A unique phenomenon periodically occurs - this is when the Black Sea freezes. It can be seen in different parts of the world, but most often in the northern regions. There was a time when this sea completely froze. In the fifth century, Herodotus wrote that to escape from the heat is best in the Crimea, where for many months there is a severe cold. In this place everything freezes, including the sea. On the ice it was possible to cross from one coast to another - there is evidence that when the Black Sea froze, it was possible to cross it from Bulgaria to the Crimea. A similar phenomenon is still happening, but in separate corners. Such events quickly get on the Internet, and people come to those countries where the sea freezes to enjoy an unusual natural phenomenon.
Oh, sea, sea …
The Black Sea belongs to the inland waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It connects to the Bosphorus Strait of Marmara, and through the Dardanelles to the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. The Kerch Strait is connected to the Sea of Azov. The Crimean peninsula deeply cuts into the sea from the north. Its shape resembles an elongated oval.
A characteristic feature of the reservoir is the lack of life at a depth of over 150 meters. This is due to the saturation of the lower layers with hydrogen sulfide. As a result, during freezing, high-density ice is formed.
A bit of history
There is information in history about when the Black Sea froze. So, in 860 it was completely covered with a thick layer of ice. In those years it was possible to get there from one part of the reservoir to another, the same thing happened in 1010.
Does the Black Sea freeze in the south? Yes, it freezes. As early as 1010-1011. the sea was covered with ice off the coast of Turkey, as well as at the lower Nile. And after 610 years, it again completely disappeared under the ice.
Ice on the sea in the 20th century
There is information when the Black Sea froze in the south. So, in 1953, the reservoir was covered with ice off the coast of Crimea. In that year, severe frosts completely hid the Sea of Azov under ice. There are references to such anomalies in ancient scriptures that have survived to this day.
Freezing in the 21st Century
In 2012, in the regions of Crimea, Romania, Bulgaria, Odessa, everything froze. In these areas, all maritime movements were suspended until February 15. In that year, the thickness of the ice cover reached forty centimeters.
Residents of coastal areas were not afraid of this natural phenomenon and began to skate on frozen sea ice, because such a phenomenon does not happen often.
Ice cover
And when the Black Sea freezes every winter? Usually this phenomenon occurs in severe winters. Along the Caucasian and Anatolian shores, ice rarely appears. Almost every year the Dniester and Dnieper-Bug estuaries freeze.
In Crimea, ice forms before Cape Tarkhankut, and often broken ice reaches Yevpatoria. Near the Kerch Strait there are ice brought from the Sea of Azov. They can move towards Anapa or Theodosia.
Bulgarian coast
In 2017, for the first time in many years, the sea froze off the coast of Bulgaria. The last time this phenomenon was recorded in 1954, when the ice bound the port of Burgas, creating unusual ice sculptures from ships at that time in the port. They stood motionless for a long time, waiting for “defrosting”.
Over a hundred-year history, the pond froze several times - in 1929, 1942 and in 1954. The same anomalous phenomenon occurred in 2017. Almost completely plunged under the ice of the Danube, which is why shipping became completely.
Photos of the frozen Black Sea quickly spread around the Internet, because this phenomenon is extremely rare. People from other parts of the world reached into the country to see this unusual event with their own eyes.
