Caspian lake is one of the most unique places on the ground. It keeps many secrets related to the history of the development of our planet.

Position on physical map

The Caspian Sea is an internal drainage salt Lake. The geographical location of the Caspian Lake is the continent of Eurasia at the junction of parts of the world (Europe and Asia).

The length of the lake shoreline ranges from 6500 km to 6700 km. Taking into account the islands, the length increases to 7000 km.

The coastal areas of the Caspian Lake are mostly low-lying. Their northern part is cut by the channels of the Volga and Ural. The river delta is rich in islands. The surface of the water in these areas is covered with thickets. Swampiness of large areas of land is noted.

The eastern coast of the Caspian Sea adjoins the On the shores of the lake there are significant deposits of limestone. The western and part of the eastern coasts are characterized by a winding coastline.

The Caspian Lake is represented on the map by its considerable size. The entire territory adjacent to it was called the Caspian Sea.

Some characteristics

The Caspian Lake has no equal on Earth in terms of its area and volume of water. It stretches from north to south for 1049 kilometers, and its longest length from west to east is 435 kilometers.

If we take into account the depth of the reservoirs, their area and volume of water, then the lake is comparable to the Yellow, Baltic and Black Seas. According to the same parameters, the Caspian Sea surpasses the Tyrrhenian, Aegean, Adriatic and other seas.

The volume of water available in the Caspian Lake is 44% of the supply of all lake waters on the planet.

Lake or sea?

Why is the Caspian Lake called a sea? Was it really the impressive size of the reservoir that became the reason for assigning such a “status”? More precisely, this became one of these reasons.

Others include the huge mass of water in the lake, the presence of large waves during stormy winds. All this is typical for real seas. It becomes clear why the Caspian Lake is called a sea.

But one of the main conditions that must exist in order for geographers to classify a body of water as a sea is not mentioned here. We are talking about a direct connection between the lake and the World Ocean. It is precisely this condition that the Caspian Sea does not meet.

Where the Caspian Lake is located, a depression was formed in the earth’s crust several tens of thousands of years ago. Today it is filled with the waters of the Caspian Sea. According to scientists, at the end of the 20th century, the water level in the Caspian Sea was 28 meters below the level of the World Ocean. The direct connection between the waters of the lake and the ocean ceased to exist approximately 6 thousand years ago. The conclusion from the above is that the Caspian Sea is a lake.

There is one more feature that distinguishes the Caspian Sea from the sea - the salinity of its water is almost 3 times lower than the salinity of the World Ocean. The explanation for this is that about 130 large and small rivers carry fresh water to the Caspian Sea. The Volga makes the most significant contribution to this work - it “gives” up to 80% of all water to the lake.

The river played another important role in the life of the Caspian Sea. It is she who will help find the answer to the question of why the Caspian Lake is called a sea. Now that man has built many canals, it has become a fact that the Volga connects the lake with the World Ocean.

History of the lake

The modern appearance and geographical position of the Caspian Lake are determined by continuous processes occurring on the surface of the Earth and in its depths. There were times when the Caspian was connected to the Sea of ​​Azov, and through it to the Mediterranean and Black Sea. That is, tens of thousands of years ago the Caspian Lake was part of the World Ocean.

As a result of processes associated with the rise and fall of the earth's crust, mountains appeared that are located on the site of the modern Caucasus. They isolated a body of water that was part of a huge ancient ocean. Tens of thousands of years passed before the basins of the Black and Caspian Seas separated. But for a long time the connection between their waters was carried out through the strait, which was on the site of the Kuma-Manych depression.

Periodically, the narrow strait was either dried up or filled with water again. This happened due to fluctuations in the level of the World Ocean and changes in the appearance of the land.

In a word, the origin of the Caspian Lake is closely connected with the general history of the formation of the Earth's surface.

The lake received its modern name because of the Caspian tribes that inhabited the eastern parts of the Caucasus and the steppe zones of the Caspian territories. Throughout the history of its existence, the lake has had 70 different names.

Territorial division of the lake-sea

The depth of the Caspian Lake is very different in different places. Based on this, the entire water area of ​​the lake-sea was conditionally divided into three parts: the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian.

Shallow water is the northern part of the lake. The average depth of these places is 4.4 meters. The highest level is 27 meters. And on 20% of the entire area of ​​the Northern Caspian the depth is only about a meter. It is clear that this part of the lake is of little use for navigation.

The Middle Caspian has the greatest depth of 788 meters. The deep-water part is occupied by lakes. The average depth here is 345 meters, and the greatest is 1026 meters.

Seasonal changes at sea

Due to the large length of the reservoir from north to south climatic conditions Lakes on the coast are not the same. Seasonal changes in the areas adjacent to the reservoir also depend on this.

In winter, on the southern coast of the lake in Iran, the water temperature does not drop below 13 degrees. During the same period, in the northern part of the lake off the coast of Russia, the water temperature does not exceed 0 degrees. The Northern Caspian is covered with ice for 2-3 months of the year.

In summer, almost everywhere the Caspian Lake warms up to 25-30 degrees. Warm water, excellent sandy beaches, sunny weather create excellent conditions for people to relax.

Caspian Sea on the political map of the world

There are five states on the shores of the Caspian Lake - Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

The western regions of the Northern and Middle Caspian Sea belong to the territory of Russia. Iran is located on southern shores sea, it owns 15% of the entire coastline. Eastern line The coasts are shared by Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Azerbaijan is located in the southwestern territories of the Caspian region.

The issue of dividing the lake’s waters between the Caspian states has been the most pressing for many years. The heads of five states are trying to find a solution that would satisfy everyone's needs and requirements.

Natural resources of the lake

Caspian Sea since ancient times for local residents served as a water transport route.

The lake is famous for valuable fish species, in particular sturgeon. Their reserves account for up to 80% of the world's resources. The issue of preserving the sturgeon population is of international importance; it is being resolved at the level of the government of the Caspian states.

The Caspian seal is another mystery of the unique sea-lake. Scientists have still not fully unraveled the mystery of the appearance of this animal in the waters of the Caspian Sea, as well as other species of animals of northern latitudes.

In total, the Caspian Sea is home to 1,809 species of different groups of animals. There are 728 species of plants. Most of them are “indigenous inhabitants” of the lake. But there is a small group of plants that were brought here intentionally by humans.

Of the mineral resources, the main wealth of the Caspian Sea is oil and gas. Some information sources compare the oil reserves of the Caspian Lake fields with Kuwait. Industrial sea mining of black gold has been carried out on the lake since the end of the 19th century. The first well appeared on the Absheron shelf in 1820.

Today, governments unanimously believe that the region cannot be viewed only as a source of oil and gas, while ignoring the ecology of the Caspian Sea.

In addition to oil fields, in the Caspian region there are deposits of salt, stone, limestone, clay and sand. Their production also could not but affect the ecological situation of the region.

Sea level fluctuations

The water level in the Caspian Lake is not constant. This is evidenced by evidence dating back to the 4th century BC. The ancient Greeks, who explored the sea, discovered big bay at the confluence of the Volga. The existence of a shallow strait between the Caspian and the Sea of ​​Azov was also discovered by them.

There are other data on the water level in the Caspian Lake. The facts suggest that the level was much lower than what exists now. The proof is provided by ancient architectural structures discovered on the seabed. The buildings date back to the 7th-13th centuries. Now the depth of their flooding ranges from 2 to 7 meters.

In 1930, the water level in the lake began to decline catastrophically. The process continued for almost fifty years. This caused great concern among people, since all economic activity in the Caspian region is adapted to the previously established water level.

From 1978 the level began to rise again. Today he has become more than 2 meters higher. This is also an undesirable phenomenon for people living on the coast of the lake-sea.

The main reason affecting fluctuations in the lake is climate change. This entails an increase in the volume of river water entering the Caspian Sea, the amount of precipitation, and a decrease in the intensity of water evaporation.

However, it cannot be said that this is the only opinion that explains the fluctuation in water level in the Caspian Lake. There are others, no less plausible.

Human activities and environmental issues

The area of ​​the Caspian Lake's drainage basin is 10 times larger than the surface of the reservoir itself. Therefore, all changes occurring in such a vast territory in one way or another affect the ecology of the Caspian Sea.

Human activity plays an important role in changing the environmental situation in the Caspian Lake region. For example, pollution of a reservoir with harmful and dangerous substances occurs along with the influx fresh water. This is directly related to industrial production, mining and other human activities in the watershed.

The state of the environment of the Caspian Sea and adjacent territories is of general concern to the governments of the countries located here. Therefore, discussion of measures aimed at preserving unique lake, its flora and fauna, has become traditional.

Each state has an understanding that only through joint efforts can the ecology of the Caspian Sea be improved.

Caspian Sea - the largest lake on Earth, endorheic, located at the junction of Europe and Asia, called a sea because of its size, as well as because its bed is composed of oceanic-type crust. The water in the Caspian Sea is salty, 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.

Geographical position

The Caspian Sea is located at the junction of two parts of the Eurasian continent - Europe and Asia. The length of the Caspian 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° c. d.). The Caspian Sea is conventionally divided according to physical and geographical conditions into 3 parts - the Northern Caspian, the Middle Caspian and the Southern Caspian. The conditional border between the Northern and Middle Caspian runs along the line of the island. Chechen - Cape Tyub-Karagansky, between the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea - along the line of the island. Residential - Cape Gan-Gulu. The area of ​​the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian Sea is 25, 36, 39 percent, respectively.

The length of the coastline of the Caspian Sea is estimated at approximately 6500-6700 kilometers, with islands - up to 7000 kilometers. The shores of the Caspian Sea in most of its territory are low-lying and smooth. In the northern part, the coastline is indented by water channels and islands of the Volga and Ural deltas, the banks are low and swampy, and the water surface in many places is covered with thickets. The east coast is dominated by limestone shores adjacent to semi-deserts and deserts. The most winding banks are on west coast in the area of ​​the Absheron Peninsula and on the east coast in the area of ​​the Kazakh Gulf and Kara-Bogaz-Gol. The territory adjacent to the Caspian Sea is called the Caspian region.

Peninsulas of the Caspian Sea

Large peninsulas of the Caspian Sea:

• Agrakhan Peninsula
• The 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
• Buzachi
• Mangyshlak, located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, on the territory of Kazakhstan, on its territory is the city of Aktau
• Miankale
• Tyub-Karagan

Islands of the Caspian Sea

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

• Ashur-Ada
• Garasu
• Boyuk-Zira
• Zyanbil
• Cure Dashi
• Khara-Zira
• Ogurchinsky
• Sengi-Mugan
• Seal
• Seal Islands
• Chechen
• Chygyl

Bays of the Caspian Sea

Large bays of the Caspian Sea:

• Agrakhan Bay
• Kizlyar Bay
• Dead Kultuk (formerly Komsomolets, formerly Tsesarevich Bay)
• Kaydak
• Mangyshlaksky
• Kazakh
• Kenderli
• Turkmenbashi (bay) (formerly Krasnovodsk)
• Turkmen (bay)
• Gizilagach (formerly Kirov Bay)
• Astrakhan (bay)
• Hasan-kuli
• Gizlar
• Hyrcanus (formerly Astarabad)
• Anzeli (formerly Pahlavi)
• Kara-Bogaz-Gol

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 the Volga, Terek, Sulak, Samur (Russia), Ural, Emba (Kazakhstan), Kura (Azerbaijan), Atrek (Turkmenistan), Sefidrud (Iran) and others. 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.

Physiography

Area, depth, volume of water- the area and volume of water in the Caspian Sea varies significantly depending on fluctuations in water level. 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- the water level in the Caspian Sea is subject to significant fluctuations. According to modern science, over the past three thousand years, the magnitude of the change in the water level of the Caspian Sea has reached 15 meters. According to archeology and written sources, a high level of the Caspian Sea is recorded at the beginning of the 14th century. Instrumental measurements of the level of the Caspian Sea and systematic observations of its fluctuations have been carried out since 1837, during which time the highest water level was recorded in 1882 (−25.2 m), the lowest in 1977 (−29.0 m), with Since 1978, the water level has risen and in 1995 reached −26.7 m; since 1996, a downward trend has emerged again. Scientists associate the reasons for changes in the water level of the Caspian Sea with climatic, geological and anthropogenic factors. But in 2001, sea level began to rise again, and reached −26.3 m.

Water temperature- water temperature is subject to significant latitudinal changes, most clearly expressed in winter period when the temperature changes from 0-0.5 °C at the ice edge in the north of the sea to 10-11 °C in the south, that is, the water temperature difference is about 10 °C. For shallow water areas with depths less than 25 m, the annual amplitude can reach 25-26 °C. On average, the water temperature off the west coast is 1-2 °C higher than that on the east, and in the open sea the water temperature is 2-4 °C higher than off the coasts.

Water composition- the salt composition of the waters of the closed Caspian Sea differs from the oceanic one. There are significant differences in the ratios of concentrations of salt-forming ions, especially for waters in areas directly influenced by continental runoff. The process of metamorphization of sea waters under the influence of continental runoff leads to a decrease in the relative content of chlorides in the total amount of salts of sea waters, an increase in the relative amount of carbonates, sulfates, calcium, which are the main components in the chemical composition of river waters. The most conservative ions are potassium, sodium, chlorine and magnesium. The least conservative are calcium and bicarbonate ions. In the Caspian Sea, the content of calcium and magnesium cations is almost two times higher than in the Sea of ​​Azov, and the sulfate anion is three times higher.

Bottom relief- the relief of the northern part of the Caspian Sea is a shallow undulating plain with banks and accumulative islands, the average depth of the Northern Caspian Sea is 4-8 meters, the maximum does not exceed 25 meters. The Mangyshlak threshold separates the Northern Caspian from the Middle Caspian. The Middle Caspian is quite deep, the water depth in the Derbent depression reaches 788 meters. The Absheron threshold separates the Middle and Southern Caspian Seas. The Southern Caspian is considered deep-sea; the water depth in the South Caspian depression reaches 1025 meters from the surface of the Caspian Sea. Shell sands are widespread on the Caspian shelf, deep-sea areas are covered with silty sediments, and in some areas there is an outcrop of bedrock.

Climate- the climate of the Caspian Sea is continental in the northern part, temperate in the middle and subtropical in the southern part. In winter, the average monthly air temperature varies from −8…−10 in the northern part to +8…+10 in the southern part, in summer - from +24…+25 in the northern part to +26…+27 in the southern part. The maximum temperature of +44 degrees was recorded on the east coast. The average annual precipitation is 200 millimeters, ranging from 90-100 millimeters in the arid eastern part to 1,700 millimeters along the southwestern subtropical coast. Evaporation of water from the surface of the Caspian Sea is about 1000 millimeters per year, the most intense evaporation in the area of ​​the Absheron Peninsula and in the eastern part of the South Caspian Sea is up to 1400 millimeters per year. The average annual wind speed is 3-7 meters per second, the wind rose is dominated by north winds. In the autumn and winter months, winds become stronger, with wind speeds often reaching 35-40 meters per second. The most windy areas are the Absheron Peninsula, the environs of Makhachkala and Derbent, where the highest wave of 11 meters was recorded.

Currents- water circulation in the Caspian Sea is associated with drainage and winds. Since most of the drainage occurs in the Northern Caspian Sea, northern currents predominate. An intense northern current carries water from the Northern Caspian along the western coast to the Absheron Peninsula, where the current divides into two branches, one of which moves further along the western coast, the other goes to the Eastern Caspian.

Economic development of the Caspian Sea

Mining of oil and gas-Many oil and gas fields are being developed in the Caspian Sea. Proven oil resources in the Caspian Sea are about 10 billion tons, total oil and gas condensate resources are estimated at 18-20 billion tons. Oil production in the Caspian Sea began in 1820, when the first oil well was drilled on the Absheron shelf near Baku. In the second half of the 19th century, oil production began on an industrial scale on the Absheron Peninsula, and then in other territories. In 1949, oil was first produced at Neftyanye Kamni from the bottom of the Caspian Sea. So, on August 24 of this year, Mikhail Kaverochkin’s team began drilling a well, which yielded the long-awaited oil on November 7 of the same year. In addition to oil and gas production, salt, limestone, stone, sand, and clay are also mined on the coast of the Caspian Sea and the Caspian shelf.

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 the Sea of ​​Azov through the Volga, Don and Volga-Don Canal rivers.

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 fishing of sturgeon and their caviar flourishes in the Caspian Sea.

Legal status of the Caspian Sea- after the collapse of the USSR, the division of the Caspian Sea for a long time was and still remains the subject of unresolved disagreements related to the division of the resources of the Caspian shelf - 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 one-fifth between all Caspian states. The current legal regime of the Caspian was established by the Soviet-Iranian treaties of 1921 and 1940 These treaties provide for freedom of navigation throughout the sea, freedom of fishing with the exception of ten-mile national fishing zones and a ban on vessels flying the flag of non-Caspian states sailing in its waters. Negotiations on the legal status of the Caspian Sea are currently ongoing.

The Caspian Sea is rightfully the most big lake on the entire planet and this sea-lake is located at the junction of two significant parts of the world: Asia and Europe.

There are still disagreements about the name of the Caspian Sea: is it a sea or a lake. And they call it the sea thanks to large sizes reservoir

Origin of the sea

The Caspian Sea is of oceanic origin. It was formed approximately 10 million years ago as a result of the division of the Sarmatian Sea.

According to one legend, the Caspian reservoir received its modern name in honor of the Caspian tribes living on the southwestern shores. Over all this time, the Caspian Sea has changed its name approximately 70 times.

Currents

The waters of the Caspian Sea can be divided into the following three parts:

• southern (39% of the area)
• medium (36% of total area)
• northern part (25% of the area).

The currents of a reservoir are formed as a result of the following influences: the general influence of the wind regime, differences in density in individual areas and the flow of inflowing rivers.

Along the western coast of the middle part of the Caspian Sea, southern and southeastern currents predominate. Depending on the direction of the winds, the middle and southern parts of the Caspian Sea are characterized by currents in the northern, northwestern, southern and southeastern directions. In the eastern part of the Caspian Sea, eastern currents predominate.

The following currents also play an important role in the circulation of Caspian waters:

• seiche;
• gradient;
• inertial.

What rivers flow into the Caspian Sea

The bulk of river waters enter the Caspian Sea through the Volga River. In addition to the Volga, the following rivers flow into this reservoir:

• Samur, flowing on the border of Azerbaijan and Russia;
• Astarachay, flowing on the border of Iran and Azerbaijan;
• Kura, located in Azerbaijan;
• Heraz, Sefudrud, Tejen, Polerud, Chalus, Babol and Gorgan flowing in Iran;
• Sulak, Kuma, located on the territory of the Russian Federation;
• Emba and Ural, flowing in Kazakhstan;
• Atrek, located in Turkmenistan.

Sulak river photo

Where does the Caspian Sea flow into?

The Caspian reservoir has no connection with the ocean, since it is a closed reservoir. The Caspian Sea has dozens of bays. The largest of them can be distinguished: Komsomolets, Gyzlar, Kara-Bogaz-Gol, Mangyshlaksky, Kazakhsky, Krasnovodsky and others. Also in the waters of the Caspian Sea there are about 50 islands of different sizes, with a total area of ​​more than 350 km2. Some of the islands are united into archipelagos.

Relief

The following forms can be distinguished in the relief of the Caspian Sea bottom: in the south of the reservoir there are deep-sea depressions; a continental slope starting just below the shelf boundary and descending in the southern part of the Caspian to 750m, and in the middle part of the Caspian - up to 600m. shelf, the length of which from the depth to the coastline is 100 m and is covered with shell sands, and in deep water - with silty sediments.

Derbent photo

Coastline northern region The sea is low, quite indented, and flat in some areas. The western shore of the reservoir is rugged and mountainous. In the east, the shores are distinguished by hills. The southern coastline is mostly mountainous. The Caspian Sea is located in a zone of increased seismicity. Also, mud volcanoes often erupt here, most of which are located in the southern part of the reservoir.

Cities

The following states have access to the waters of the Caspian Sea:

• Russia. The largest city is Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan. Also in Dagestan are the cities of Kaspiysk and Izberbash. In addition to the above cities in the Russian Federation on the Caspian Sea, it is necessary to note Derbent, the most Southern City Russia located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, Olya in the Astrakhan region.
• Azerbaijan: The port city of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is located in the southern part of the Absheron Peninsula. One more big city is Sugmait, located in the northern part of the peninsula. Also worth noting are the resorts of Nabran and Lankaran. The latter is located near the southern border of Azerbaijan.
• Turkmenistan with the port city of Turkmenbashi.
• Iran: Bandar-Torkemen, Anzali, Noushehr.

Makhachkala photo

Flora and fauna

All animal world The waters of the Caspian Sea can be divided conditionally into the following groups:

• The first group consists of descendants of ancient organisms: representatives of herrings (bellied, Volga, Kessler and Brazhnikovskaya herring); representatives of the Caspian gobies (golovach, puglovka, Berg, Baer, ​​Knipovich and bubyr); sprat; a large number of crustaceans; some types of shellfish.
• The second group includes representatives of fauna that entered the sea from the north during the post-glacial era of desalination of the reservoir: seal; fish species: perch, carp, nelma, whitefish and brown trout; some representatives of crustaceans: sea cockroaches, mysid crustaceans and others.
• The third group includes species that entered the Caspian Sea from Mediterranean Sea: the following types of fish: singil, flounder and needle fish; representatives of mollusks; representatives of crustaceans: shrimps, amphipods, crabs.
• The fourth group includes representatives of freshwater fish that entered the Caspian Sea from fresh rivers: stellate sturgeon, beluga, sturgeon, Caspian fisherman, red-lipped asp, barbel, pike perch, catfish.

sturgeon photo

The waters of the Caspian Sea are the main and main habitat of sturgeon representatives on the entire planet. Almost 80% of all sturgeon in the world live in the sea. Sharks and various predatory fish that pose any danger to humans do not live in this reservoir.

The flora of the Caspian Sea is represented by more than 700 species of lower plants (phytoplankton), as well as 5 species of higher ones (spiral and sea rumpia, comb pondweed, zoster, sea naiad). Here you can find various waterfowl. Some of them fly here for the winter from the north (waders, loons, gulls, geese, swans, ducks, geese), some fly from the south for nesting (eagles).

Characteristic

Let's get acquainted with the main characteristics of the Caspian Sea:

• The length from north to south was approximately 1200 km;
• The width of the basin from west to east is approximately 200-435 km;
• The total area of ​​the Caspian Sea is approximately 390,000 km2;
• The volume of sea waters is 78,000 km3.
• The maximum sea depth is about 1025m.
• Water salinity averages up to 13.2%.

Sea level is located below the level of the World Ocean. The North of the Caspian Sea is characterized by a continental climate. The middle Caspian has a temperate climate. The southern part of the sea is characterized by a subtropical climate. In winter, the average temperature in the north varies from 8 to 10 degrees below zero, and in the south from 8 to 10 degrees below zero. In summer, the average temperature in the north is 24-25 degrees above zero, and in the south 26-27 degrees Celsius.

Caspian Sea. birds photo

• To this day, scientists are debating: what status should the Caspian sea or lake be given? After all, this reservoir is closed and drainless. At the same time, this body of water prevails in size over some other seas.
• The bottom at the deepest point is separated from the water surface of the Caspian Sea by a distance of more than a kilometer. The water level in the Caspian Sea is unstable and tends to decrease.
• This reservoir had approximately 70 names, which were given to it by different tribes and peoples living on its banks.
• There is a scientific theory that claims that the Caspian and Black Sea, were united into one sea in ancient times.
• The Volga River provides the Caspian Sea with most of the river water.
• Since the Caspian Sea is the main sturgeon habitat on the planet, most of the world's black caviar is produced here.
• The waters of the Caspian reservoir are constantly renewed every 250 years. The name of the reservoir, according to legend, comes from the name of the tribe that lived on its banks.
• The area of ​​the Caspian Sea is larger than the area of ​​Japan and slightly less than the area of ​​Germany.
• If this body of water is considered a lake, it will take third place in depth in the world, after Baikal and Tanganyika. The Caspian is also the largest lake on the planet.
• The Caspian Sea is very rich in natural resources. Oil, gas, limestone, salts, clay, stones and sand are mined here.
• The Caspian Sea has recently faced the following environmental problems: Sea pollution. Oil is the main sea pollutant, suppressing the development of phytoplankton and phytobenthos. In addition to oil, phenols and heavy metals enter the Caspian Sea. All this leads to a decrease in oxygen production, resulting in the death of a large number of fish and other organisms. Pollution also leads to illness of living organisms in the sea. Poaching is one of the main reasons for the sharp decline in sturgeon catches. Changes in natural biogeochemical cycles. Construction on the Volga deprives fish of natural habitats.
• The Caspian Sea is a very important object in the field of shipping and economics. This body of water is completely closed and isolated from the world ocean. This is the distinctive uniqueness of the Caspian Sea.

The Caspian Sea is one of the largest salty bodies of water on Earth, located at the junction of Europe and Asia. Its total area is about 370 thousand square meters. km. The reservoir accepts more than 100 water flows. The largest rivers flowing into the Volga, Ural, Emba, Terek, Sulak, Samur, Kura, Atrek, Sefidrud.

The Volga River - the pearl of Russia

The Volga is a river flowing on the territory of the Russian Federation, partially crossing Kazakhstan. It belongs to the category of the largest and longest rivers on Earth. The total length of the Volga is more than 3,500 km. The river originates in the village of Volgoverkhovye, Tver region, located on the river. After that, it continues its movement through the territory Russian Federation.

It flows into the Caspian Sea, but does not have direct access to the World Ocean, so it is classified as internal drainage. The watercourse receives about 200 tributaries and has more than 150 thousand outlets. Today, reservoirs have been built on the river to regulate flow, which has sharply reduced fluctuations in water levels.

The river's fisheries are varied. In the Volga region, melon growing predominates: the fields are occupied by grain and industrial crops; table salt is extracted. Oil and gas deposits have been discovered in the Urals region. Volga is the most large river, flowing into the Caspian Sea, so it is of great importance for Russia. The main transport structure that allows you to cross this stream is the longest in Russia.

Ural - river in Eastern Europe

The Ural, like the Volga River, flows on the territory of two states - Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. Historical name - Yaik. It originates in Bashkortostan at the top of the Uraltau ridge. The Ural River flows into the Caspian Sea. Its pool is the sixth largest in the Russian Federation, and its area is more than 230 square meters. km. Interesting fact: The Ural River, contrary to popular belief, belongs to an inland European river, and only its upper course in Russia belongs to Asia.

The mouth of the watercourse is gradually becoming shallow. At this point the river divides into several branches. This feature is characteristic along the entire length of the channel. During floods, you can observe how the Ural overflows its banks, in principle, like many other Russian rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea. This is especially observed in places with a flat coastline. Flooding occurs at a distance of up to 7 meters from the riverbed.

Emba - river of Kazakhstan

Emba is a river flowing in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The name comes from the Turkmen language, literally translated as “valley of food”. The river basin has an area of ​​40 thousand square meters. km. The river begins its journey in the Mugodzhary mountains and, as it flows, it gets lost among the swamps. When asking which rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, we can say that in high-flow years the Emba reaches its basin.

Along the river's coastline, natural resources such as oil and gas are being extracted. The issue of passing the border between Europe and Asia along the Emba watercourse, as in the case of the river. Ural, an open topic even today. The reason for this is a natural factor: the mountains of the Ural Range, which are the main landmark for drawing boundaries, disappear, forming a homogeneous terrain.

Terek - mountain water stream

Terek - river North Caucasus. The name is literally translated from Turkic as “poplar”. The Terek flows from the glacier of Mount Zilga-Khokh, located in the Trusovsky Gorge of the Caucasus Range. passes through the lands of many states: North Ossetia, Georgia, Stavropol Territory, Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan and the Chechen Republic. It flows into the Caspian Sea and Arkhangelsk Bay. The length of the river is just over 600 km, the basin area is about 43 thousand square meters. km. An interesting fact is that every 60-70 years the flow forms a new transit branch, while the old one loses its strength and disappears.

The Terek, like other rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea, is widely used to satisfy human economic needs: it is used to irrigate the arid areas of the adjacent lowlands. There are also several hydroelectric power stations located on the water stream, the total average annual production of which is more than 200 million kWh. New additional stations are planned to be launched in the near future.

Sulak - water stream of Dagestan

Sulak is a river connecting the Avar Koisu and Andean Koisu streams. It flows through the territory of Dagestan. It begins in the Main Sulak Canyon and ends its journey in the waters of the Caspian Sea. The main purpose of the river is to supply water to two cities of Dagestan - Makhachkala and Kaspiysk. Also, several hydroelectric power stations are already located on the river, and new ones are planned to be launched to increase the generated power.

Samur - the pearl of Southern Dagestan

Samur is the second largest river in Dagestan. The name is literally translated from Indo-Aryan as “abundance of water.” It originates at the foot of Mount Guton; It flows into the waters of the Caspian Sea through two branches - Samur and Small Samur. The total length of the river is just over 200 km.

All rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea are of great importance for the territories through which they flow. Samur is no exception. The main purpose of using the river is to irrigate land and provide residents of nearby cities with drinking water. It is because of this that the waterworks and a number of the Samur-Divichi canal were built.

At the beginning of the twentieth century (2010), Russia and Azerbaijan signed an interstate agreement requiring both parties to rationally use the resources of the Samur River. The same agreement introduced territorial changes between these countries. The border of the two states has been moved to the middle of the hydroelectric complex.

Kura - the largest river in Transcaucasia

When wondering which rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, I would like to describe the Kuru stream. It flows on the land of three states at once: Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan. The length of the stream is more than 1000 km, the total area of ​​the basin is about 200 thousand square meters. km. Part of the basin is located on the territory of Armenia and Iran. The source of the river is in the Turkish province of Kars, flowing into the waters of the Caspian Sea. The path of the river is thorny, laid among hollows and gorges, for which it received its name, which translated from the Mingrelian language means “gnaw”, that is, the Kura is a river that “gnaws” itself among the mountains.

There are many cities on it, such as Borjomi, Tbilisi, Mtskheta and others. It plays an important role in meeting the economic needs of the residents of these cities: hydroelectric power stations are being built, and the Mingachevir reservoir created on the river is one of the main fresh water reserves for Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, the ecological state of the stream leaves much to be desired: the level of harmful substances is several times higher than the permissible limits.

Features of the Atrek River

Atrek is a river located on the territory of Iran and Turkmenistan. It originates in the Turkmen-Kharasan mountains. Due to active use for economic needs for irrigation, the river has become shallow. For this reason, it reaches the Caspian Sea only during flood periods.

Sefidrud - high-water river of the Caspian Sea

Sefidrud is a major river of the Iranian state. Initially it was formed by the confluence of two water streams - Kyzyluzen and Shahrud. Now it flows out of the Shabanau reservoir and flows into the depths of the Caspian Sea. The total length of the river is more than 700 km. The creation of a reservoir became a necessity. It made it possible to minimize the risk of flooding, thereby protecting the cities located in the river delta. The waters are used to irrigate lands with a total area of ​​more than 200 thousand hectares of land.

As can be seen from the presented material, the Earth's water resources are in unsatisfactory condition. The rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea are actively used by people to satisfy their needs. And this has a detrimental effect on their condition: watercourses are depleted and polluted. That is why scientists around the world are sounding the alarm and conducting active propaganda, calling for saving and conserving water on Earth.

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, the Canadian Lake Superior also has a huge area like 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 And the Great Soviet Encyclopedia answers 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.

In my own way geographical location The Caspian Sea itself, unlike the land territories surrounding it, has not been the object of any targeted attention on the part of 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). The 1921 agreement did not provide for a maritime border between the parties.

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 Iran 10 signed in 1940 protected the Caspian Sea from such a prospect: it repeated the main provisions of previous agreements, which provided for the presence of ships of only these two Caspian states in its waters. 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 large quantity New problems also arose in the Caspian Sea. 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.

In addition to the presence of 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 banks there are such large sea ​​ports, like Russian Astrakhan, the capital of Azerbaijan Baku, Turkmen Turkmenbashi, Iranian Anzeli and 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 adjacent sector an integral part of 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 the states to begin a new stage of 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”.