex, the salinity of the sea began to increase (up to 13 ppm in the central part). Average seasonal fluctuations in salinity occasionally reach 1-2 percent.

The water contains very little salt in the northern part of the Sea of ​​Azov. For this reason, the sea simply freezes, and therefore, before the advent of icebreakers, it was unnavigable from December to mid-April. South part the sea does not freeze and remains a moderate temperature.

Fauna

The ichthyofauna of the Sea of ​​Azov currently includes 103 species and subspecies of fish belonging to 76 genera, and is represented by anadromous, semi-anadromous, marine and freshwater species.

Anadromous species of fish feed in the sea until puberty, and enter the river only for spawning. The breeding period in the rivers and or on the lands usually does not exceed 1-2 months. Among the Azov anadromous fish there are the most valuable commercial species, such as beluga, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, herring, fish and shemaya.

Semi-anadromous species for breeding come from the sea into the rivers. But in rivers they can linger for more long time than passing ones (up to a year). As for juveniles, they roll down from spawning grounds very slowly and often remain in the river for wintering. Semi-anadromous fish include mass species such as pike perch, bream, ram, sabrefish and some others.

Marine species breed and feed in salty waters. Among them, species that constantly live in the Sea of ​​​​Azov stand out. These are pilengas, flounder-kalkan, glossa, tyulka, perkarina, three-spined komashka, fish-needles and all kinds of gobies. And, finally, there is large group marine fish entering the Sea of ​​Azov from the Black Sea, including those making constant movements. These include: Azov anchovy, Black Sea anchovy, Black Sea herring, red mullet, golden mullet, sharp-nosed mullet, black sea trout, horse mackerel, mackerel, etc.

Freshwater species usually constantly live in one area of ​​the reservoir and do not make huge migrations. These species usually inhabit desalinated water areas of the sea. There are such fish as sterlet, silver carp, pike, ide, bleak, etc.

In terms of the number of plant and animal organisms, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov has no equal in the world. In terms of productivity, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is 6.5 times superior to the Caspian Sea, 40 times the Dark Sea, and 160 times mediterranean sea. And because it is 10 times smaller than the Dark One in size.

The Sea of ​​Azov on the map is a semi-enclosed area of ​​the Atlantic Ocean. The object is located in the eastern part of Europe. Two countries have the Sea of ​​Azov on their territory - Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

general information

The Sea of ​​Azov is considered the smallest in the world. Its maximum depth is no more than thirteen and a half meters, and the average (according to various estimates) is within 6.8-8 m. In the area where the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is located, there are other objects connecting the water area with the Atlantic Ocean. Among them, the Straits of Kerch and Gibraltar, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles should be noted. In addition, the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Seas are the connecting links.

Story

Previously, in antiquity, where the Sea of ​​Azov is now, there was no water. The filling of the water area presumably began in 5600 BC. e. At that time, it flowed into the Black Sea directly in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe current Kerch Strait. In the area where the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is located, there are different settlements. The names of many of them came from the name of the reservoir. For example, the villages of Priazovskaya and Azovskaya, the city of Azov, which is located in the lower reaches of the river. Don, Novoazovsk and others.

Name

In ancient times, different nationalities called the water area in their own way. It should be said that the sea was renamed quite a few times. Until today, the exact origin of the name has not been established. There are several hypotheses on the etymology of the original word "azov":

• named after Prince Azum, who was killed in 1067;
• by the name of the tribe "Assy", which, in turn, came presumably from Avestan and means "fast";
• in Circassian "uzev", which means "neck";
• according to the Turkic word "azan" - "lower".

Even in the distant I century. n. e. in his writings, Pliny, listing the Scythian tribes, speaks of the settlement of the "Asoki". The name is similar to the word "azov". It is believed that the modern name of the water area began to be used in Russian toponymy from the beginning of the 17th century, thanks to the chronicler Pimen. At the same time, it must be said that initially not the entire Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov received the name (on the map of Russia, not far from the one that received the name, the city of Taganrog is located today). And only by the 2nd half of the 18th century the name was assigned to the entire water area.

Research

The history of the study of the area where the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is located is conventionally divided into several stages.

1. Geographical (ancient), which lasted from the time of Herodotus until the beginning of the 19th century.
2. Geological and geographical. It lasted from the 19th century until the 40s of the 20th century.
3. Complex. This period began in the middle of the 20th century and continues to this day.

Claudius Ptolemy compiled the first map. Ukraine as such did not exist then, and the position of the reservoir itself relative to other objects was not entirely clear. Ptolemy established the first geographical coordinates for cities, bays and capes. Subsequently, Gleb Svyatoslavovich, who ruled in 1068 in Tmutarakan, measured the distance from Kerch to Taman on ice. It was about 20 kilometers at that time. Already from the 12th-14th centuries, the Venetians and Genoese began to draw up maps and sailing directions of the Azov and Black Seas.

Geographical position

The area where the Sea of ​​Azov is located lies between 45°12′30″ and 47°17′30″ N. sh. and 33°38′ and 39°18′ E. e. The maximum length of the reservoir reaches 380 kilometers, and the width is 200 kilometers. The coastline has a length of 2686 km, the surface of the water area covers an area of ​​37,800 square meters. km (this figure does not include spits and islands, which are distributed over an area of ​​107.9 sq. km). In accordance with morphological features, the object is classified as a flat sea. The reservoir is considered shallow, with low slopes of the coast. The Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov (this is clearly visible on the map of Russia) is quite remote from the ocean. In this regard, the object belongs to the group of continental water bodies. In winter, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov can completely or partially freeze. At the same time, ice is carried out along the Kerch Strait. Usually, ice formation begins in January. In cold years, it can happen a month earlier.

Bathymetry

The place where the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is located is distinguished by a relatively simple underwater relief. In the course of moving away from the coast, a smooth and slow increase in depth occurs. In the central part of the water area, they reach 13 meters. Here the depths are maximum. The location of the isobaths, close to symmetrical, violates their slight elongation towards the northeast towards the Taganrog Bay. Approximately two kilometers from the coast there is an isobath of 5 meters. It moves away from and near the mouth of the Don River. In this area, the depths increase towards the open part of the reservoir. At the border of the sea and the bay, they reach eight to nine meters. The bottom relief is distinguished by the presence of systems of underwater hills. They are stretched along the western (Arabatskaya and Morskaya banks) and eastern (Zhelezinskaya bank) coasts. The depths above them decrease from 8-9 to 3-5 meters. The coastal underwater slope on the northern coast is characterized by fairly wide shallow water. Here the depth is 6-7 m. The southern coast is characterized by a steep underwater slope. Depths in this area are 11-13 meters. Seashores are generally sandy and flat. In the southern section, however, one can meet hills of volcanic origin, and in places passing into the front steep mountains.

The catchment area in the basin is about 586,000 sq. km. km. The currents depend on the wind strong winds northeast and southwest directions. The main movement occurs along the coast. Its direction is counter-clockwise.

Temperature regime

Shallow water bodies are characterized by large seasonal temperature variability. In winter, the figures reach a minimum. In January-February, the values ​​are close to the freezing point. In the southern part of the reservoir, not far from the Kerch Strait, the thermometer rises above zero. The temperature amplitude per year is +27.5 ... +28.5 degrees. IN summer time quite uniform indicators are observed over the entire surface of the sea - from +24 to +26 degrees. In July, in some areas (for example, such as the sea, it warms up to a maximum of +28 ... +28.5 degrees. The highest temperature was recorded in Primorsko-Akhtarsk. It was +32.5 degrees. As for the long-term average annual temperature, then on the surface it is within 11 °C. Interannual fluctuations in this case are of the order of one degree.

Salinity

The Sea of ​​Azov has hydrochemical features. They are formed mainly under the influence of abundant river inflow (about 12% of the total water volume). In addition, there is a somewhat difficult water exchange with the Black Sea. Before the regulation of the Don, the salinity of the reservoir under consideration was lower than that of the ocean. three times. The indicators varied from 1 ppm at the mouth of the river to 10.5 in the central part and up to 11.5 in the area of ​​the Kerch Strait. began to rise after the construction of the Tsimlyansk hydroelectric complex. By 1977, the averages had risen to 13.8 ppm, the figures were slightly lower - 11.2. During relatively high humidity, a rapid decrease in salinity was observed. It was 10.9 ‰ in that period. However, by 2000, the figures rose again, stabilizing at 11 ‰. It should be said that there is little salt in the northern part of the reservoir, in contrast to the area adjacent to Crimea. The Sea of ​​Azov (a map showing the location of the facility is presented below) in this area is rich in self-planting salt. It has been mined since antiquity. Until the end of the 19th century, salt from this area provided almost half of Russia's needs. Greatest value salinity of water reaches in solution - brine of Sivash and other lakes. This is due to intense evaporation from the water surface in summer. All of these hypersaline areas represent the large renewable mineral salt deposits for which the Sea of ​​Azov is known. Russia, having these objects, provides itself with a significant amount of this mineral. Due to their connection with the sea, the composition of their brine is similar to that of sea ​​water. Mostly in the brine there are sulfates and chlorides of magnesium and sodium.

Water

The Sea of ​​Azov is characterized by low transparency. It is different in every season and in different regions. Indicators vary in the range from 0.5 to 8 meters. The low transparency is mainly due to the inflow a large number muddy river waters, fairly rapid resuspension of bottom silts during water disturbance, as well as the presence of plankton masses in the reservoir. The lowest rates are noted in the Taganrog Bay. There transparency is in the range of 0.5-0.9, in rare cases - 2 meters. The water in this area can change its color from greenish yellow to brownish yellow. In the central part of the reservoir, due to the great depths and under the influence of the Black Sea currents, transparency can range from one and a half to two and a half to eight meters. Here the water has a greenish-blue color. Almost everywhere in the summer there is an increase in transparency. And in some areas, due to the rather rapid development of the smallest animals and plant organisms in the upper layers, the indicators drop to zero. And the water becomes bright green. This phenomenon is called "sea bloom".

The Sea of ​​Azov is an inland sea in eastern Europe. This is the shallowest sea in the world, its depth does not exceed 13.5 meters. According to morphological features, it belongs to flat seas and is a shallow water body with low coastal slopes. The sea shores are mostly flat and sandy, only on the southern coast there are hills of volcanic origin, which in some places turn into steep frontal mountains. In terms of distance from the ocean, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is the continental sea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe planet. The coastline is indented by bays and spits, the territory of which is a protected or resort-recreational area. The shores of the Sea of ​​Azov are low-lying, composed of sand and shell deposits. The large rivers Don, Kuban and numerous small rivers Mius, Berda and others flow into the Sea of ​​Azov.

The salinity level of the Sea of ​​​​Azov is formed primarily under the influence of an abundant influx of river waters (up to 12% of the volume of water) and difficult water exchange with the Black Sea. The water contains very little salt in the northern part of the Sea of ​​Azov. For this reason, the sea freezes easily. IN winter period partial or complete freezing is possible, while the ice is carried into the Black Sea through Kerch Strait.

The underwater relief of the sea is relatively simple. With distance from the coast, the depths slowly and smoothly increase, reaching 13 m in the central part of the sea. The main area of ​​the bottom is characterized by depths of 5-13 m. greatest depths located in the center of the sea. The location of the isobaths, which is close to symmetrical, is disturbed by their slight elongation in the northeast towards the Taganrog Bay. The 5 m isobath is located about 2 km from the coast, moving away from it near the Taganrog Bay and in the bay itself near the mouth of the Don. In the Taganrog Bay, the depths increase from the mouth of the Don (2-3 m) towards the open part of the sea, reaching 8-9 m at the border of the bay with the sea. western (Sea and Arabat banks) coasts, the depths over which decrease from 8–9 to 3–5 m. The underwater coastal slope of the northern coast is characterized by wide shallow water (20–30 km) with depths of 6–7 m, underwater slope to depths of 11-13 m.

Sea currents are dependent on the very strong northeast and southwest winds blowing here and therefore change direction very often. The main current is a circular current along the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov counterclockwise.

The ichthyofauna of the Sea of ​​Azov currently includes 103 species and subspecies of fish belonging to 76 genera, and is represented by anadromous, semi-anadromous, marine and freshwater species.

Anadromous species of fish feed in the sea until puberty, and enter the river only for spawning. The breeding period in the rivers and or on the sites usually does not exceed 1-2 months. Among the Azov anadromous fish there are the most valuable commercial species, such as beluga, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, herring, fish and shemaya.

Semi-anadromous species for breeding come from the sea into the rivers. However, in rivers they can linger for a longer time than anadromous (up to a year). As for the juveniles, they leave the spawning grounds very slowly and often stay in the river for the winter. Semi-anadromous fish include mass species such as pike perch, bream, ram, sabrefish and some others.

Marine species breed and feed in salty waters. Among them, species that constantly live in the Sea of ​​​​Azov stand out. These are pilengas, flounder-kalkan, glossa, tyulka, perkarina, three-spined komashka, fish-needles and all kinds of gobies. And, finally, there is a large group of marine fish entering the Sea of ​​Azov from the Black Sea, including those that make regular migrations. These include: Azov anchovy, Black Sea anchovy, Black Sea herring, red mullet, golden mullet, sharp-nosed mullet, black sea trout, horse mackerel, mackerel, etc.

Freshwater species usually constantly live in one area of ​​the reservoir and do not make large migrations. These species usually inhabit desalinated water areas of the sea. Here you can find such fish as sterlet, silver carp, pike, ide, bleak, etc.

In terms of the number of plant and animal organisms, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov has no equal in the world. In terms of productivity, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is 6.5 times greater than the Caspian Sea, 40 times the Black Sea, and 160 times the Mediterranean Sea. But in size it is 10 times smaller than Black.

Geologists unanimously agree that the subsoil of the Sea of ​​Azov is very rich. Zircon, rutile, ilmenite were found here. Under the bottom of the sea are minerals containing a good half of the periodic table. In the southeastern part of the sea there are underwater mud volcanoes. Commercial reserves of natural gas have been found in the depths of the Sea of ​​Azov.

Our Russia is washed by seas and oceans on all sides, it has seventeen exits to big water, which makes it simply a unique world power. Some seas are located in the southern part of the country and belong to resort area, and northern Russian waters abound with fish and other commercial species marine life. Most often, our compatriots visit the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, which we will compare today.

Sea of ​​Azov: a brief description

The Sea of ​​Azov is located in the southern part of Russia, it is a semi-enclosed type of sea and is related to the Atlantic Ocean basin. The sea is connected to the ocean by a chain of straits and different seas. The salinity of the water is provided by the influx of water masses from the Black Sea, but for the most part they are diluted by river runoff. In recent years, a person has been active on the coast of the sea, so the influx fresh water decreased significantly. This fact impact on marine life.

Black Sea: briefly about the main

The Black Sea is an inland sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean, it is connected with the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas by various straits. The water area has long been inhabited by people, now Russia, Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria have access to the waters of the Black Sea.

One of the features of the water area is the impossibility of the existence of life on great depths. This is due to the release of hydrogen sulfide at a depth of more than one hundred and fifty meters, in addition, this feature does not allow different layers of water to mix with each other. Therefore, large temperature differences are observed in the Black Sea at shallow depths.

Where did the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov come from

In ancient times, the Sea of ​​​​Azov did not exist, this territory had a swampy character. Scientists believe that the water area was formed approximately five thousand six hundred years BC as a result of the Black Sea flood. This version was expressed by ancient philosophers and is supported by modern hydrologists and oceanologists.

During its existence, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov has changed its name many times. According to them, you can even trace the history of the development of the reservoir itself, because the ancient Greeks attributed it to lakes, and the Romans to swamps. Although the Scythians already used the word "sea" in their name of the water area.

Scientists have counted more than fifty different names. Every nation that has chosen the shores of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov sought to give it a new name. Only in the eighteenth century did the familiar word "Azov" become fixed in the Russian language. Although back in the first century AD, some Greek scholars mentioned a name that was close in sound to modern pronunciation.

History of the Black Sea

Hydrologists believe that on the site of today's Black Sea there has always existed fresh lake. It is worth noting that at that time it was the largest in the world, the filling of the water area with sea water occurred as a result of the same Black Sea flood, due to which the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov was formed. A large flow of salt water caused a massive death of the freshwater inhabitants of the lake, which became the source of the release of hydrogen sulfide from the depths of the sea.

I would like to note that the Black Sea almost always had names close to today. It is believed that the Scythian tribes that lived on the coast called the sea "dark". The Greeks, in turn, changed the name and began to call the water area the "Inhospitable Sea". This is associated with frequent storms and the difficulties of passing the fairway. Some hydrologists hypothesize that sailors have noticed since ancient times that anchors take on a deep black color when lifted from the depths. This was the prerequisite for the name of the sea.

Where are the Black and Azov Seas located: coordinates and dimensions

The Black Sea has an area of ​​more than four hundred thousand square kilometers, the extent of the surface between the two most distant points is approximately five hundred and eighty kilometers. The volume of water in the water area is equal to five hundred and fifty cubic kilometers. The coordinates of the Black Sea lie between forty-six degrees thirty-three minutes and forty degrees fifty-six minutes north latitude and between twenty-seven degrees twenty-seven minutes and forty-one degrees forty-two minutes east longitude.

The area of ​​the Sea of ​​Azov is thirty-seven square kilometers, the length between the most distant points is equal to three hundred and eighty kilometers. The sea coordinates lie between 45°12′30″ and 47°17′30″ North latitude and between 33°38′ and 39°18′ East longitude.

Depth

The Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov differ significantly from each other. First of all ordinary person striking differences in depth. The fact is that the depth of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov is constantly changing. Scientists are seriously concerned about the tendency towards shallowing of the waters of Azov. IN this moment the sea is one of the smallest in the world, and the process of shallowing is gaining momentum every year and becoming more active. According to the latest data, average depth Sea of ​​Azov is only seven meters, the most deep place in the entire water area is marked by thirteen and a half meters.

The Black Sea is notable for its heterogeneous bottom topography. Therefore, the depth in different areas is seriously different. The maximum depth reaches two thousand meters. In the Yalta region, the average depth is five hundred meters, and this mark is already reached a few kilometers from the coast.

It's amazing how interconnected everything in our world is. This also applies to the seas. Every schoolchild knows that the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov are interconnected. It is a narrow strip of water, not exceeding four kilometers in width. The depth of the strait averages five meters.

Those who often visited the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov in Soviet times know that there is absolutely unique place, in which you can see the contact of two seas. If you arrive at Tuslova Spit, then on one side of you there will be the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, and on the other - the Black Sea. Tourists claim that this spit is an unusually good place to relax. There are practically no people here, and the opportunity to swim in both seas at once cannot but please unspoiled vacationers.

It should be noted that in comparison with the Sea of ​​Azov, the waters of the Black Sea look lighter. With what it is connected scientists find it difficult to say.

What does the coastline look like?

The coasts of the Black and Azov Seas differ significantly from each other. Azov is represented by flat beaches with little indented relief. Most of the beaches are covered with sand, Russian part is two hundred and fifty kilometers of the coastal strip. A feature of the coast of the Sea of ​​​​Azov are reclaimed spits, they usually protrude deeply into the water area and do not exceed five kilometers in width.

The length of the Russian part of the Black Sea coast is four hundred and fifty seven kilometers. The coastal strip is slightly indented and is represented mainly by pebble beaches, which in some places have a width of more than three hundred meters. The Black Sea is different big amount islands randomly scattered throughout the waters.

Transparency and color of water masses

The Black Sea and the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov have a different composition of water, which affects their color. If you look at the Black Sea on a sunny day, you will see how the water takes on a deep cobalt hue. This is due to the absorption of the sun's rays of the red and orange spectrum. The Black Sea is not one of the most transparent, but nevertheless, visibility on a fine day here reaches more than seventy meters.

The waters of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov in calm weather have a greenish color, but the slightest wind immediately turns the water into a dirty yellow substance. This is due to the large amount of phytoplankton that flooded the sea. The fact is that shallow water with heated water is ideal for its development, which corresponds to the indicators of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov. It is shallow depths that affect the transparency of water, it is almost always cloudy with low visibility.

Flora and fauna of the seas

Hydrologists and oceanologists often compare the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov in terms of the richness of flora and fauna. This indicator reveals significant differences between two waters.

At one time, the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov had no competitors in terms of the number of fish, several large companies were engaged in catching it. In recent years, the population marine species decreased significantly. According to oceanologists, more than one hundred and three species of fish live in the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov. Almost all of them are commercial:

• herring;
• stellate sturgeon;
• tyulka;
• flounder and so on.

The Black Sea is considered relatively poor in terms of marine life, because at a depth, due to emissions of hydrogen sulfide, life is simply impossible. About one hundred and sixty species of fish and five hundred species of crustaceans live in the sea. But phytoplankton is represented by six dozen species, as opposed to two species in the Sea of ​​Azov.

Despite the fact that the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov are located nearby and even have common border, they are significantly different from each other. Some of these differences can only be determined by scientists, and some are clearly visible even to ordinary vacationers, who often prefer the coast of these seas to foreign resorts.

The Sea of ​​Azov is the inland sea of ​​Europe, located in its area - 39 thousand square meters. km. The reservoir belongs to the basin of the 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 harsh winters the reservoir can freeze completely over the entire territory by 90 cm. The main period of freezing formation 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 in 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 they are 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 family vacation 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.