Caspian Sea on the map of the hemispheres. Caspian Sea, map

Caspian Sea is inland and located in a vast continental depression on the border of Europe and Asia. The Caspian Sea has no connection with the ocean, which formally allows it to be called a lake, but it has all the features of the sea, since in past geological eras it had connections with the ocean.
Today Russia has access only to the Northern Caspian Sea and the Dagestan part of the western coast of the Middle Caspian Sea. The waters of the Caspian Sea wash the shores of countries such as Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
The area of ​​the sea is 386.4 thousand km2, the volume of water is 78 thousand m3.

The Caspian Sea has a vast drainage basin, with an area of ​​about 3.5 million km2. The nature of the landscapes, climatic conditions and types of rivers are different. Despite the vastness of the drainage basin, only 62.6% of its area is drainage areas; about 26.1% - for non-drainage. The area of ​​the Caspian Sea itself is 11.3%. 130 rivers flow into it, but almost all of them are located in the north and west (and east coast does not have a single river reaching the sea). Largest river the Caspian-Volga basin, which provides 78% of the river waters entering the sea (it should be noted that more than 25% of the Russian economy is located in the basin of this river, and this undoubtedly determines many hydrochemical and other features of the waters of the Caspian Sea), as well as the Kura River, Zhaiyk (Ural), Terek, Sulak, Samur.

Physiographically and according to the nature of the underwater relief, the sea is divided into three parts: northern, middle and southern. The conventional border between the northern and middle parts runs along the line Chechen Island–Cape Tyub-Karagan, and between the middle and southern parts along the line Zhiloy Island–Cape Kuuli.
The shelf of the Caspian Sea is on average limited to depths of about 100 m. The continental slope, which begins below the shelf edge, ends in the middle part at approximately 500–600 m depths, in the southern part, where it is very steep, at 700–750 m.

The northern part of the sea is shallow, its average depth is 5–6 m, the maximum depths of 15–20 m are located on the border with the middle part of the sea. The bottom topography is complicated by the presence of banks, islands, and grooves.
The middle part of the sea is an isolated basin, the region of maximum depths of which - the Derbent depression - is shifted to the western coast. The average depth of this part of the sea is 190 m, the greatest is 788 m.

The southern part of the sea is separated from the middle by the Absheron threshold, which is a continuation Greater Caucasus. The depths above this underwater ridge do not exceed 180 m. The deepest part of the South Caspian depression with a maximum sea depth of 1025 m is located east of the Kura delta. Several underwater ridges up to 500 m high rise above the bottom of the basin.

Shores The Caspian Sea is diverse. In the northern part of the sea they are quite indented. Here are the Kizlyarsky, Agrakhansky, Mangyshlaksky bays and many shallow bays. Notable peninsulas: Agrakhansky, Buzachi, Tyub-Karagan, Mangyshlak. Large islands in the northern part of the sea are Tyuleniy and Kulaly. In the deltas of the Volga and Ural rivers coastline complicated by many islands and ducts, often changing their position. Many small islands and banks are located on other parts of the coastline.
The middle part of the sea has a relatively flat coastline. On west coast on the border with southern part The sea is located on the Absheron Peninsula. To the east of it, the islands and banks of the Absheron archipelago stand out, of which the most large island Residential. The eastern coast of the Middle Caspian is more indented; the Kazakh Gulf with Kenderli Bay and several capes stand out here. The largest bay of this coast is Kara-Bogaz-Gol.

South of the Absheron Peninsula are the islands of the Baku archipelago. The origin of these islands, as well as some of the jars east coast the southern part of the sea is associated with the activity of underwater mud volcanoes lying on the seabed. On the eastern shore there are large bays of Turkmenbashi and Turkmensky, and near it the island of Ogurchinsky.

One of the most striking phenomena of the Caspian Sea is the periodic variability of its level. In historical times, the Caspian Sea had a level lower than the World Ocean. Fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea are so great that for more than a century they have attracted the attention of not only scientists. Its peculiarity is that in the memory of mankind its level has always been below the level of the World Ocean. Since the beginning of instrumental observations (since 1830) of sea level, the amplitude of its fluctuations has been almost 4 m, from –25.3 m in the eighties of the 19th century. to –29 m in 1977. In the last century, the level of the Caspian Sea changed significantly twice. In 1929 it stood at about -26 m, and since it had been close to this level for almost a century, this level position was considered to be a long-term or secular average. In 1930 the level began to decline rapidly. By 1941 it had dropped by almost 2 m. This led to the drying out of vast coastal areas of the bottom. The decrease in level, with slight fluctuations (short-term slight rises in level in 1946–1948 and 1956–1958), continued until 1977 and reached a level of –29.02 m, i.e. the level reached its lowest position in history the last 200 years.

In 1978, contrary to all forecasts, sea level began to rise. As of 1994, the level of the Caspian Sea was at –26.5 m, that is, over 16 years the level rose by more than 2 m. The rate of this rise is 15 cm per year. The level increase in some years was higher, and in 1991 it reached 39 cm.

The general fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea are superimposed by its seasonal changes, the long-term average of which reaches 40 cm, as well as surge phenomena. The latter are especially pronounced in the Northern Caspian Sea. The northwestern coast is characterized by large surges created by prevailing storms from the eastern and southeastern directions, especially in the cold season. A number of large (more than 1.5–3 m) surges have been observed here over the past decades. A particularly large surge with catastrophic consequences was noted in 1952. Fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea cause great damage to the states surrounding its waters.

Climate. The Caspian Sea is located in temperate and subtropical climatic zones. Climatic conditions change in the meridional direction, since the sea stretches from north to south for almost 1200 km.
Various atmospheric circulation systems interact in the Caspian region, however, winds from the eastern directions predominate throughout the year (the influence of the Asian High). The position at fairly low latitudes provides a positive balance of heat influx, so the Caspian Sea serves as a source of heat and moisture for passing air masses for most of the year. The average annual air temperature in the northern part of the sea is 8–10°C, in the middle part - 11–14°C, in the southern part - 15–17°C. However, in the most northern regions sea ​​average January temperature is from –7 to –10°C, and the minimum during the intrusion of Arctic air is up to –30°C, which determines the formation of ice cover. In summer, rather high temperatures dominate over the entire region under consideration - 24–26°C. Thus, the Northern Caspian is subject to the most dramatic temperature fluctuations.

The Caspian Sea is characterized by a very small amount of precipitation per year - only 180 mm, with most of it falling during the cold season of the year (from October to March). However, the Northern Caspian differs in this respect from the rest of the basin: here the average annual precipitation is lower (for the western part only 137 mm), and the seasonal distribution is more uniform (10–18 mm per month). In general, we can talk about closeness climatic conditions to arid ones.
Water temperature. The distinctive features of the Caspian Sea (large differences in depths in different parts of the sea, the nature of the bottom topography, isolation) have a certain influence on the formation of temperature conditions. In the shallow Northern Caspian Sea, the entire water column can be considered homogeneous (the same applies to shallow bays located in other parts of the sea). In the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea, surface and deep masses can be distinguished, separated by a transition layer. In the Northern Caspian and in the surface layers of the Middle and Southern Caspian, water temperatures vary over a wide range. In winter, temperatures vary from north to south from less than 2 to 10°C, the water temperature off the west coast is 1–2°C higher than that on the east, in the open sea the temperature is higher than at the coasts: by 2–3°C in the middle part and by 3–4°С in the southern part of the sea. IN winter period The temperature distribution with depth is more uniform, which is facilitated by winter vertical circulation. During moderate and severe winters in the northern part of the sea and shallow bays of the east coast, the water temperature drops to freezing temperature.

In summer, the temperature varies in space from 20 to 28°C. The highest temperatures are observed in the southern part of the sea; temperatures are also quite high in the well-warmed shallow Northern Caspian Sea. The zone where the lowest temperatures occur is adjacent to the east coast. This is explained by the rise of cold deep waters to the surface. Temperatures are also relatively low in the poorly heated deep-sea central part. In open areas of the sea, at the end of May–beginning of June, the formation of a temperature jump layer begins, which is most clearly expressed in August. Most often it is located between horizons of 20 and 30 m in the middle part of the sea and 30 and 40 m in the southern part. In the middle part of the sea, due to the surge off the eastern coast, the shock layer rises close to the surface. In the bottom layers of the sea, the temperature throughout the year is about 4.5°C in the middle part and 5.8–5.9°C in the southern part.

Salinity. Salinity values ​​are determined by factors such as river runoff, water dynamics, including mainly wind and gradient currents, and the resulting water exchange between western and eastern parts the Northern Caspian and between the Northern and Middle Caspian, the bottom topography, which determines the location of waters with different salinities, mainly along isobaths, evaporation, which ensures a deficit of fresh water and the influx of more saline ones. These factors collectively influence seasonal differences in salinity.
The Northern Caspian Sea can be considered as a reservoir of constant mixing of river and Caspian waters. The most active mixing occurs in the western part, where both river and Central Caspian waters directly flow. Horizontal salinity gradients can reach 1‰ per 1 km.

The eastern part of the Northern Caspian Sea is characterized by a more uniform salinity field, since most of the river and sea (Middle Caspian) waters enter this area of ​​the sea in a transformed form.

Based on the values ​​of horizontal salinity gradients, it is possible to distinguish in the western part of the Northern Caspian the river-sea contact zone with water salinity from 2 to 10‰, in the eastern part from 2 to 6‰.

Significant vertical salinity gradients in the Northern Caspian are formed as a result of the interaction of river and sea waters, with runoff playing a decisive role. The strengthening of vertical stratification is also facilitated by the unequal thermal state of the water layers, since the temperature of the surface desalinated waters coming from the seashore in summer is 10–15°C higher than the bottom waters.
In the deep-sea depressions of the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea, fluctuations in salinity in the upper layer are 1–1.5‰. The largest difference between the maximum and minimum salinity was noted in the area of ​​the Absheron threshold, where it is 1.6‰ in the surface layer and 2.1‰ at a 5 m horizon.

The decrease in salinity along the western coast of the South Caspian Sea in the 0–20 m layer is caused by the flow of the Kura River. The influence of the Kura runoff decreases with depth; at horizons of 40–70 m, the range of salinity fluctuations is no more than 1.1‰. Along the entire western coast to the Absheron Peninsula there is a strip of desalinated water with a salinity of 10–12.5‰, coming from the Northern Caspian Sea.

In addition, in the Southern Caspian Sea, an increase in salinity occurs when salted waters are carried out from bays and gulfs on the eastern shelf under the influence of southeastern winds. Subsequently, these waters are transferred to the Middle Caspian Sea.
In the deep layers of the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea, the salinity is about 13‰. In the central part of the Middle Caspian, such salinity is observed at horizons below 100 m, and in the deep-water part of the Southern Caspian, the upper boundary of waters with high salinity drops to 250 m. Obviously, in these parts of the sea, vertical mixing of waters is difficult.

Surface water circulation. Currents in the sea are mainly wind-driven. In the western part of the Northern Caspian, currents of the western and eastern quarters are most often observed, in the eastern part - southwestern and southern ones. Currents caused by the runoff of the Volga and Ural rivers can be traced only within the estuary coastal area. The prevailing current speeds are 10–15 cm/s, in open areas of the Northern Caspian Sea the maximum speeds are about 30 cm/s.

In the coastal areas of the middle and southern parts of the sea, in accordance with the wind directions, currents in the northwestern, northern, southeastern and southern directions are observed; currents often occur near the eastern coast east direction. Along the western coast of the middle part of the sea, the most stable currents are southeastern and southern. Current speeds are on average about 20–40 cm/s, with maximum speeds reaching 50–80 cm/s. Other types of currents also play a significant role in the circulation of sea waters: gradient, seiche, and inertial.

Ice formation. The Northern Caspian Sea is covered with ice every year in November, the area of ​​the frozen part of the water area depends on the severity of the winter: in severe winters the entire Northern Caspian Sea is covered with ice, in mild winters the ice remains within 2–3 meter isobath. The appearance of ice in the middle and southern parts sea ​​falls in December-January. On the eastern coast the ice is of local origin, while on the western coast it is most often brought from the northern part of the sea. In severe winters, shallow bays freeze off the eastern coast of the middle part of the sea, shores and fast ice form off the coast, and on the western coast, drifting ice spreads to the Absheron Peninsula in abnormally cold winters. The disappearance of ice cover is observed in the second half of February–March.

Oxygen content. The spatial distribution of dissolved oxygen in the Caspian Sea has a number of patterns.
The central part of the waters of the Northern Caspian Sea is characterized by a fairly uniform distribution of oxygen. Increased oxygen content is found in the areas near the mouth of the Volga River, and decreased oxygen content in the southwestern part of the Northern Caspian Sea.

In the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea, the highest concentrations of oxygen are confined to shallow coastal areas and pre-estuary coastal areas of rivers, with the exception of the most polluted areas of the sea (Baku Bay, Sumgait region, etc.).
In the deep-water areas of the Caspian Sea, the main pattern remains the same throughout all seasons - a decrease in oxygen concentration with depth.
Thanks to autumn-winter cooling, the density of the North Caspian Sea waters increases to a value at which it becomes possible for North Caspian waters with a high oxygen content to flow along the continental slope to significant depths of the Caspian Sea. The seasonal distribution of oxygen is mainly associated with the annual variation of water temperature and the seasonal relationship between production and destruction processes occurring in the sea.
In the spring, the production of oxygen during photosynthesis very significantly covers the decrease in oxygen caused by a decrease in its solubility with an increase in water temperature in the spring.
In the areas of the coastal mouths of rivers feeding the Caspian Sea, in the spring there is a sharp increase in the relative oxygen content, which in turn is an integral indicator of the intensification of the photosynthesis process and characterizes the degree of productivity of the mixing zones of sea and river waters.

In summer, due to the significant warming of water masses and the activation of photosynthesis processes, the leading factors in the formation of the oxygen regime are photosynthetic processes in surface waters, and biochemical oxygen consumption by bottom sediments in bottom waters. Due to the high temperature of the waters, the stratification of the water column, the large influx of organic matter and its intense oxidation, oxygen is quickly consumed with minimal entry into the lower layers of the sea, as a result of which an oxygen deficiency zone is formed in the Northern Caspian Sea. Intensive photosynthesis in open waters
The deep-sea regions of the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea cover the upper 25-meter layer, where oxygen saturation is more than 120%.
In autumn, in the well-aerated shallow areas of the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian Sea, the formation of oxygen fields is determined by the processes of water cooling and the less active, but still ongoing process of photosynthesis. The oxygen content is increasing.

The spatial distribution of nutrients in the Caspian Sea reveals the following patterns:
– increased concentrations of nutrients are characteristic of areas near the mouth of the coastal rivers that feed the sea and shallow areas of the sea, subject to active anthropogenic influence (Baku Bay, Turkmenbashi Bay, water areas adjacent to Makhachkala, Fort Shevchenko, etc.);
– The Northern Caspian, which is a vast mixing zone of river and sea waters, is characterized by significant spatial gradients in the distribution of nutrients;
– in the Middle Caspian Sea, the cyclonic nature of the circulation contributes to the rise of deep waters with a high content of nutrients into the overlying layers of the sea;

– in the deep-water regions of the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea, the vertical distribution of nutrients depends on the intensity of the convective mixing process, and their content increases with depth. On the dynamics of concentrations nutrients
In winter, a significant area of ​​the Northern Caspian Sea is covered with ice, but biochemical processes actively develop in subglacial water and ice. The ice of the Northern Caspian Sea, being a kind of accumulator of nutrients, transforms these substances entering the sea with river runoff and from the atmosphere.

As a result of the winter vertical circulation of water in the deep-water regions of the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea during the cold season, the active layer of the sea is enriched with nutrients due to their supply from the underlying layers.

Spring for the waters of the Northern Caspian Sea is characterized by a minimum content of phosphates, nitrites and silicon, which is explained by the spring outbreak of phytoplankton development (silicon is actively consumed by diatoms). High concentrations of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, characteristic of the waters of a large area of ​​the Northern Caspian Sea during floods, are due to intensive washing by river waters of the Volga delta.

In the spring season, in the area of ​​water exchange between the Northern and Middle Caspian Seas in the subsurface layer, with a maximum oxygen content, the phosphate content is minimal, which, in turn, indicates the activation of the photosynthesis process in this layer.
In the Southern Caspian, the distribution of nutrients in spring is basically similar to their distribution in the Middle Caspian.

IN summer time in the waters of the Northern Caspian, a redistribution of various forms of biogenic compounds is detected. Here the content of ammonium nitrogen and nitrates decreases significantly, while at the same time there is a slight increase in the concentrations of phosphates and nitrites and a rather significant increase in the concentration of silicon. In the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea, the concentration of phosphates has decreased due to their consumption during photosynthesis and the difficulty of water exchange with the deep-sea accumulation zone.

In autumn in the Caspian Sea, due to the cessation of activity of some types of phytoplankton, the content of phosphates and nitrates increases, and the concentration of silicon decreases, as there is an autumn outbreak of the development of diatoms.

For more than 150 years, oil has been mined on the shelf of the Caspian Sea. oil.
Currently, large hydrocarbon reserves are being developed on the Russian shelf, the resources of which on the Dagestan shelf are estimated at 425 million tons in oil equivalent (of which 132 million tons of oil and 78 billion m3 of gas), on the shelf of the Northern Caspian Sea - at 1 billion tons of oil .
In total, about 2 billion tons of oil have already been produced in the Caspian Sea.
Losses of oil and its products during production, transportation and use reach 2% of the total volume.
Main sources of income pollutants, including petroleum products into the Caspian Sea - this is the removal with river runoff, the discharge of untreated industrial and agricultural wastewater, municipal wastewater from cities and towns located on the coast, shipping, exploration and exploitation of oil and gas fields located at the bottom of the sea, transportation of oil by sea. Places of entry of pollutants with river runoff are 90% concentrated in the Northern Caspian Sea, industrial wastewater is confined mainly to the area of ​​the Absheron Peninsula, and increased oil pollution of the Southern Caspian Sea is associated with oil production and oil exploration drilling, as well as with active volcanic activity(mud volcanism) in the zone of oil and gas bearing structures.

From the territory of Russia, about 55 thousand tons of petroleum products enter the Northern Caspian annually, including 35 thousand tons (65%) from the Volga River and 130 tons (2.5%) from the runoff of the Terek and Sulak rivers.
Thickening of the film on the water surface to 0.01 mm disrupts gas exchange processes and threatens the death of hydrobiota. The concentration of petroleum products is toxic to fish at 0.01 mg/l and to phytoplankton at 0.1 mg/l.

The development of oil and gas resources on the bottom of the Caspian Sea, the forecast reserves of which are estimated at 12–15 billion tons of standard fuel, will become the main factor in the anthropogenic load on the sea ecosystem in the coming decades.

Caspian autochthonous fauna. The total number of autochthons is 513 species or 43.8% of the entire fauna, which include herring, gobies, mollusks, etc.

Arctic species. The total number of the Arctic group is 14 species and subspecies, or only 1.2% of the entire Caspian fauna (mysids, sea cockroach, white fish, Caspian salmon, Caspian seal, etc.). The basis of the Arctic fauna are crustaceans (71.4%), which easily tolerate desalination and live on great depths The Middle and Southern Caspian Sea (from 200 to 700 m), since the lowest water temperatures are maintained here throughout the year (4.9–5.9 ° C).

Mediterranean species. These are 2 types of mollusks, needle fish, etc. At the beginning of the 20s of our century, the mollusk mytileaster entered here, later 2 types of shrimp (with mullet, during their acclimatization), 2 types of mullet and flounder. Some Mediterranean species entered the Caspian Sea after the opening of the Volga-Don Canal. Mediterranean species play a significant role in the food supply of fish in the Caspian Sea.

Freshwater fauna(228 species). This group includes anadromous and semi-anadromous fish (sturgeon, salmon, pike, catfish, carp, and also rotifers).

Marine species. These are ciliates (386 forms), 2 species of foraminifera. There are especially many endemics among higher crustaceans (31 species), gastropods (74 species and subspecies), bivalves (28 species and subspecies) and fish (63 species and subspecies). The abundance of endemics in the Caspian Sea makes it one of the most unique brackish bodies of water on the planet.

The Caspian Sea produces more than 80% of the world's sturgeon catches, the bulk of which occur in the Northern Caspian Sea.
To increase sturgeon catches, which sharply decreased during the years of falling sea levels, a set of measures is being implemented. Among them are a complete ban on sturgeon fishing in the sea and its regulation in rivers, and an increase in the scale of sturgeon factory farming.


Is it correct to call the Caspian Sea a sea?

It is known that the sea is part of the World Ocean. From this geographically correct point of view, the Caspian Sea cannot in any way be considered a sea, since it is separated from the ocean by huge land masses. The shortest distance from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea, the closest of the seas included in the World Ocean system, is 500 kilometers. Therefore, it would be more correct to talk about the Caspian Sea as a lake. This largest lake in the world is often called simply the Caspian or lake-sea.

The Caspian Sea has a number of characteristics of a sea: its water is salty (however, there are other salty lakes), its area is not much inferior to the area of ​​such seas as the Black, Baltic, Red, Northern and even exceeds the area of ​​​​the Azov and some others (however, Canadian lake The upper one is also a huge area, like the three Seas of Azov). In the Caspian Sea there are often fierce storm winds and huge waves (and this is not uncommon on Lake Baikal).

So, after all, the Caspian Sea is a lake? That's Wikipedia says it. Yes and Big Soviet Encyclopedia replies that no one has yet been able to give an exact definition of this issue - “There is no generally accepted classification.”

Do you know why this is very important and fundamental? And here's why...

The lake belongs to internal waters - the sovereign territories of coastal states, to which the international regime does not apply (the UN principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states). But the sea area is divided differently, and the rights of coastal states here are completely different.

Due to its geographical location, the Caspian Sea itself, unlike the land territories surrounding it, has not been the object of any targeted attention from the coastal states for many centuries. Only at the beginning of the 19th century. the first treaties were concluded between Russia and Persia: Gulistan (1813)4 and Turkmanchay (1828), summing up the results of the Russian-Persian war, as a result of which Russia annexed a number of Transcaucasian territories and received the exclusive right to maintain a military fleet in the Caspian sea. Russian and Persian merchants were allowed to trade freely on the territory of both states and use the Caspian Sea to transport goods. The Turkmanchay Treaty confirmed all these provisions and became the basis for maintaining international relations between the parties until 1917.

After the October Revolution of 1917, in a note dated January 14, 1918, the new Russian government that came to power renounced its exclusive military presence in the Caspian Sea. The treaty between the RSFSR and Persia of February 26, 1921 declared invalid all agreements concluded before it by the tsarist government. The Caspian Sea became a body of water for the common use of the parties: both states were granted equal rights of free navigation, with the exception of cases when the crews of Iranian ships could include citizens of third countries using the service for unfriendly purposes (Article 7). Treaty of 1921 maritime border between the parties did not provide.

In August 1935, the following agreement was signed, the parties to which were new subjects of international law - the Soviet Union and Iran, which acted under a new name. The parties confirmed the provisions of the 1921 agreement, but introduced into the agreement a new concept for the Caspian Sea - a 10-mile fishing zone, which limited the spatial limits of this fishery for its participants. This was done in order to control and preserve the living resources of the reservoir.

In the context of the outbreak of World War II, unleashed by Germany, an urgent need arose to conclude a new agreement between the USSR and Iran on trade and navigation in the Caspian Sea. The reason for this was the concern of the Soviet side, caused by Germany’s interest in intensifying its trade ties with Iran and the danger of using the Caspian Sea as one of the stages of the transit route. The agreement between the USSR and Iran10 signed in 1940 protected the Caspian Sea from such a prospect: it repeated the main provisions of previous agreements, which provided for the presence in its waters of ships of only these two Caspian states. It also included a provision for its indefinite validity.

The collapse of the Soviet Union radically changed the regional situation in the former Soviet space, in particular in the Caspian region. Among a large number of new problems, the problem of the Caspian Sea arose. Instead of two states - the USSR and Iran, which previously bilaterally resolved all emerging issues of maritime navigation, fishing and the use of other living and non-living resources, now there are five of them. Of the former, only Iran remained, Russia took the place of the USSR as successor, the other three are new states: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan. They had access to the Caspian Sea before, but only as republics of the USSR, and not as independent states. Now, having become independent and sovereign, they have the opportunity to participate on equal terms with Russia and Iran in discussions and decision-making in considering all the issues mentioned above. This was also reflected in the attitude of these states towards the Caspian Sea, since all five states that had access to it showed equal interest in using its living and non-living resources. And this is logical, and most importantly, justified: the Caspian Sea is rich in natural resources, both fish stocks and black gold - oil and blue fuel - gas. Exploration and production of the last two resources became the subject of the most heated and protracted negotiations for a long time. But not only them.

Besides having rich mineral resources The waters of the Caspian Sea are home to about 120 species and subspecies of fish; here is the global gene pool of sturgeon, the catch of which until recently accounted for 90% of the total world catch.

Due to its location, the Caspian Sea has traditionally and long been widely used for shipping, acting as a kind of transport artery between the peoples of the coastal states. Along its shores are located such large seaports as the Russian Astrakhan, the capital of Azerbaijan Baku, the Turkmen Turkmenbashi, the Iranian Anzeli and the Kazakh Aktau, between which routes for trade, cargo and passenger maritime transport have long been laid.

And yet, the main object of attention of the Caspian states is its mineral resources - oil and natural gas, which each of them can lay claim to within the boundaries that must be determined by them collectively on the basis of international law. And to do this, they will have to divide between themselves both the waters of the Caspian Sea and its bottom, in the depths of which its oil and gas are hidden, and develop rules for their extraction with minimal damage to a very fragile environment, especially the marine environment and its living inhabitants.

The main obstacle in resolving the issue of starting widespread mining of Caspian mineral resources for the Caspian states continues to be its international legal status: should it be considered a sea or a lake? The complexity of the issue lies in the fact that these states themselves must resolve it, and there is no agreement yet among them. But at the same time, each of them strives to quickly begin production of Caspian oil and natural gas and make their sale abroad a constant source of funds to form their budget.

Therefore, oil companies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, without waiting for the end of the settlement of existing disagreements over the territorial division of the Caspian Sea, have already begun active production of its oil, in the hope of ceasing to be dependent on Russia, turning their countries into oil-producing countries and already in this capacity begin to build their own long-term trade relations with neighbors.

However, the issue of the status of the Caspian Sea remains unresolved. Regardless of whether the Caspian states agree to consider it a “sea” or a “lake”, they will have to apply the principles corresponding to the choice made to the territorial division of its water area and bottom or develop their own for this case.

Kazakhstan advocated recognition of the Caspian Sea by the sea. Such recognition will make it possible to apply the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on Internal Waters, the Territorial Sea, the Exclusive Economic Zone, and the Continental Shelf to the division of the Caspian Sea. This would allow coastal states to gain sovereignty over the subsoil of the territorial sea (Article 2) and exclusive rights to the exploration and development of resources on the continental shelf (Article 77). But the Caspian Sea cannot be called a sea from the standpoint of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, since this body of water is closed and has no natural connection with the world ocean.

In this case, the option of sharing its water area and bottom resources is also excluded.

In the agreements between the USSR and Iran, the Caspian Sea was considered as a border lake. With the Caspian Sea being given the legal status of a “lake”, it is expected to be divided into sectors, as is done in relation to border lakes. But there is no norm in international law obliging states to do exactly this: division into sectors is an established practice.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly made statements that the Caspian Sea is a lake, and its waters and subsoil are the common property of the coastal states. Iran also, from a position enshrined in treaties with the USSR, considers the Caspian Sea to be a lake. The country's government believes that this status implies the creation of a consortium for unified management of the production and use of its resources by the Caspian states. Some authors also share this opinion, for example, R. Mamedov believes that with this status, the extraction of hydrocarbon resources in the Caspian Sea by these states should be carried out jointly.

In the literature, a proposal has been made to give the Caspian Sea the status of a “sui generis” lake, and in this case we are talking about the special international legal status of such a lake and its special regime. A regime implies the joint development by states of their own rules for the use of its resources.

Thus, recognition of the Caspian Sea as a lake does not require its obligatory division into sectors - each coastal state has its own part. In addition, in international law there are no rules at all on the division of lakes between states: this is their good will, behind which certain internal interests may be hidden.

Currently, all Caspian states recognize that the modern legal regime was established by the established practice of its use, but now the Caspian Sea is in actual common use not by two, but by five states. Even at a meeting of foreign ministers held in Ashgabat on November 12, 1996, the Caspian states confirmed that the status of the Caspian Sea can be changed only with the consent of all five coastal states. This was later also confirmed by Russia and Azerbaijan in a joint statement dated January 9, 2001 on the principles of cooperation, as well as in the Declaration on Cooperation in the Caspian Sea signed between Kazakhstan and Russia dated October 9, 2000.

But during numerous Caspian negotiations, conferences and four summits of the Caspian states (Ashgabat summit on April 23-24, 2002, Tehran summit on October 16, 2007, Baku summit on November 18, 2010 and Astrakhan on September 29, 2014) agreement was reached by the Caspian countries failed to achieve this.

So far, cooperation at the bilateral and trilateral level has proven to be more productive. Back in May 2003, Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan entered into an agreement on the junction point of the demarcation lines of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea bottom, which was based on previous bilateral agreements. In the current situation, Russia, by its participation in these agreements, seemed to confirm that the agreements between the USSR and Iran are outdated and do not correspond to existing realities.

In the Agreement of July 6, 1998 between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the delimitation of the bottom of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights to subsoil use, it was announced that the seabed would be delimited between adjacent and opposite parties along a modified median line based on the principle of fairness and agreement of the parties. At the bottom of the site, states have sovereign rights, but their common use of the water surface is preserved.

Iran perceived this agreement as separate and in violation of previous Treaties with the USSR in 1921 and 1940. However, it should be noted that in the preamble of the 1998 agreement, to which Russia and Kazakhstan were parties, the agreement was considered as a temporary measure pending the signing of the convention by all Caspian states.

Later, on July 19 of the same year, Iran and Russia made a joint statement in which they proposed three possible scenarios for the delimitation of the Caspian Sea. First: the sea should be shared on the basis of the condominium principle. The second scenario comes down to dividing the water area, waters, bottom and subsoil into national sectors. The third scenario, which is a compromise between the first and second options, involves dividing only the bottom between the coastal states, and considering the water surface to be common and open to all coastal countries.

The existing options for delimiting the Caspian Sea, including those mentioned above, are possible only if there is good political will of the parties. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have clearly expressed their position from the very beginning of the multilateral consultation process. Azerbaijan considers the Caspian Sea to be a lake and therefore should be divided. Kazakhstan proposes to consider the Caspian Sea a closed sea, citing the 1982 UN Convention (Articles 122, 123), and, accordingly, advocates its division in the spirit of the Convention. Turkmenistan has long supported the idea of ​​joint management and use of the Caspian Sea, but foreign companies already developing resources off the coast of Turkmenistan influenced the policies of its president, who began to object to the establishment of a condominium regime, supporting the position of dividing the sea.

The first of the Caspian states to begin to use the hydrocarbon riches of the Caspian Sea under new conditions was Azerbaijan. After the conclusion of the “Deal of the Century” in September 1994, Baku expressed a desire to declare the sector adjacent to it integral part its territory. This provision was enshrined in the Constitution of Azerbaijan, adopted in order to exercise sovereign rights to subsoil use, Moscow, July 6, 1998, at a referendum on November 12, 1995 (Article 11). But such a radical position from the very beginning did not correspond to the interests of all other coastal states, especially Russia, which has expressed fears that this would open access to the Caspian Sea to countries in other regions. Azerbaijan agreed to a compromise. The 2002 Agreement between the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan on the delimitation of adjacent areas of the Caspian Sea established a provision in which the division of the bottom was carried out using the median line, and the water area of ​​the reservoir remained in joint use.

Unlike Azerbaijan, which has expressed a desire to completely divide the Caspian Sea, Iran proposes to leave its subsoil and water for joint use, but does not object to the option of dividing the Caspian Sea into 5 equal parts. Accordingly, each member of the Caspian Five would be allocated 20 percent of the total territory of the reservoir.

Russia's point of view was changing. Moscow has long insisted on establishing a condominium, but wanting to build a long-term policy with its neighbors, who were not interested in considering the Caspian Sea as the property of five coastal states, it changed its position. This then prompted states to begin new stage negotiations, at the end of which the above Agreement was signed in 1998, where Russia stated that it was “ripe” for the division of the Caspian Sea. Its main principle was the position “common water - divide the bottom.”

Taking into account the fact that some Caspian states, namely Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia, have reached agreements on the conditional delimitation of spaces in the Caspian Sea, we can conclude that they are actually satisfied with the already established regime with the division of its bottom along a modified median line and the joint use of the surface reservoir for navigation and fishing.

However, the lack of complete clarity and unity in the position of all coastal countries prevents the Caspian states themselves from developing oil production. And oil is of key importance to them. There is no clear data regarding their reserves in the Caspian Sea. According to the US Energy Information Agency in 2003, the Caspian Sea ranked second in oil reserves and third in gas reserves. The data from the Russian side is different: they speak of an artificial overestimation by Western experts of the energy resources of the Caspian Sea. Differences in assessments are due to the political and economic interests of regional and external players. The geopolitical significance of the region, which is associated with the foreign policy plans of the US and the EU, became a factor in the distortion of the data. Zbigniew Brzezinski expressed the opinion back in 1997 that this region is the “Eurasian Balkans”.

, Kura

42° N. w.  51° east d.HGIO

L- the largest closed body of water on Earth, which can be classified as the largest endorheic lake, or as a full-fledged sea, due to its size, and also because its bed is composed of oceanic-type crust. Located at the junction of Europe and Asia. The water in the Caspian Sea is brackish, from 0.05 ‰ near the mouth of the Volga to 11-13 ‰ in the southeast. The water level is subject to fluctuations, according to 2009 data it was 27.16 m below sea level. The area of ​​the Caspian Sea is currently approximately 371,000 km², the maximum depth is 1025 m.

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Etymology

Geographical position

The Caspian Sea is located at the junction of Europe and Asia. The length of the sea from north to south is approximately 1200 kilometers (36°34"-47°13" N), from west to east - from 195 to 435 kilometers, on average 310-320 kilometers (46°-56° in .d.).

According to physical and geographical conditions, the Caspian Sea is conventionally divided into three parts - the Northern Caspian (25% of the sea area), the Middle Caspian (36%) and the Southern Caspian (39%). The conditional border between the Northern and Middle Caspian runs along the line Chechen Island - Cape Tyub-Karagan, between the Middle and Southern Caspian - along the line Chilov Island - Cape Gan-Gulu.

Coast

The territory adjacent to the Caspian Sea is called the Caspian region.

Peninsulas

  • Absheron Peninsula, located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea on the territory of Azerbaijan, at the northeastern end of the Greater Caucasus, on its territory the cities of Baku and Sumgait are located
  • Mangyshlak, located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, on the territory of Kazakhstan, on its territory is the city of Aktau

Islands

There are about 50 large and medium-sized islands in the Caspian Sea with total area approximately 350 square kilometers.

Bays

  • Dead Kultuk (formerly Komsomolets, formerly Tsesarevich Bay)
  • Kenderli
  • Turkmenbashi (bay) (formerly Krasnovodsk)
  • Turkmen (bay)
  • Gizilagach (formerly Kirov Bay)
  • Astrakhan (bay)
  • Gizlar
  • Hyrcanus (formerly Astarabad)
  • Anzeli (formerly Pahlavi)

Kara-Bogaz-Gol

Off the east coast is salt Lake Kara-Bogaz-Gol, until 1980, was a bay-lagoon of the Caspian Sea, connected to it by a narrow strait. In 1980, a dam was built separating Kara-Bogaz-Gol from the Caspian Sea, and in 1984 a culvert was built, after which the level of Kara-Bogaz-Gol dropped by several meters. In 1992, the strait was restored, through which water flows from the Caspian Sea to Kara-Bogaz-Gol and evaporates there. Every year, 8-10 cubic kilometers of water (according to other sources - 25 cubic kilometers) and about 15 million tons of salt flow into Kara-Bogaz-Gol from the Caspian Sea.

Rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea

130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, of which 9 rivers have a delta-shaped mouth. Large rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea are Volga, Terek, Sulak, Samur (Russia), Ural, Emba (Kazakhstan), Kura (Azerbaijan), Atrek (Turkmenistan), Sefidrud (Iran). The largest river flowing into the Caspian Sea is the Volga, its average annual flow is 215-224 cubic kilometers. The Volga, Ural, Terek, Sulak and Emba provide up to 88-90% of the annual flow into the Caspian Sea.

Basin of the Caspian Sea

Coastal states

According to the Intergovernmental Economic Conference of the Caspian States:

The Caspian Sea washes the shores of five coastal states:

Cities on the Caspian Sea coast

On the Russian coast there are cities - Lagan, Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Izberbash, Dagestan Lights and the most Southern City Russia Derbent. port city Astrakhan is also considered to be part of the Caspian Sea, which, however, is not located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, but in the Volga delta, 60 kilometers from the northern coast of the Caspian Sea.

Physiography

Area, depth, volume of water

The area and volume of water in the Caspian Sea varies significantly depending on fluctuations in water levels. At a water level of −26.75 m, the area is approximately 371,000 square kilometers, the volume of water is 78,648 cubic kilometers, which is approximately 44% of the world's lake water reserves. The maximum depth of the Caspian Sea is in the South Caspian depression, 1025 meters from its surface level. In terms of maximum depth, the Caspian Sea is second only to Baikal (1620 m) and Tanganyika (1435 m). The average depth of the Caspian Sea, calculated from the bathygraphic curve, is 208 meters. At the same time, the northern part of the Caspian Sea is shallow, its maximum depth does not exceed 25 meters, and the average depth is 4 meters.

Water level fluctuations

Vegetable world

The flora of the Caspian Sea and its coast is represented by 728 species. The predominant plants in the Caspian Sea are algae - blue-green, diatoms, red, brown, characeae and others, and flowering plants - zoster and ruppia. In origin, the flora is predominantly of Neogene age, however, some plants were brought into the Caspian Sea by humans deliberately, or on the bottoms of ships.

History of the Caspian Sea

Origin of the Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is of oceanic origin - its bed is composed of oceanic-type crust. 13 million l. n. the resulting Alps separated the Sarmatian Sea from the Mediterranean. 3.4 - 1.8 million l. n. (Pliocene) there was the Akchagyl Sea, the sediments of which were studied by N. I. Andrusov. It was originally formed on the site of the dried-up Pontic Sea, from which Lake Balakhanskoe (in the southern Caspian Sea) remained. The Akchagyl Sea evolves into the Absheron Sea, which covers the Caspian Sea and floods the territories of Turkmenistan and the Lower Volga region.

In the early Neopleistocene, after the Turkic regression (-150, to -200 m), corresponding to the Matuyama-Brunhes magnetic inversion, there were isolated Early Baku and Late Baku (level up to 20 m) drainage basins (ca. 400 thousand years ago). In the Middle Neopleistocene there were basins: Urundzhik (up to -15 m), Early Khazar early (200 thousand years ago), Early Khazar middle (level up to 35-40 m) and Early Khazar late. In the late Neopleistocene, there was an isolated late Khazar basin (level up to -10 m, 100 thousand years ago), which, after a slight regression, was replaced by the Hyrcanian basin. After Atel regression (-120 - -140 m), approx. 17 thousand l. n. The early Khvalynian transgression began - up to + 50 m (the Manych-Kerch Strait was functioning), which was interrupted by the Eltonian regression. The Early Khvalynsky II basin (level up to 50 m) was replaced by the Enotaevsky regression (from -45 to -110 m). OK. 13.4-13.1 thousand l. n. The Late Khvalynian transgression (0 m) began, which was replaced in the Holocene (ca. 9-7 thousand years ago) by the Mangyshlak regression (from -50 to -90 m). The New Caspian basin was brackish (11-13‰), warm-water and isolated (level up to -19 m).

Anthropological and cultural history of the Caspian Sea

Shipping

Shipping is developed in the Caspian Sea. On the Caspian Sea there are ferry crossings, in particular, Baku - Turkmenbashi, Baku - Aktau, Makhachkala - Aktau. The Caspian Sea has a shipping connection with Sea of ​​Azov through the rivers Volga, Don and the Volga-Don Canal.

Fishing and seafood production

Fishing (sturgeon, bream, carp, pike perch, sprat), caviar production, as well as seal fishing. More than 90 percent of the world's sturgeon catch occurs in the Caspian Sea. In addition to industrial mining, illegal mining of sturgeon and their caviar flourishes in the Caspian Sea.

Recreational resources

Natural environment of the Caspian coast with sandy beaches, mineral waters and medicinal mud in the coastal zone creates good conditions for rest and treatment. At the same time, in terms of the degree of development of resorts and the tourism industry, the Caspian coast is noticeably inferior to the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. At the same time, in last years The tourism industry is actively developing on the coasts of Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Russian Dagestan. Azerbaijan is actively developing resort area in the Baku region. A world-class resort has now been created in Amburan, another modern tourist complex is being built in the area of ​​the village of Nardaran, holidays in the sanatoriums of the villages of Bilgah and Zagulba are very popular. A resort area is also being developed in Nabran, in northern Azerbaijan. However high prices, generally low level service and lack of advertising lead to the fact that there are almost no foreign tourists. The development of the tourism industry in Turkmenistan is hampered by a long-term policy of isolation, in Iran - Sharia laws, due to which mass holidays of foreign tourists on the Caspian coast of Iran are impossible.

Ecological problems

Ecological problems The Caspian Sea is associated with water pollution as a result of oil production and transportation on the continental shelf, the flow of pollutants from the Volga and other rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea, the life of coastal cities, as well as the flooding of individual objects due to rising levels of the Caspian Sea. Predatory production of sturgeon and their caviar, rampant poaching lead to a decrease in the number of sturgeon and to forced restrictions on their production and export.

Legal status of the Caspian Sea

After the collapse of the USSR, the division of the Caspian Sea has long been and still remains the subject of unresolved disagreements related to the division of Caspian shelf resources - oil and gas, as well as biological resources. For a long time, negotiations were ongoing between the Caspian states on the status of the Caspian Sea - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan insisted on dividing the Caspian along the median line, Iran insisted on dividing the Caspian by one-fifth between all Caspian states.

In relation to the Caspian Sea, the key is the physical-geographical circumstance that it is a closed inland body of water that does not have a natural connection with the World Ocean. Accordingly, the norms and concepts of international maritime law, in particular, the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, should not automatically apply to the Caspian Sea. Based on this, in relation to the Caspian Sea it would be unlawful to apply such concepts as “territorial sea”, “exclusive economic zone”, “continental shelf”, etc.

Caspian Sea is a unique ecological system. It is largest lake On the Earth. Diverse biosphere, beautiful nature and wealth natural resources make it attractive in all aspects.

Caspian Sea: description, photos and videos

Many people wonder what the area of ​​the Caspian Sea is. This question is quite difficult to answer, since this parameter varies depending on seasonality. For example, when the water surface level is at 27 meters, the reservoir covers an area of ​​370 thousand square kilometers. This is almost 45 percent of the volume of freshwater lakes on Earth.

The Caspian Sea also has heterogeneous depth. In the north the maximum depth of the Caspian Sea only about 25 meters, and the average is within 4 meters. The southern region, on the contrary, is very deep - 1025 kilometers. This is the third highest figure in the world among lakes, after Tanganyika and. Scientists cannot yet name the exact reasons for such fluctuations in the Caspian Sea. Among the most likely versions is climate and crust change in the region.

Caspian Sea – Azerbaijan (Baku)

Since the lake is not only an industrial reservoir, but also a recreational one, the water temperature in the Caspian Sea is also of great interest. In winter, the lake experiences significant temperature changes. On the southern side it remains at 11 degrees, and on the northern side it can drop to 0.5 and below. Sometimes glaciation can be observed in this region.

During the summer period, which lasts here from early June to mid-September, the temperature is approximately the same throughout the entire reservoir. In the upper layers, the average values ​​are kept within 26-27 degrees, and in shallow water the reservoir can heat up to 32. The water is slightly salted, but the saturation depends on the regional factor and may vary. The largest concentration is in the west and south, and in the northern part, thanks to freshwater rivers, it is the smallest. The local climate is also changeable.

The lake is located in three climatic zones at once:

  • continental;
  • moderate;
  • subtropical.

Summers in the region are quite hot. The thermometer can reach up to 44 degrees Celsius. In winter in the south these indicators fluctuate up to +10, and in the north – up to -10. The Caspian Sea on the map has quite smooth shores, but in fact, its borders are very rugged with river mouths, peninsulas and straits. The length of the coast, including the islands, is 7 thousand kilometers. In the north, the coast is low and marshy areas caused by channels are common. In the east, limestones are common, flowing into semi-deserts.

There are approximately 50 islands on the lake. The largest of them:

  • seal;
  • Boyuk-Zira;
  • Chechen;
  • Ogurchinsky;
  • Ashur-Ada.

Among the numerous bays one can note Kara-Bogaz-Gol. Until the end of the century before last, it was a kind of lagoon, but in 1980, construction of a dam began here, because of this, the amount of water entering the lake decreased. Today the strait has been restored.

What rivers flow into the Caspian Sea? The lake feeds a large number of rivers, the largest of which are:

  • Volga;
  • Sulak (Pro);
  • Terek;
  • Ural (Pro).

Every year they bring hundreds of cubic meters of fresh water into the lake.

The region has been actively developed for many centuries. Today on the Caspian Sea there are major ports connecting trade routes. Of the Russian ones, the most important are Astrakhan and Makhachkala. Oil production is also carried out in the Caspian Sea. According to experts, the region's oil resources amount to about 10 billion tons. There are also gas reserves here.

Caspian lake is great place for relax. Local beaches amaze everyone who comes here. The quality of recreation on the Caspian Sea is in no way inferior. A pleasant climate, comfortable beaches and fresh air – the Caspian Sea is ready to give all this to tourists. Those who decide to visit the Caspian Sea can be pleasantly surprised by the prices for their holidays. You can get high-quality service for a low cost.

Popular cities include the following: resorts of the Caspian Sea:

  • Makhachkala;
  • Kaspiysk;
  • Astrakhan;
  • Lagan;
  • Derbent;
  • Dagestan lights.

Derbent is very attractive from a historical point of view. Astrakhan allows you to enjoy active recreation and fishing, and Makhachkala attracts with comfortable and equipped beaches. Holidays on the Caspian Sea in Russia allow you to restore your health and relax from the bustle of the city. Among foreign resorts, the most popular are Baku (Azerbaijan), Avaza (Turkmenistan) and Aktau.

Caspian Sea on the map

Where is the Caspian Sea located? It is located on the continent of Eurasia. It is interesting that its eastern coast is located in Asia, and its western coast is in Europe. Conventionally, the sea is divided into several parts:

  • Northern Caspian;
  • South Caspian;
  • Middle Caspian.

Of these, only the Northern Caspian is a sea shelf. It contains only 1 percent of the total volume of water and ends at Chechen Island, located near the Kizlyar Bay.

Which countries is washed by the Caspian Sea? There are 5 states on the shore of the lake:

  • Azerbaijan;
  • Iran;
  • Turkmenistan;
  • Kazakhstan;
  • Russia.

The largest coastline runs through the territory of Kazakhstan; in second place, according to this indicator, is Russia. The coast of Azerbaijan has the shortest length, but it owns the largest port - Baku.

There are also other large settlements on the coast of the salty reservoir:

  • Anzali (Iran) – 111 thousand people;
  • Aktau (Kazakhstan) – 178 thousand people;
  • Atyrau (Russia) – 183 thousand people

Astrakhan also belongs to the coastal cities of the Caspian Sea, although the city is located 69 kilometers from the coast. Other Russian cities on the seashore include Makhachkala, Derbent and Kaspiysk.

Caspian Sea or lake?

The Caspian Sea is geographical feature, the essence of which does not quite correlate with its name.

Why is the Caspian Sea considered a lake? Caspian Sea is a closed and closed reservoir. It receives water from rivers and has no connection with the oceans or other seas. Although the water here is salty, this indicator is significantly lower than that of other seas. The Caspian Sea is not subject to international maritime laws.

On the other hand, the Caspian Sea is quite large in size, differing from traditional ideas about lakes. Even Baikal, and even more so, is inferior to it in area. There are no other lakes in the world whose coastline simultaneously belongs to five states. The structure of the bottom is also very similar to the oceanic type. With a high degree of probability, the waters of the Caspian Sea flowed into the Mediterranean Sea many centuries ago, but due to drying out and tectonic processes, they were separated.

The Caspian Sea is rich in islands, the size of which, even by international standards, is quite large.

Nature of the Caspian Sea

One of the most interesting riddles Caspian Sea - living on the territory of the lake is a population of seals, which are a small variety of those that live in cold northern waters. However, their appearance on the coast at least indicates that these places are beginning to recover ecologically after the negative consequences of oil production.

Vegetable and animal world The Caspian Sea is very diverse. The underwater ecosystem boasts big amount crustaceans, mollusks, gobies, herring and sprat. Many species are endemic, meaning they live only in this region and nowhere else.

Freshwater species also live in the waters of the lake. They were able to adapt to salt water. These are primarily carp and perch fish. At the end of the Ice Age, Arctic fish and invertebrates entered here. In the 40s of the last century, the waters of the Caspian Sea were deliberately populated with mullet, nereis and abra, which are the food source for sturgeon.







In the vicinity of the Caspian Sea there are fish processing plants, as well as purification stations designed to ensure water circulation cycles. Systematic work is also underway to breed many varieties of underwater abodes that have industrial value. The region is of great interest for fishing tourism. This holiday is especially popular in Astrakhan region on the Caspian Sea.

The flora of the lake is represented by more than 700 plant species. Some of them grow on land, others in water. The phytoplankton of the Caspian Sea consists of both marine and freshwater algae. According to rough estimates, about 440 species of algae live in the reservoir.

Historical facts

The Caspian coast was once home to ancient civilization, which subsequently disappeared. There is an opinion that in the vicinity of Dagestan, the waters hide from human eyes Itil, the capital city of the Khazar Khaganate, which completely disappeared in the 12th century. In Derbent, there is still a wall from an ancient settlement, going to a depth of 300 meters. For what purpose it was built and who built it is a mystery.

Another one interesting feature Caspian Sea – Sabail citadel, located underwater in Baku Bay. The structure was flooded during an earthquake that occurred in 1306. In 1723 the upper part of the high tower became visible above the water surface - this was a consequence of the decrease in water level. Today, the fortress is again hidden in the depths of the Caspian Sea, although in sunny weather it can be seen in the water column.

The territory of the Caspian Sea was a “bone of discord” between adjacent countries. Disputes over the distribution of ownership and resources of the lake continued for 22 years. In 2018, the countries finally came to a common denominator. On August 12, the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed. Before this, in the legal field, regulation was carried out on the basis of Soviet-Iranian agreements defining the Caspian Sea as a closed body of water, and each border state had an independent right to a 10-mile zone. The rest of the lake was divided equally.

How the Caspian Sea was divided? The new agreement assigns 15 miles of territorial waters to each state. Also, the bottom of the Caspian Sea is divided into sectors, as happens with the seas, and the sovereignty of the water column is established according to the lake principle.

For the current day Caspian Sea is an economically important region. It is impossible to imagine Eurasia, including Russia, without it. Everyone should visit the Caspian Sea, and the protection of the reservoir should be carried out state level. Only through joint efforts can we preserve this natural pearl.

The Caspian Sea is simultaneously located on the territory of 5 countries, including not only Russia and Kazakhstan, but also Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. This is the world's largest enclosed body of water, which has long been characterized and known to everyone as a sea. But the question is, why is the Caspian Sea called a sea, because in reality it is a lake? And we’ll look into this situation today.

Why is the Caspian Sea called a sea?

Despite the fact that this body of water is a lake, it is often called the sea. A significant part of people do not even know that this is a lake. This can be explained very simply, because even at one glance at this body of water depicted on the maps, its scale, characteristic mainly of the seas, catches the eye. A lake that washes the borders of five countries at once is something unthinkable.

Yes, this is something unthinkable, but it is true, because this is the largest, largest closed lake in the whole world. And its size is the brief and first reason why it is often called the sea. In addition, the fact that this lake can be called a sea is also supported by the fact that there are just over 50 islands on its territory. It is noteworthy that some of them are not just average in scale, but truly large in size, the area of ​​which, imagine, reaches 350 square kilometers.

Why is the Caspian Sea called a lake?

As for the true name of this reservoir, it belongs to lakes for a number of reasons. They can be presented in short list below:

  • The lake bed is composed of the earth's crust, which is of an oceanic type;
  • Despite its size and similarity to full-fledged seas, the lake has almost fresh, slightly salted water;
  • Almost any sea is part of the world ocean, and the Caspian Lake, by virtue of its geographical location, has no access to the open ocean.

It is also noteworthy that the status of the lake near the Caspian Sea is confirmed by the fact that its waters are not subject to the international UN regime, and the water area of ​​the lake is divided between the states adjacent to it in a different way than in the case of seas.

It is interesting that the Caspian Lake is often called not only the Caspian Sea, but also the Caspian Sea. And now, after reading the text of this article, you will probably know that, despite its similarity with the sea, the presence of many properties and characteristics inherent only to the seas, the Caspian is still a lake, and this is a fact.

 

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