The Caspian Sea is located in different geographical areas. It plays a large role in world history, is an important economic region and a source of resources. The Caspian Sea is a unique body of water.
Short description
This sea is large. The bottom is covered with bark of an oceanic species. These factors make it possible to classify it as a category of seas.
It is a closed reservoir, has no drains and is not connected with the waters of the oceans. Therefore, it can also be attributed to the category of lakes. In this case, it will be the largest lake on the planet.
The approximate area of the Caspian is about 370 thousand square kilometers. The volume of the sea varies depending on various fluctuations in water level. The average value is 80 thousand cubic kilometers. Depth varies in its parts: the south has a greater depth than the north. The average depth is 208 meters, the highest value in the southern part exceeds 1000 meters.
The Caspian Sea plays an important role in the development of trade relations between the countries. The resources mined therein, as well as other items of trade, have been transported to different countries since the development of shipping at sea. Since the Middle Ages, merchants have been delivering exotic goods, spices and furs. Today, in addition to transporting resources, ferry crossings between cities are carried out by sea. Also, the Caspian Sea is connected by a navigable canal through rivers with the Sea of Azov.
Geographic characteristics
The Caspian Sea is located between two continents - Europe and Asia. Washes the territory of several countries. These are Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
It has more than 50 islands, both large and small in size. For example, the islands of Ashur-Ada, Seals, Chigil, Gum, Zenbil. And also the peninsulas, the most significant are Absheron, Mangyshlak, Agrakhansky and others.
The main influx of water resources from the Caspian Sea comes from the rivers flowing into it. In total there are 130 tributaries of this reservoir. The largest is the Volga River, which brings the bulk of the water. Also, the rivers Cheras, Ural, Terek, Astarchay, Kura, Sulak and many others flow into it.
The waters of this sea form many bays. Among the largest: Agrakhansky, Kizlyarsky, Turkmenbashi, Girkan Bay. In the eastern part there is a bay-lake called Kara-Bogaz-Gol. It communicates with the sea in a small strait.
Climate
The climate is characterized by the geographical location of the sea, therefore it has several types: from continental in the northern region to subtropical in the southern. This affects the air and water temperatures, which have large contrasts depending on the part of the sea, especially in the cold season.
In winter, the average air temperature in the northern region is about -10 degrees, water reaches a value of -1 degree.
In the southern region, the temperature of air and water in winter warms up to an average of +10 degrees.
In summer, the air temperature in the northern zone reaches +25 degrees. The south is much hotter. The maximum recorded value here is + 44 degrees.
Resources
The natural resources of the Caspian Sea contain large reserves of various deposits.
One of the most valuable resources of the Caspian Sea is oil. Mining has been around since 1820. Sources opened on the bottom of the sea and its coast. By the beginning of the new century, the Caspian was at the forefront of obtaining this valuable product. During this time, thousands of wells were opened, which made it possible to extract oil on a huge industrial scale.
The Caspian Sea and the surrounding area also have rich deposits of natural gas, mineral salts, sand, lime, several types of natural clay and rocks.
Inhabitants and fisheries
The biological resources of the Caspian Sea are very diverse and have good productivity. It contains more than 1, 500 species of inhabitants, rich in commercial fish species. Population depends on climatic conditions in different parts of the sea.
In the northern part of the sea, zander, bream, catfish, asp, pike and other species are more common. Gobies, mullet, bream, herring live in the western and eastern. Southern waters are rich in different representatives. One of the many are sturgeons. According to their content, this sea occupies a leading place among other bodies of water.
Among the wide variety, tuna, beluga, stellate sturgeon, kilka and many others are also caught. In addition, there are mollusks, crayfish, echinoderms and jellyfish.
A Caspian seal, or Caspian seal, lives in the Caspian Sea. This animal is unique and lives only in these waters.
The sea is also characterized by a high content of various algae, for example, blue-green, red, brown; sea grass and phytoplankton.
