Information about the Caspian lake. Caspian Sea (largest lake)

The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water. And although the water in it is salty, and the bed is lined with rocks of the oceanic type, it is located at a distance from the oceans and is a giant drainless lake.

The Caspian Sea is located in two parts of the world at once. Its western shore washes the European part of the mainland, and the eastern one is part of Asia. Its length from north to south is 1030 km, and from west to east 435 km at the maximum point. Sea coordinates: 36°34'–47°13' north latitude and 46°–56° east longitude.

You can get to the Caspian Sea from anywhere in Russia. One of the main destinations for the Russians will be Astrakhan and the region, from which from the capital and other major cities All year round there are both air and rail flights. It is not so easy to get from remote cities, as often the stations do not make direct flights to Astrakhan.

Another popular route runs through Dagestan and leads to Makhachkala, Kaspiysk or Derbent - the main cities for tourists. Planes from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Krasnoyarsk fly to the capital of the republic all year round. It is also possible to get there by train, but in summer they are usually packed with people.

Historical facts

The lake was formed from the Sarmatian Sea tens of millions of years ago, when Caucasian mountains did not divide it into the Black and Caspian Seas. The Sarmatian Sea itself finally lost direct access to the ocean more than 70 million years ago.

One of the first written references to the Caspian was found on clay tablets dating back to the 9th century. BC e. They were found during excavations in Assyria, the territory of which mainly belongs to modern Iraq and Syria. Later, Herodotus, Aristotle and the "father of geography" Hecateus of Miletus mention the Caspian. Their knowledge was generalized and expanded by Arab scientists in the 9th-10th centuries.

How was the Caspian Sea formed?

With the development of medieval trade relations, information about the Caspian Sea spread to Europe and Turkey. The famous navigator and traveler Marco Polo described it in the 13th century. With the further passage of time, knowledge about the lake was only replenished, more detailed and truthful maps were created.

As for the name, over the thousands of years of its existence on it, people have given the lake more than 70 names. So, the ancient peoples called it Hyrcanian, and the Arabs - Khazar. The Chinese gave it the name Sihai, the Iranians - Kolzum, the Turks - Kyuchuk-Deniz.

The Russians called it the "Blue Sea", Khvalynsky or Khozemsky. The name also changed depending on the neighboring states. At one time it was also called Sarai, Turkmen, Avar, Persian and many other names. It took its modern name from the ancient nomadic pastoral tribes - the Caspians, who lived on its right bank around the 2nd millennium BC.

Characteristic

Of all the characteristics of the Caspian, the most interesting are its unique flora and fauna, which have collected many rare species of plants and animals, the determination of its origin and the problems associated with the ecology and pollution of the reservoir.

Bottom relief and depth

The Caspian Sea is divided into three geographical areas: North, Middle and South. The north is a sea plume with an average depth of no more than 5 m. It accounts for the smallest amount of lake water - about 1%. The second largest was the Middle Caspian, where the bottom at its maximum point goes to 780 m. It contains more than 30% of water reserves.

The southern part is equal to the Middle part in terms of area, but is deeper and has more than 60% of the water mass.

It is here that the deepest point of the lake is located today - 1025 meters under water.

The boundaries between the parts are rather arbitrary, but they exist.

Between the North and the Middle of the border were the island of Chechen and Cape Tyub-Karagansky, and between the Middle and the South - the island of Zhiloy and Cape Gan-Gulu.

The relief of the lake bottom is quite uniform, but differs in different zones.

In the North, it is flat shallow water with small alluvial areas. The middle one goes deep and is covered with silt or shells. The southern one, being the deepest one, is also covered with silt, and in some places with ledges of bedrock.

Area and length

The surface area of ​​the lake is approximately 370,000 sq. km. The water level is subject to cyclical changes: it goes down, then it rises. Scientists have found that over the past millennium, the water level in the lake has fluctuated within a dozen meters. This is a very big indicator.

It is connected primarily with the activity of people, as well as geological factors that constantly affect the reservoir. According to confirmed data, the water level is only rising. The South, Middle and North account for 40, 35, 25% of the area, respectively.

The length of the coastline is 6700 km, and taking into account the island territories - about 7000. The coasts themselves are quite smooth, without large hills. In the north, the lowland of the coast is represented by channels and islands formed by the Volga.

The area here is swampy and covered with dense thickets of reeds. The eastern coastal areas are adjacent to deserts and are composed of limestone or shells. The most "mountainous" were the coasts of the Absheron Peninsula and the Kazakh Gulf.

The Caspian Sea is located in an area where there are many islands and peninsulas. The largest and most significant peninsulas are: the Agrakhan Peninsula, the Absheron Peninsula, on which Baku is located, the Mangyshlak Peninsula, which has the Kazakh city of Aktau, the Buzachi, Miankale and Tyub-Karagan Peninsulas.

There are about 50 large and medium-sized islands in the lake. Their total area is 350 sq. km. The most famous of them are: Chechen, Gum, Dash, Zyanbil, Seal Islands, Chygyl, Garasu and Ashur-Ada.

Water composition

The composition of water is different from that observed in the seas and oceans. This is due not only to the fact that the Caspian Sea is closed, but also subject to a significant influence of the waters of the continental runoff. This greatly reduces the content of chlorides and salts in the water, but increases the amount of calcium, carbonates and sulfates inherent in river water.

In the Sea of ​​Azov, for example, there are two times less calcium cations than in the Caspian. Despite this, the water in the lake is salty - from 0.05 ppm at the confluence of the Volga to 11-13 ppm in the southern part.

The basin of the sea and its relationship with the oceans

The Caspian Sea basin is 3.1 million sq. km. km. It includes such rivers as the Volga, Kuma, Uluchay, Samug, Sudak, Terek. The Volga is the largest and deepest river flowing into the lake. More than two hundred large rivers flow into it, and the number of its tributaries is more than 5000.

From Astrakhan region its delta begins, which is the largest in Europe. The Volga receives most of its water from melting snow, rain and springs. In addition to these rivers, more than 100 rivers flow into the Caspian.

To date, the Caspian Sea has no direct connection with the ocean, however, an indirect connection is provided through the Volga-Don Canal. Through it, ships and fleets can get from the Caspian and Volga to the Don, the Sea of ​​Azov and the Black Sea.

Climate

The Caspian Sea is within a few climatic zones ah, and the climate depends on its parts. In the northern part, it is continental with temperatures ranging from -10 °C in winter to +25 °C in summer. In the southern part, the climate becomes subtropical. The temperature there ranges from + 8 °C in winter to +27 °C in summer.

The middle part of the Caspian Sea is located in a temperate climate with average temperatures. The highest temperature recorded on the east coast was +44 °C.

Water temperature is also subject to significant changes and depends on latitude. During the cold season in the northern part, the water can freeze or cool to 0 - 1 °C, and in the south the temperature does not fall below 10 °C. In summer, the water warms up from +20 °C to +27 °C, depending on the region.

As for precipitation, their average annual rate is 200 mm. Again, it all depends on the climate and varies from 100 mm in the eastern part to 1700 mm in the southern subtropics. It is best to visit the Caspian Sea in the summer at the end of July or in August. Ideal resorts will be Baku, Makhachkala and Astrakhan.

Flora and fauna

The fauna of the Caspian Sea is diverse and rich. It somewhat repeats other reservoirs, but is peculiar in its own way. Ancient sturgeon and salmon species of fish live here, as well as several types of herring, carp, pike perch, carp, sprat, mullet, bream, pike, and vobla. There are about 100 species of fish in total.

The volume of sturgeon makes up 90% of all world stocks. The only and unique species of mammal living in this area is the Caspian seal, which is the smallest of all seals. Many of the species are protected by three reserves: Astrakhan, Caspian and Gyzylagadzh.

The vegetation has more than 700 species. The most significant for maintaining favorable conditions for animals are blue-green, red, brown and diatoms. Most of the flora represents the Neogene period of the ancient Caspian, however, some species are brought into the sea on purpose or accidentally due to shipping.

Ecological situation

The current ecological situation in the Caspian Sea is not the best. The main polluting factor was oil and its processing. As you know, it began to be mined here 150 years ago in Azerbaijan.

In this regard, the suppression of the development of finoplankton and blue-green algae began, the concentration of oxygen in the water decreased, which affected the reproduction of sturgeon fish, waterfowl and other living organisms.

A lot of troubles were also brought by the mass reproduction of the comb jelly Mnemiopsis, which penetrated into the Caspian Sea from the Black and Azov Seas through the Volga-Don Canal. The comb jelly feeds on the same plankton as the Caspian fish.

This reduced their food base and put sturgeon on the brink of extinction. The number of valuable sturgeons has also decreased due to poaching, which, according to unofficial data, accounts for more than half of the catch.

The biological and hydrocarbon riches of the Caspian, unique in nature, are also destroyed by phenols and heavy metals that enter it with wastewater from industrial enterprises located near the reservoir.

Countries washed by the Caspian Sea

The waters of the sea wash the territories of modern:

The main cities located on the coast are Astrakhan, Baku, Aktau, Bender-Anzeli, Makhachkala and Turkmenbashi.

Tourism infrastructure on the Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is located around developed countries and its tourist infrastructure is represented by a large number of coastal resort towns with many recreation centers and hotels. Tourists have at their disposal not only active recreation in the form of fishing or water parks, but also beaches where, for little money, you can relax from morning to late evening, renting sun loungers, hammocks or gazebos.

Resorts on the Caspian Sea

Baku has become one of the most prestigious resorts. The capital of Azerbaijan with a population of 2.5 million people provides an opportunity not only to relax on the beach, but also to visit many attractions, some of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It is still better to go to the beaches in the suburbs of Baku, where Shikhovo, Mardakan or Zagulba are located. The resort infrastructure of the Caspian Sea is located on high level. The beaches are clean and well maintained, hotel complexes provide a wide range of accommodation near the coast. IN

All this is a 30-minute drive from Baku. Do not write off Sumgayit either. It is located 30 km from Baku, but has more extensive shell-type beaches. It has less city fuss, but service and maintenance are not inferior to the capital.

Kazakhstan also has several resorts in major cities. Aktau and Atyrau became the most popular. Despite the fact that Aktau is located in the desert and began to recreate the tourism infrastructure relatively recently, it has new hotel complexes with a decent quality of service.

Atyrau, on the other hand, has ceased to be in demand, since the Caspian Sea has become shallow in these places and the beaches have ceased to exist. In general, Kazakh resorts are in low demand among foreign and Russian vacationers.

The Caspian Sea washes several large Turkmen cities, including Turkmenbashi and Avaza. The second city enjoys tourist demand. Here, the construction of hotels and complexes also began relatively recently, but the resort has already managed to find its adherents.

One of its features are sand and shell beaches stretching for kilometers. The resorts of Turkmenistan also cannot be called popular among foreigners, since there is a rather complicated visa system when entering the country.

In Russia, the main popular are the two resorts of Astrakhan and Dagestan, represented by Astrakhan itself, Makhachkala, Derbent, Caspian and a couple of other small towns. One of the most picturesque is Derbent. Thanks to its landscapes and ancient buildings, which are part of the UNESCO heritage, the city has become popular not only among tourists from Russia, but also among foreigners.

Beaches on the Caspian Sea

The most interesting beaches of the Russian resorts were Jami, Goryanka, Laguna and the beach of the Caspian resort, located on the territory of Dagestan. Unfortunately, according to the reviews of tourists in Astrakhan, there are few good beaches, and most of the coastal areas are in the thickets of reeds.

Jami Beach, like the Caspian, belongs to hotel and sanatorium apartments located on the coast. That is why they are well equipped in terms of recreation and service. Goryanka beach is different in that only women and boys under 6 years old can enter its territory.

Among the beaches of Kazakhstan, the beaches of Manila, Nur Plaza, Dostar, Marrakesh deserve the most attention. The beaches of Manila and new Marrakesh are very popular, as the entrance to them is free, and they are open until late in the evening.

Nur Plaza and Dostar are paid. Entrance costs from 35 to 80 rubles. This price already includes umbrellas, sun loungers and other benefits. It is possible to cheaply rent gazebos, barbecues and park cars.

The beaches of the Turkmen Avaza stretch for 30 km and have good infrastructure and huge hotel complexes. But not everything is so good. Many note the many shortcomings of hotels and service for rather high ticket prices. Among them: cold water in the sea, low population, smells from oil refineries, which are located near the Caspian Sea.

The beaches of Azerbaijan are rightfully considered the most developed. There are a lot of them for every taste and budget. Almost the entire coastal zone of Baku is built up with hotel complexes, recreation centers and beaches.

The most famous is the beach of the water park Shikhovo. It has everything for active recreation not only for adults, but also for children. Waterslides and attractions will not make you bored, and a large number of sun loungers will fit everyone who wants to just lie in the sun. But do not forget about such beaches as Nabran, Sumgaiti, Novkhani and other places.

Sights of the Caspian Sea

On the territory of Russia there are many attractions that are worth visiting when arriving at the resort. In Astrakhan, they were the Astrakhan Kremlin, the Bridge of Lovers, the Wedding Waltz fountain. In Makhachkala, you can visit the Juma Mosque, many museums and theaters, and in Derbent, the ancient Naryn-Kala fortress and the 150-year-old Derbent lighthouse often become a place of visit.

Azerbaijan has unique architectural objects of its kind. In the suburbs of Baku, there is the Maiden Tower and a whole complex of walls with the palace of the Shirvanshahs, the Gobustan landscape with ancient rock paintings. There is something to see in the city center. Here are located modern hotels, galleries and museums. For example, the Carpet Museum, the TV tower, the cultural center of Heydar Aliyev.

There are not so many sights in the Turkmen Avaza. Among them are several yacht clubs, a park, a Congress Center and an aqua park with attractions. There are no special sights in Kazakh Aktau, as well as streets. The whole city is divided into districts.

Entertainment and active recreation on the Caspian Sea

For people who love outdoor activities, there are special fishing tours to Astrakhan. Prices start from 20,000 rubles. and include accommodation, boat rentals, fish freezing and cooking facilities.

In Kazakhstan, for outdoor enthusiasts, there are bases with fitness centers, shady courts and much more. Among them, the Kenderly base stands out. Its only drawback: it is located 300 km from the coast.

On the Azerbaijani coast there is everything for a good time. Water parks Shikhov and Resort will not let children and adults who love active entertainment. Like the Turkmen water park in Avaza.

Prices for hotels in the Caspian Sea

Resort prices in Russia are the cheapest. Accommodation in apartments in Astrakhan will cost 600-700 rubles, and in hotels from 1200 to 3600 rubles. per day. The most popular hotels are Corvette, Bonhotel, Novomoskovsky. In Dagestan, the average price for a hotel will be 1,500 rubles. Coastal hotels: Argo, Pegasus, Assorted, Sharhistan, Versailles.

In Kazakh Aktau there are hotels Rakhat, Aktau, Victoria. Prices depend on the quality of services, but on average they start from 2,000 thousand rubles. Renting an apartment starts from 600 rubles.

Baku hotels provide the best conditions and service, however, the prices here are by no means the highest. The average price is 2000 rubles. Popular hotels are Consul, Bosfor, Safran. It is also possible to rent apartments and individual rooms.

But Turkmen hotels are the most expensive. Prices here start at $70. Despite this, many complain that for such money the service leaves much to be desired.

The Caspian Sea is a unique body of water with its own original flora and fauna. There are 5 states on its shores, most of which provide good tourist infrastructure and services at affordable prices. In coastal cities, there are ancient sights that are world heritage UNESCO.

Article formatting: Mila Fridan

Video about the Caspian Sea

Overview of holidays on the Caspian Sea:

The Caspian Sea is one of the most amazing enclosed bodies of water on Earth.

The Caspian Sea is located at the junction of Europe with Asia and geographic location is divided into the South, North and Middle Caspian.
The middle and northern part of the sea belongs to Russia, the southern part to Iran, the eastern part to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, and the southwestern part to Azerbaijan.

For many years, the Caspian states have been dividing the Caspian water area among themselves, and quite sharply at that.

Caspian sea map

Lake or sea?

But the Caspian has no natural connection with the World Ocean, which makes it impossible to call it a sea.
At the same time, thanks to the Volga and artificially created channels, such a connection appeared.

The salinity of the Caspian Sea is 3 times lower than the usual sea level, which does not allow classifying the reservoir as a sea.

There were times when Caspian Seas was indeed part of the oceans.
Several tens of thousands of years ago, the Caspian was connected to the Sea of ​​Azov, and through it to the Black and Mediterranean.
As a result of long-term processes occurring in the earth's crust, the Caucasus Mountains formed, which isolated the reservoir.
Communication between the Caspian and Black Seas for a long time was carried out through the strait (Kumo-Manych depression) and gradually ceased.

Physical quantities

Area, volume, depth

Depth of the Caspian Sea in comparison with lakes Baikal and Tanganyika

The length of the lake from north to south is about 1200 km, from west to east an average of 315 km. The length of the coastline is 6600 km, with islands - about 7 thousand km.

coast

sea ​​water temperature

The temperature of the Caspian Sea at different times of the year

In summer average temperature the surface of the water in the sea is + 24 °C.
Most of the sea warms up to +25 °C ... +30 °C.
Warm water and beautiful sandy, occasionally shell and pebble beaches create excellent conditions for a full-fledged beach holiday.
In the eastern part of the Caspian Sea near the city of Begdash, during the summer months, abnormally low water temperature.

Nature of the Caspian Sea

Islands, peninsulas, bays, rivers

Tyuleniy Island in the Caspian Sea, part of the Dagestan Reserve

130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea located mainly in its northern part. The largest of them: Volga, Terek, Sulak, Samur and Ural.
The average annual runoff of the Volga is 220 km³. 9 rivers have a delta-shaped mouth.

Flora and fauna

More than 120 species of fish live in the Caspian and Delta. Fishing objects are sprat (“Kilkin fleet”), catfish, pike, bream, pike perch, kutum, mullet, vobla, rudd, herring, white fish, pike perch, goby, grass carp, burbot, asp and pike perch. Stocks of sturgeon and salmon are currently depleted, however, the sea is the largest supplier of black caviar in the world.

Fishing in the Caspian Sea is allowed all year round except for the period from late April to late June. On the coast there are many fishing bases with all amenities. Fishing in the Caspian is a great pleasure. In any part of it, including in large cities, the catch is unusually rich.

Nerpa Caspian

Cities on the Caspian Sea

Baku Bay, Baku - a city on the Caspian Sea

Interesting Facts

Companies from 21 countries are participating in the development of oil fields in the Caspian Sea. According to Russian estimates, hydrocarbon reserves in the sea amount to 12 billion tons.

American scientists claim that one fifth of the world's hydrocarbon reserves are concentrated in the depths of the Caspian Sea. This is more than the combined reserves of such oil-producing countries as Kuwait and Iraq.

CASPIAN SEA (Caspian), the world's largest enclosed body of water, drainless brackish lake. Located on the southern border of Asia and Europe, it washes the shores of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. Because of the size, originality natural conditions and complexity of hydrological processes The Caspian Sea is usually referred to the class of closed inland seas.

The Caspian Sea is located in a vast area of ​​internal flow and occupies a deep tectonic depression. The water level in the sea is about 27 m below the level of the World Ocean, the area is about 390 thousand km 2, the volume is about 78 thousand km 3. The greatest depth is 1025 m. With a width of 200 to 400 km, the sea is elongated along the meridian for 1030 km.

The largest bays: in the east - Mangyshlak, Kara-Bogaz-Gol, Turkmenbashi (Krasnovodsk), Turkmen; in the west - Kizlyar, Agrakhan, Kyzylagadzh, Baku Bay; in the south - shallow lagoons. There are many islands in the Caspian Sea, but almost all of them are small, with a total area of ​​​​less than 2 thousand km 2. In the northern part, there are numerous small islands adjacent to the Volga delta; larger ones - Kulaly, Morskoy, Tyuleniy, Chechen. Off the western shores is the Apsheron archipelago, to the south lie the islands of the Baku archipelago, off the eastern coast is the narrow island of Ogurchinsky, elongated from north to south.

The northern shores of the Caspian Sea are low-lying and very sloping, characterized by a wide development of droughts formed as a result of surge phenomena; deltaic shores are also developed here (the deltas of the Volga, the Urals, and the Terek) with an abundant supply of terrigenous material; the Volga delta stands out with extensive reed beds. The western shores are abrasion, to the south of the Absheron Peninsula, mostly accumulative deltaic type with numerous bays and spits. southern shores base. The eastern shores are mostly deserted and low-lying, composed of sands.

relief and geological structure bottom.

The Caspian Sea is located in a zone of increased seismic activity. In the city of Krasnovodsk (now Turkmenbashi) in 1895 there was a strong earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale. Eruptions of mud volcanoes are often observed on the islands and the coast of the southern part of the sea, leading to the formation of new shoals, banks and small islands, which are washed away by waves and reappear.

According to the peculiarities of physical and geographical conditions and the nature of the bottom topography in the Caspian Sea, it is customary to distinguish the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian. The Northern Caspian is characterized by exceptional shallow water, located completely within the shelf with average depths of 4-5 m. Even small changes in the level here at low coasts lead to significant fluctuations in the area of ​​the water table, so the boundaries of the sea in the northeastern part on small-scale maps are shown by a dotted line. The greatest depths (about 20 m) are observed only near the conditional border with the Middle Caspian, which is drawn along the line connecting Chechen Island (to the north of the Agrakhan Peninsula) with Cape Tyub-Karagan on the Mangyshlak Peninsula. In the relief of the bottom of the Middle Caspian, the Derbent depression stands out (the greatest depth is 788 m). The boundary between the Middle and South Caspian passes over the Apsheron threshold with depths up to 180 m along the line from Chilov Island (to the east of the Absheron Peninsula) to Cape Kuuli (Turkmenistan). The basin of the South Caspian is the most extensive area of ​​the sea with the greatest depths, almost 2/3 of the waters of the Caspian Sea are concentrated here, 1/3 falls on the Middle Caspian, in the North Caspian, due to shallow depths, there is less than 1% of the Caspian waters. In general, the shelf areas (the entire northern part and a wide strip along the eastern coast of the sea) predominate in the relief of the bottom of the Caspian Sea. The continental slope is most pronounced on the western slope of the Derbent Basin and almost along the entire perimeter of the South Caspian Basin. On the shelf, terrigenous-shell sands, shells, and oolitic sands are common; deep-water areas of the bottom are covered with silty and silty sediments with a high content of calcium carbonate. In some areas of the bottom, Neogene bedrocks are exposed. Mirabilite accumulates in the Ka-ra-Bogaz-Gol Bay.

In tectonic terms, within the Northern Caspian, the southern part of the Caspian syneclise of the East European platform is distinguished, which is framed in the south by the Astrakhan-Aktobe zone, composed of Devonian-Lower Permian carbonate rocks, lying on a volcanic base and containing large deposits of oil and natural combustible gas. Paleozoic folded formations of the Donets-Caspian zone (or the Karpinsky ridge) are pushed onto the syneclise from the southwest, which is a protrusion of the basement of the young Scythian (in the west) and Turan (in the east) platforms, which are separated at the bottom of the Caspian Sea by the Agrakhan-Guryev fault (left shift) of northeast strike. The Middle Caspian mainly belongs to the Turan platform, and its southwestern margin (including the Derbent depression) is a continuation of the Terek-Caspian foredeep of the Greater Caucasus fold system. The sedimentary cover of the platform and trough, composed of Jurassic and younger sediments, contains oil and combustible gas deposits in local uplifts. The Apsheron Sill, which separates the Middle Caspian from the South, is a connecting link of the Cenozoic folded systems of the Greater Caucasus and the Kopetdag. The South Caspian Basin of the Caspian Sea with crust of oceanic or transitional type is filled with a thick (over 25 km) complex of Cenozoic sediments. Numerous large hydrocarbon deposits are concentrated in the South Caspian Basin.

Until the end of the Miocene, the Caspian Sea was a marginal sea of ​​the ancient Tethys Ocean (since the Oligocene, the relic oceanic basin of the Paratethys). By the beginning of the Pliocene, it lost contact with the Black Sea. The Northern and Middle Caspians were drained, and the paleo-Volga valley stretched through them, the delta of which was located in the area of ​​the Apsheron Peninsula. Delta sediments have become the main reservoir of oil and natural combustible gas deposits in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. In the late Pliocene, due to the Akchagyl transgression, the area of ​​the Caspian Sea greatly increased and the connection with the World Ocean temporarily resumed. The waters of the sea covered not only the bottom of the modern depression of the Caspian Sea, but also the adjacent territories. In the Quaternary, transgressions (Absheron, Baku, Khazar, Khvalyn) alternated with regressions. The southern half of the Caspian Sea is located in a zone of increased seismic activity.

Climate. The Caspian Sea, strongly elongated from north to south, is located within several climatic zones. In the northern part, the climate is temperate continental, on the west coast - temperate warm, the southwestern and southern coasts lie within the subtropics, on the east coast the desert climate dominates. In winter, over the North and Middle Caspian, the weather is formed under the influence of the Arctic continental and sea air, and the South Caspian is often under the influence of southern cyclones. The weather in the west is unstable rainy, in the east it is dry. In summer, the western and northwestern regions are influenced by the spurs of the Azores atmospheric maximum, and the southeastern regions are influenced by the Iran-Afghan minimum, which together creates dry, stable warm weather. Winds from the north and northwest (up to 40%) and southeast (about 35%) directions prevail over the sea. average speed winds are about 6 m/s, in the central regions of the sea up to 7 m/s, in the area of ​​the Apsheron Peninsula - 8-9 m/s. Northern storm "Baku Nords" reach speeds of 20-25 m/s. Lowest average monthly temperatures air temperature -10 °С are observed in January - February in the north-eastern regions (in the most severe winters they reach -30 °С), in the southern regions - 8-12 °С. In July - August, the average monthly temperatures over the entire sea area are 25-26 °С, with a maximum of up to 44 °С on the east coast. The distribution of atmospheric precipitation is very uneven - from 100 mm per year on the eastern shores to 1700 mm in Lankaran. In the open sea, on average, about 200 mm of precipitation falls annually.

hydrological regime. Changes in the water balance of an enclosed sea strongly affect the change in the volume of water and the corresponding level fluctuations. Average long-term components of the water balance of the Caspian Sea for the 1900-90s (km 3 / cm layer): river runoff 300/77, precipitation 77/20, underground runoff 4/1, evaporation 377/97, ​​runoff in Kara-Bogaz- Goal 13/3, which forms a negative water balance of 9 km 3 or 3 cm layer per year. According to paleogeographic data, over the past 2000 years, the range of fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea has reached at least 7 m. -29 m (the lowest position in the last 500 years). The sea surface area has decreased by more than 40 thousand km 2, which exceeds the area Sea of ​​Azov. Since 1978, a rapid rise in level began, and by 1996 a mark of about -27 m relative to the level of the World Ocean was reached. In the modern era, fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea are determined mainly by fluctuations in climatic characteristics. Seasonal fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea are associated with the uneven flow of river flow (primarily the flow of the Volga), so the lowest level is observed in winter, the highest in summer. Short-term sharp level changes are associated with surge phenomena, they are most pronounced in shallow northern regions and can reach 3-4 m during storm surges. Such surges cause flooding of significant coastal land areas. In the Middle and Southern Caspian, surge fluctuations in the level are on average 10-30 cm, under storm conditions - up to 1.5 m. The frequency of surges, depending on the area, is from one to 5 times a month, the duration is up to one day. In the Caspian, as in any closed reservoir, seiche level fluctuations are observed in the form of standing waves with periods of 4-9 hours (wind) and 12 hours (tidal). The magnitude of seiche fluctuations usually does not exceed 20–30 cm.

River flow in the Caspian Sea is distributed extremely unevenly. More than 130 rivers flow into the sea, which, on average, bring about 290 km 3 of fresh water per year. Up to 85% of the river flow falls on the Volga with the Urals and enters the shallow Northern Caspian. The rivers of the western coast - Kura, Samur, Sulak, Terek, etc. - give up to 10% of the runoff. Another approximately 5% of fresh water is brought to the South Caspian by the rivers of the Iranian coast. The eastern desert shores are completely devoid of constant fresh water.

The average speed of wind currents is 15-20 cm/s, the highest - up to 70 cm/s. In the North Caspian, the prevailing winds create a flow directed along the northwestern coast to the southwest. In the Middle Caspian, this current merges with the western branch of the local cyclonic circulation and continues to move along the western coast. At the Absheron Peninsula, the current bifurcates. Its part in the open sea flows into the cyclonic circulation of the Middle Caspian, and the coastal part goes around the shores of the South Caspian and turns to the north, joining the coastal current, enveloping the entire eastern coast. The average state of the movement of the Caspian surface waters is often disturbed due to the variability of wind conditions and other factors. Thus, in the northeastern shallow area, a local anticyclonic gyre can occur. Two anticyclonic eddies are often observed in the South Caspian. In the Middle Caspian, during the warm season, steady northwest winds create southward transport along the east coast. In light winds and during calm weather currents may have other directions.

Wind waves develop very strongly, since the prevailing winds have a large acceleration length. The excitement develops mainly in the northwestern and southeastern directions. Severe storms are observed in the open waters of the Middle Caspian, in the areas of Makhachkala, the Apsheron Peninsula and the Mangyshlak Peninsula. The average wave height of the greatest frequency is 1-1.5 m, at wind speeds of more than 15 m/s it increases to 2-3 m. 10 m

The water temperature on the sea surface in January - February in the North Caspian is close to freezing (about -0.2 - -0.3 °C) and gradually rises southward to 11 °C off the coast of Iran. In summer, surface waters warm up to 23-28 °С everywhere, except for the eastern shelf of the Middle Caspian, where seasonal coastal upwelling develops in July-August and the water temperature on the surface drops to 12-17 °С. In winter, due to intense convective mixing, the water temperature changes little with depth. In summer, under the upper heated layer at the horizons of 20-30 m, a seasonal thermocline (a layer of sharp temperature change) is formed, separating deep cold waters from warm surface waters. In the bottom layers of water deep sea trenches All year round the temperature is 4.5-5.5 °C in the Middle Caspian and 5.8-6.5 °C in the South. The salinity in the Caspian Sea is almost 3 times lower than in the open areas of the World Ocean, and averages 12.8-12.9‰. It should be especially emphasized that the salt composition of the Caspian water is not completely identical to the composition of ocean waters, which is explained by the isolation of the sea from the ocean. The waters of the Caspian Sea are poorer in sodium salts and chlorides, but richer in calcium and magnesium carbonates and sulfates due to the unique composition of salts entering the sea with river and underground runoff. The highest salinity variability is observed in the Northern Caspian, where in the estuarine sections of the Volga and the Urals the water is fresh (less than 1‰), and as you move south, the salt content increases to 10-11‰ at the border with the Middle Caspian. The greatest horizontal salinity gradients are characteristic of the frontal zone between sea and river waters. Differences in salinity between the Middle and South Caspian are small, salinity slightly increases from northwest to southeast, reaching 13.6‰ in the Turkmen Gulf (up to 300‰ in Kara-Bogaz-Gol). Salinity changes along the vertical are small and rarely exceed 0.3‰, which indicates a good vertical mixing water. Water transparency varies over a wide range from 0.2 m in the mouth areas of large rivers to 15-17 m in the central regions of the sea.

By ice regime The Caspian Sea belongs to partially freezing seas. Ice conditions are observed annually only in the northern regions. The Northern Caspian is completely covered with sea ice, the Middle - partially (only in severe winters). The average sea ice boundary runs along an arc with a bulge to the north, from the Agrakhan Peninsula in the west to the Tyub-Karagan Peninsula in the east. Usually, ice formation begins in mid-November in the extreme northeast and gradually spreads to the southwest. In January, the entire Northern Caspian is covered with ice, mostly landfast ice (fixed). Drifting ice borders the fast ice with a strip 20-30 km wide. The average thickness of ice is from 30 cm at the southern border to 60 cm in the northeastern regions of the Northern Caspian, in hummocky heaps - up to 1.5 m. The destruction of the ice cover begins in the 2nd half of February. In severe winters, drifting ice is carried to the south, along the western coast, sometimes as far as the Absheron Peninsula. In early April, the sea is completely free of ice cover.

Research history. It is believed that modern name The Caspian Sea comes from the ancient tribes of the Caspians, who inhabited the coastal regions in the 1st millennium BC; other historical names: Hyrkan (Irkan), Persian, Khazar, Khvalyn (Khvalis), Khorezm, Derbent. The first mention of the existence of the Caspian Sea dates back to the 5th century BC. Herodotus was one of the first to argue that this reservoir is isolated, that is, it is a lake. In the works of Arab scientists of the Middle Ages, there is information that in the 13-16 centuries the Amu Darya partially flowed into this sea by one of the branches. The well-known numerous ancient Greek, Arabic, European, including Russian, maps of the Caspian Sea until the beginning of the 18th century did not reflect reality and were in fact arbitrary drawings. By order of Tsar Peter I, an expedition was organized in 1714-15 under the leadership of A. Bekovich-Cherkassky, who explored the Caspian Sea, in particular its eastern shores. The first map, on which the contours of the coasts are close to modern ones, was compiled in 1720 using astronomical definitions by Russian military hydrographers F. I. Soymonov and K. Verden. In 1731, Soimonov published the first atlas, and soon the first printed sailing direction of the Caspian Sea. A new edition of the maps of the Caspian Sea with corrections and additions was carried out by Admiral A. I. Nagaev in 1760. The first information on the geology and biology of the Caspian Sea was published by S. G. Gmelin and P. S. Pallas. Hydrographic research in the 2nd half of the 18th century was continued by I.V. Tokmachev, M.I. Voinovich, at the beginning of the 19th century - by A.E. Kolodkin, who was the first to perform instrumental compass survey of the coast. Published in 1807 new map of the Caspian Sea, compiled taking into account the latest inventories. In 1837, systematic instrumental observations of sea level fluctuations began in Baku. In 1847, the first complete description of the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay was made. In 1878, the General Map of the Caspian Sea was published, which reflected the results of the latest astronomical observations, hydrographic surveys, and depth measurements. In 1866, 1904, 1912–13, and 1914–15, under the leadership of N. M. Knipovich, expeditionary studies were carried out in the hydrology and hydrobiology of the Caspian Sea; in 1934, a Commission for the Comprehensive Study of the Caspian Sea was established under the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. A great contribution to the study of the geological structure and oil content of the Apsheron Peninsula and the geological history of the Caspian Sea was made by Soviet geologists I. M. Gubkin, D. V. and V. D. Golubyatnikovs, P. A. Pravoslavlev, V. P. Baturin, S. A . Kovalevsky; in the study of water balance and sea level fluctuations - B. A. Appolov, V. V. Valedinsky, K. P. Voskresensky, L.S. Berg. After the Great Patriotic War in the Caspian Sea, systematic diversified studies were launched aimed at studying the hydrometeorological regime, biological conditions and the geological structure of the sea.

In the 21st century, two large scientific centers are engaged in solving the problems of the Caspian Sea in Russia. The Caspian Marine Research Center (CaspMNIC), established in 1995 by a decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, conducts research work in hydrometeorology, oceanography and ecology. The Caspian Research Institute of Fisheries (CaspNIRKH) traces its history from the Astrakhan Research Station [established in 1897, since 1930 the Volga-Caspian Scientific Fisheries Station, since 1948 the Caspian Branch of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, since 1954 the Caspian Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography (KaspNIRO), modern name since 1965]. CaspNIRKh is developing the foundations for the conservation and rational use biological resources Caspian Sea. It consists of 18 laboratories and scientific departments - in Astrakhan, Volgograd and Makhachkala. It has a scientific fleet of more than 20 ships.

Economic use. The natural resources of the Caspian Sea are rich and varied. Significant hydrocarbon reserves are being actively developed by Russian, Kazakh, Azerbaijani and Turkmen oil and gas companies. There are huge reserves of mineral self-saddle salts in the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay. The Caspian region is also known as a massive habitat for waterfowl and near-water birds. About 6 million migratory birds migrate through the Caspian Sea every year. In this regard, the Volga delta, Kyzylagadzh, Northern Cheleken and Turkmenbashi bays are recognized as sites of international rank under the Ramsar Convention. The estuarine sections of many rivers flowing into the sea have unique types of vegetation. The fauna of the Caspian Sea is represented by 1800 animal species, of which 415 species are vertebrates. More than 100 species of fish live in the sea and estuaries of rivers. are of commercial importance sea ​​views- herring, sprat, gobies, sturgeons; freshwater - carp, perch; arctic "invaders" - salmon, white salmon. Major ports: Astrakhan, Makhachkala in Russia; Aktau, Atyrau in Kazakhstan; Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan; Bandar Torkemen, Bandar Anzeli in Iran; Baku in Azerbaijan.

Ecological state. The Caspian Sea is under a powerful anthropogenic impact due to the intensive development of hydrocarbon deposits and the active development of fishing. In the 1980s, the Caspian Sea produced up to 80% of the world's sturgeon catch. Predatory catches of recent decades, poaching and a sharp deterioration in the ecological situation have put many valuable fish species on the brink of extinction. Habitat conditions have deteriorated not only for fish, but also for birds and marine animals (Caspian seal). The countries washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea are faced with the problem of creating a set of international measures to prevent pollution of the aquatic environment and developing the most effective environmental strategy for the near future. A stable ecological state is noted only in parts of the sea remote from the coast.

Lit.: Caspian Sea. M., 1969; Complex studies of the Caspian Sea. M., 1970. Issue. one; Gul K.K., Lappalainen T.N., Polushkin V.A. The Caspian Sea. M., 1970; Zalogin B. S., Kosarev A. N. Morya. M., 1999; International tectonic map of the Caspian Sea and its framing / Ed. V. E. Khain, N. A. Bogdanov. M., 2003; Zonn I. S. Caspian Encyclopedia. M., 2004.

M. G. Deev; V. E. Khain (geological structure of the bottom).

The Caspian Sea is located on the border of Europe and Asia and is surrounded by the territories of five states: Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Despite the name, the Caspian is the largest lake on the planet (its area is 371,000 km2), however, the bottom, composed of the oceanic crust, and salt water, together with its large size, give reason to consider it a sea. A large number of rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, for example, such large ones as the Volga, Terek, Ural, Kura and others.

Relief and depth of the Caspian Sea

According to the bottom relief, the Caspian Sea is divided into three parts: southern (the largest and deepest), middle and northern.

In the northern part, the depth of the sea is the smallest: on average, it ranges from four to eight meters, and the maximum depth here reaches 25 m. The northern part of the Caspian Sea is limited by the Mangyshlak Peninsula and occupies 25% of the entire area of ​​the reservoir.

The middle part of the Caspian is deeper. Here the average depth becomes equal to 190 m, while the maximum is 788 meters. The area of ​​the middle Caspian is 36% of the total, and the volume of water is 33% of the total volume of the sea. It is separated from the southern part by the Absheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan.

The deepest and largest part of the Caspian Sea is the southern one. It occupies 39% of the total area, and its share of the total water volume is 66%. Here is the South Caspian depression, in which the deepest point of the sea is located - 1025 m.

Islands, peninsulas and bays of the Caspian Sea

In total, there are about 50 islands in the Caspian Sea, almost all of them are uninhabited. Due to the shallower depth of the northern part of the sea, most of the islands are located there, among them the Baku archipelago belonging to Azerbaijan, the Seal Islands in Kazakhstan, as well as many Russian islands off the coast of the Astrakhan region and Dagestan.

Among the peninsulas of the Caspian Sea, the largest are Mangyshlak (Mangistau) in Kazakhstan and Absheron in Azerbaijan, where such large cities as the country's capital Baku and Sumgayit are located.

Gulf of Kara-Bogaz-Gol Caspian Sea

The coastline of the sea is heavily indented, and there are many bays on it, for example, Kizlyar, Mangyshlak, Dead Kultuk and others. Special mention deserves the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay, which is actually a separate lake connected to the Caspian Sea by a narrow strait, thanks to which a separate ecosystem and higher salinity of water are preserved in it.

Fishing in the Caspian Sea

Since ancient times, the Caspian Sea has attracted the inhabitants of its shores with its fish resources. About 90% of the world's sturgeon production is mined here, as well as such fish as carp, bream, and sprat.

Caspian Sea video

In addition to fish, the Caspian is extremely rich in oil and gas, the total reserves of which are about 18-20 million tons. Salt, limestone, sand and clay are also mined here.

If you liked this material, share it with your friends on social networks. Thanks!

The Caspian Sea is one of the most amazing enclosed bodies of water on Earth.

Over the centuries, the sea has changed more than 70 names. The modern came from the Caspians - the tribes inhabiting the central and southeastern part of Transcaucasia 2 thousand years BC.

Geography of the Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is located at the junction of Europe with Asia and is geographically divided into the South, North and Middle Caspian. The middle and northern part of the sea belongs to Russia, the southern part to Iran, the eastern part to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, and the southwestern part to Azerbaijan. For many years, the Caspian states have been dividing the Caspian water area among themselves, and quite sharply at that.

Lake or sea?

In fact, the Caspian Sea is the world's largest lake, but it has a number of marine features. These include: a large body of water, strong storms with high waves, high and low tides. But the Caspian has no natural connection with the World Ocean, which makes it impossible to call it a sea. At the same time, thanks to the Volga and artificially created channels, such a connection appeared. The salinity of the Caspian Sea is 3 times lower than the usual sea level, which does not allow classifying the reservoir as a sea.

There were times when the Caspian Sea was indeed part of the World Ocean. Several tens of thousands of years ago, the Caspian was connected to the Sea of ​​Azov, and through it to the Black and Mediterranean. As a result of long-term processes occurring in the earth's crust, the Caucasus Mountains formed, which isolated the reservoir. Communication between the Caspian and Black Seas for a long time was carried out through the strait (Kumo-Manych depression) and gradually ceased.

Physical quantities

Area, volume, depth

The area, volume and depth of the Caspian Sea are not constant and directly depend on the water level. On average, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe reservoir is 371,000 km², the volume is 78,648 km³ (44% of all world lake water reserves).

(Depth of the Caspian Sea in comparison with lakes Baikal and Tanganyika)

The average depth of the Caspian is 208 m, the northern part of the sea is considered the shallowest. The maximum depth is 1025 m, noted in the South Caspian depression. In depth, the Caspian is second only to Baikal and Tanganyika.

The length of the lake from north to south is about 1200 km, from west to east an average of 315 km. The length of the coastline is 6600 km, with islands - about 7 thousand km.

coast

Basically, the coast of the Caspian Sea is low-lying and smooth. In the northern part, it is heavily indented by the river channels of the Urals and the Volga. The swampy local shores are located very low. The eastern shores are adjacent to semi-desert zones and deserts, covered with limestone deposits. The most winding coasts are in the west in the region of the Apsheron Peninsula, and in the east - in the area of ​​the Kazakh Gulf and Kara-Bogaz-Gol.

sea ​​water temperature

(The temperature of the Caspian Sea at different times of the year)

The average water temperature in the Caspian in winter ranges from 0 °C in the northern part to +10 °C in the south. In the waters of Iran, the temperature does not fall below +13 °C. With the onset of cold weather, the shallow northern part of the lake is covered with ice, which lasts for 2-3 months. The thickness of the ice cover is 25-60 cm, at especially low temperatures it can reach 130 cm. In late autumn and winter, drifting ice floes can be observed in the north.

In summer, the average surface water temperature in the sea is + 24 °C. Most of the sea warms up to +25 °C ... +30 °C. Warm water and beautiful sandy, occasionally shell and pebble beaches create excellent conditions for a full-fledged beach holiday. In the eastern part of the Caspian near the city of Begdash, abnormally low water temperatures persist in the summer months.

Nature of the Caspian Sea

Islands, peninsulas, bays, rivers

The Caspian Sea includes about 50 large and medium-sized islands, the total area of ​​which is 350 km². The largest of them are: Ashur-Ada, Garasu, Gum, Dash and Boyuk-Zira. The largest peninsulas are: Agrakhansky, Absheronsky, Buzachi, Mangyshlak, Miankale and Tyub-Karagan.

(Tyuleniy Island in the Caspian Sea, part of the Dagestan Reserve)

The largest bays of the Caspian include: Agrakhan, Kazakh, Kizlyar, Dead Kultuk and Mangyshlak. In the east is the salt lake Kara-Bogaz-Gol, previously a lagoon connected to the sea by a strait. In 1980, a dam was built on it, through which water from the Caspian goes to Kara-Bogaz-Gol, where it then evaporates.

130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, located mainly in its northern part. The largest of them: Volga, Terek, Sulak, Samur and Ural. The average annual runoff of the Volga is 220 km³. 9 rivers have a delta-shaped mouth.

Flora and fauna

About 450 species of phytoplankton live in the Caspian Sea, including algae, aquatic and flowering plants. Of the 400 species of invertebrates, worms, crustaceans and mollusks predominate. There are a lot of small shrimp in the sea, which is an object of fishing.

More than 120 species of fish live in the Caspian and the delta. Fishing objects are sprat (“Kilkin fleet”), catfish, pike, bream, pike perch, kutum, mullet, vobla, rudd, herring, white salmon, goby, grass carp, burbot, asp. Stocks of sturgeon and salmon are currently depleted, however, the sea is the largest supplier of black caviar in the world.

Fishing in the Caspian Sea is allowed all year round except for the period from late April to late June. On the coast there are many fishing bases with all amenities. Fishing in the Caspian is a great pleasure. In any part of it, including in large cities, the catch is unusually rich.

The lake is famous for its large variety of waterfowl. Geese, ducks, loons, gulls, waders, sea eagles, geese, swans and many others come to the Caspian during migration or nesting. The largest number of birds - over 600 thousand individuals is observed in the mouths of the Volga and the Urals, in the bays of Turkmenbashi and Kyzylagach. During the hunting season, a huge number of fishermen come here not only from Russia, but also from countries near and far abroad.

The only mammal lives in the Caspian Sea. This is the Caspian seal or seal. Until recently, the seals swam close to the beaches, everyone could admire the amazing animal with round black eyes, the seals behaved very friendly. Now the seal is on the verge of extinction.

Cities on the Caspian Sea

Baku is the largest city on the coast of the Caspian Sea. The population of one of the most beautiful cities in the world is over 2.5 million people. Baku is spread out on the most picturesque Absheron peninsula and is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the warm and oil-rich Caspian Sea. Smaller cities: the capital of Dagestan - Makhachkala, Kazakh Aktau, Turkmen Turkmenbashi and Iranian Bandar Anzeli.

(Baku Bay, Baku - a city on the Caspian Sea)

Interesting Facts

Scientists are still arguing about whether to call a reservoir a sea or a lake. The level of the Caspian Sea is gradually decreasing. The Volga delivers most of the water to the Caspian. 90% of black caviar is mined in the Caspian Sea. Among them, the most expensive is Almas beluga caviar ($2,000 per 100 g).

Companies from 21 countries are participating in the development of oil fields in the Caspian Sea. According to Russian estimates, hydrocarbon reserves in the sea amount to 12 billion tons. American scientists claim that one fifth of the world's hydrocarbon reserves are concentrated in the depths of the Caspian Sea. This is more than the combined reserves of such oil-producing countries as Kuwait and Iraq.