Nearly 2,000 species and subspecies of animals live in and around the Caspian Sea, according to Casp Info. Armenia is in the southern areas of the Caucasus Mountains with its lowlands located right between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, on the northeastern parts of Armenian Highlands. The Caspian Sea is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia. Other businesses include salt extraction, fishing and tourism along the coasts. However, pollution, particularly from the oil industry, is a primary threat to the seas ecology, with environmental bodies calling for controlled industrial activities in the region. More extreme weather patterns have increased rainfall in Russia, which brings more water into the Volga River and Caspian Sea. New York, Since the medieval period, traders reached the Caspian via a number of portages that connected the Volga and its tributaries with the Don River (which flows into the Sea of Azov) and various rivers that flow into the Baltic Sea. [11] Moreover, the Caspian Gates, part of Iran's Tehran province, may evince such a people migrated to the south. The Caspian is of exceptional scientific interest, because its historyparticularly former fluctuations in both area and depthoffers clues to the complex geologic and climatic evolution of the region. In 1920, when the Bolsheviks captured Azerbaijan, all private property, including oil wells and factories, was confiscated. In the North Caspian, the majority of the islands are small and uninhabited, like the Tyuleniy Archipelago, an Important Bird Area (IBA). Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [24] The northern portion of the Caspian Sea typically freezes in the winter, and in the coldest winters ice forms in the south as well. The sea is 746 miles long and . The Caspian Seas coastal areas also attract a significant number of tourists, generating additional income for the respective economy. The Caspian Sea is a significant crude oil supplier. The first offshore oil well was drilled in 1820. According to a treaty signed between Iran and the Soviet Union, the sea is technically a lake and was divided into two sectors (Iranian and Soviet), but the resources (then mainly fish) were commonly shared. Beyond that belt, known as the Mangyshlak Bank, the middle Caspian, 53,250 square miles (137,917 square km) in area, forms an irregular depression with an abrupt western slope and a gentler eastern gradient. He was a hydrographer who charted and greatly expanded knowledge of the sea. This orogenic movement was continuous, while the Caspian was regularly disconnected from the Black Sea. [48] Caviar harvesting further endangers the fish stocks, since it targets reproductive females. These are: Although the Caspian Sea is endorheic, its main tributary, the Volga, is connected by important shipping canals with the Don River (and thus the Black Sea) and with the Baltic Sea, with branch canals to Northern Dvina and to the White Sea. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Natural History magazine: Fate of the Caspian Sea, Best zombie movies: viruses, fungi, space radiation & voodoo magic, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: Everything we know about our favorite archeologist's latest adventure, Best VR mindfulness games 2023: Meditation, puzzles, & creativity, Best star projectors 2023: Bring the cosmos indoors. Eurasia The vegetation in the Turkmenistan portion of the Caspian shores is considered impoverished. It lies at the junction of Europe and Asia, with the Caucasus Mountains to the west and the steppes. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. [46], The sea's basin (including associated waters such as rivers) has 160 native species and subspecies of fish in more than 60 genera. Due to the current inflow of fresh water in the north, the Caspian Sea water is almost fresh in its northern portions, getting more brackish toward the south. The most famous and financially valuable animal in the region is the beluga sturgeon, sometimes called the European or Caspian sturgeon. The Caspian Sea is estimated to be about 30 million years old. There are no sharks in the Caspian Sea. The second is the Pleistocene noted for its glaciation cycles and the full run of the present Volga. Which continent contains the Caspian Sea? - WisdomAnswer Therefore, many . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Caspian Sea: The Caspian is famous for its sturgeon, a type of fish that produces Caviar. The port (and tankers) have access to the oceans along the Caspian SeaVolgaDon Canal, and the DonSea of Azov. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. About 11 plant species are found in the Samur River delta, including the unique liana forests that date back to the Tertiary period. The lake is endorheic (meaning it has no outflows), and sits at the border between Europe and Asia. The Caspian is divided into three distinct physical regions: the Northern, Middle, and Southern Caspian. [1] The mountain range forms part of the conventional boundary between the regions of Europe and Asia. The Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water in the world and . The inflowing fresh water from these rivers dilute the water. The Volga River Delta in the North Caspian is home to a wide range of endemic or rare aquatic plants, according to the World Wildlife Fund. [38], Since 2019 UNESCO has admitted the lush Hyrcanian forests of Mazandaran, Iran as World Heritage Site under category (ix). [31], Archeological studies of Gobustan Rock Art have identified what may be dolphins[41] and porpoises,[42][43] likely present in the Caspian Sea at least until the Quaternary or much more recent periods such as the last glacial period or antiquity. Because it has no outflow, the amount of rainfall in the regions of the rivers can greatly impact the water level of the Caspian Sea, according to GRID-Arendal, an environmental information center. Caspian Sea - WorldAtlas The majority of the world's beluga caviar comes from the Caspian Sea. It is a land locked water body located on the border of two large parts of the continent of Eurasia. The lake proper has 115 natives, including 73 endemics (63.5%). What countries border the Caspian Sea? This has been attributed to a general lack of seeding material in newly formed coastal lagoons and water bodies.[36][37]. Winter temperatures are significant but vary with the region. It produces about 1.5 million barrels of crude oil and natural gas per day, accounting for about 1.9% of the worlds total. About 400 of them are endemic to the area, including the Caspian gull, Caspian turn, spur-thighed tortoise, Horsfield's tortoise, Caspian white fish, Caspian salmon and Caspian seal, the only aquatic mammal in the area. Others refer to it as the Khazar sea: Turkmen: Hazar deizi; Azerbaijani: Xzr dnizi, Turkish: Hazar denizi. Human stillbirths and miscarriages happen at higher levels than in inland areas. Baku ( US: / bku, bku /, UK: / bku, bku /; [7] [8] Azerbaijani: Bak [bc] ( listen)) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Tethys Ocean First phase of the Tethys Ocean's forming: the (first) Tethys Sea starts dividing Pangaea into two supercontinents, Laurasia and Gondwana. Which Waters Do You Pass Through When You Sail the Seven Seas? Peloton vs Echelon: Can this more affordable brand challenge Pelotons claim to the title of best exercise bike? The answer to that question depends on who you ask. This led to intense investment and development by international oil companies. Other islands in the Caspian Sea include Durneva, Chechen, Buyuk Zira, Pirallhi, Bulla, Qum, Gil, and Chikil. [13], Some Turkic ethnic groups refer to it with the Caspi(an) descriptor; in Kazakh it is called , Kaspiy teizi, Kyrgyz: , romanized:Kaspiy deizi, Uzbek: Kaspiy dengizi. NY 10036. The State oil company of Azerbaijan SOCAR said preliminary information indicated it was a mud volcano which spewed both mud and flammable gas. The seas water levels have fluctuated over the years. During the Soviet era, the cities of Sumgayit and Baku were heavily industrialized. Neanderthal remains also have been discovered at a cave in Georgia. The Caspian Sea is endorheic, meaning it has no natural outlets. Heavy development in its lower reaches has caused numerous unregulated releases of chemical and biological pollutants. These were published in 1720 by the Russian Academy of Sciences.[61]. It has historically been considered a sea because of its size and its saline water, but it embodies many characteristics of lakes. Most of the Caspian Sea islands lie off the coast of Baku Bay, Azerbaijan. The Caspian Sea was part of the Paratethys Sea, an ancient sea in the Tethys Ocean. What is unique about the Caspian Sea? Aral Sea. Caspian Sea, Russian Kaspiyskoye More, Persian Darya-ye Khezer, world's largest inland body of water. [78] Access to mineral resources (oil and natural gas), access for fishing, and access to international waters (through Russia's Volga river and the canals connecting it to the Black Sea and Baltic Sea) all rest on the negotiations' outcome. These persistent questions are hard to answer and often undermine efforts at cooperation. The southwestern and southern Caspian shores are formed of the sediments of the Lnkran and Gln-Mzandern lowlands, with the high peaks of the Talish and Elburz ranges rearing up close inland. Nevertheless, during harsh winters its entire northern half can freeze. [32], The high concentration of mud volcanoes under the Caspian Sea were thought to be the cause of a fire that broke out 75 kilometers from Baku on July 5, 2021. The Caspian Sea accounts for between 40-44% of the world's lacustrine waters. Geography of Azerbaijan - Wikipedia The largest island in the Caspian Sea is the Orguja Ada. The Caspian Sea is at the heart of the Eurasian continent and is a crucial geographical and cultural crossroads linking Europe and Asia that has proven strategically important to many. The largest are Chechen, Tyuleny, Morskoy, Kulaly, Zhiloy, and Ogurchin. Since 1978, the water level has risen almost 7.4 feet (2.2 m), according to the Pars Times. The Ural Mountains [a] or simply the Urals, is a mountain range in Asia that runs north-south mostly through Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the river Ural and northwestern Kazakhstan. Since there are no natural outlets, it is an endorheic basin. Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and . Another Caspian tributary, the Kuma River, is connected by an irrigation canal with the Don basin as well. Baku Sea Trade Port and Caspian Shipping Company CJSC, have a big role in the sea transportation of Azerbaijan. "In the north is a low-lying coastal plain, sandy, hot and humid," Kukral said. Its transport fleet has 51 vessels: 20 tankers, 13 ferries, 15 universal dry cargo vessels, 2 Ro-Ro vessels, as well as 1 technical vessel and 1 floating workshop. The traditional and medieval Arabic name for the sea was Bahr ('sea') Khazar, but in recent centuries the common and standard name in Arabic language has become Bar Qazvin, the Arabized form of Caspian. It is named after the Caspi Tribe, which settled on its southwestern shore. The most valuable caviar is called beluga.. While the Caspian Sea is not fresh water, its salty water is diluted by the inflow of fresh water, especially in the north. The main geologic history locally had two stages. Are Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan in Asia or Europe? - ThoughtCo Many of the islands along the Azerbaijani coast retain great geopolitical and economic importance for demarcation-line oil fields relying on their national status. [81], The Caspian Summit is a head of state-level meeting of the five littoral states. Where are the boundaries or jurisdiction within the lake?" The climate of the Caspian Sea is variable, with the cold desert climate (BWk), cold semi-arid climate (BSk), and humid continental climate (Dsa, Dfa) being present in the northern portions of the Caspian Sea, while the Mediterranean climate (Csa) and humid subtropical climate (Cfa) are present in the southern portions of the Caspian Sea. Five countries have a shoreline at the sea, Iran and four former Soviet republics (until 1991), Russia . The sea contains as many as 50 islands, most of them small. Other cities include Ali Abad, Astara, Aktau, and Makhachkala. The Caspian Sea region is one of the worlds dry regions. There are only three overland boundaries in existence. Kazakhstan | History, People, Map, & Facts | Britannica It is on the geopolitical Transcaucasus region. The Caspian economies export up to 80% of the total oil, with Russia exporting about 66% of the total oil export. The sea level of the Caspian has fallen and risen, often rapidly, many times over the centuries. If it is a lake there are no such obligations. The Caspian Sea is next to the world's largest lagoon, according to Lakepedia. [19] It became landlocked in the Late Miocene, about 5.5 million years ago, due to tectonic uplift and a fall in sea level. Caspian sea, Map, Bordering Countries, Geographical Features [30], A study by the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences estimated that the level of the sea was dropping by more than six centimetres per year due to increased evaporation due to rising temperatures caused by climate change. The area has given its name to several species, including the Caspian gull and the Caspian tern. The Caspian Sea lies between Europe and Asia; east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia, south of the fertile plains of Southern Russia in Eastern Europe, and north of the mountainous Iranian Plateau of Western Asia. Which of the following separated Europe from Asia? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [45] This is supported by the existences of current endemic, oceanic species such as lagoon cockles which was genetically identified to originate in Caspian/Black Seas regions. The extreme north, which falls within Kazakhstan and Russia experiences a cold and dry temperate continental climate. . It lies to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the vast steppe of Central Asia. The sea noticeably drops off towards the Middle Caspian, where the average depth is 190m (620ft). The period of restriction to the south basin was reversed during the Akchagylian the lake became more than three times its size today and took again the first of a series of contacts with the Black Sea and with Lake Aral. Up to the late 20th century, the shallow Aral Sea was the world's fourth-largest saline lake, spanning 63,000 square kilometers. The shores are hilly. The bay, sheltered by the islands of the Baku Archipelago, provides the best harbour of the Caspian, while the Aberon Peninsula gives protection from violent northerly winds. [7][8][9], The sea's name stems from Caspi, an ancient people who lived to the southwest of the sea in Transcaucasia. "The Caspian Sea is located in a dry region of the world," Kukral told Live Science. The island of Vulf off Baku, for example, has suffered ecological damage as a result of the petrochemical industry; this has significantly decreased the number of species of marine birds in the area. [9] These projects would allow Western markets easier access to Kazakh oil and, potentially, Uzbek and Turkmen gas as well. The area of the sea is 392,600 km2 and the sea level lies 27 m below sea level (Baltic system of elevations). It is predicted that during the 21st century the depth of the sea will decrease by 918 m (3060ft) due to global warming and the process of desertification, causing an ecocide. claim that a medieval rising of the Caspian, perhaps caused by the Amu Darya changing its inflow to the Caspian from the 13th century to the 16th century, caused the coastal towns of Khazaria, such as Atil, to flood. [60], During the rule of Peter I the Great, Fedor I. Soimonov was a pioneering explorer of the sea. Caspian Sea, Inland salt lake between Europe and Asia, bordering Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Iran. Australia Antarctica Map of island countries: these states are not located on any continent-sized landmass, but they are usually grouped geographically with a neighbouring continent Determining the boundaries between the continents is generally a matter of geographical convention. It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast. It covers a total surface area of about 386,400 km2 and is about 1,200 km long and 320 km wide. Some Russian historians[who?] Visit our corporate site. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Several slightly different conventions are in use. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. At that time, the Tethys Ocean was connected to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, according to WorldLakes.org. Ogurja Ada is the largest island. Upgrading the VolgaDon Canal would be another option.[89]. It was also sometimes called the Kumyk Sea[17] and Tarki Sea[18] (derived from the name of the Kumyks and their historical capital Tarki). Unlike the continental lakes on this list, the Caspian Sea is considered an anomaly when it comes to lakes. PDF Caspian Sea 28Jun04 - World Lakes Volga - Wikipedia The Caspian littoral states' meeting in 2007 signed an accord that only allows littoral-state flag-bearing ships to enter the sea. These are Ganj Par and Darband Cave sites. The seabed, on the other hand, remains undefined, subject to bilateral agreements between countries. -. The western seabed slopes swiftly while the eastern gradates gently, according to New World Encyclopedia. "Fishes of the Caspian Sea: zoogeography and updated check-list". Scientists estimate that the on- and off-shore drilling operations in the Caspian area emit 15 to 20 million tons of CO2-equivalent each year, according to GRID-Arendal. Over 100 rivers empty into the Caspian Sea, including the Volga River, Europes largest river. The region output about 1.41.5 million barrels per day plus natural gas liquids in 2001, 1.9% of total world output. Tethys Ocean - Wikipedia The shores have shallow saline pools that host small invertebrates, fish, and birds. [63] Russia's extensive mineral and energy resources are the largest such reserves in the world,[64] making it the second leading producer of oil and natural gas globally. It is now a major source of petroleum. The Caspian Sea is located on the border of Europe and Asia. There are three distinct regions of the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan accounts for 55% and Azerbaijan for about 20% of the states' oil output.[68]. The majority of the world's beluga caviar comes from the Caspian Sea. Below is the article summary. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Kazakhstan, also spelled Kazakstan, officially Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakh Qazaqstan Respublikas, landlocked country of Central Asia. Its numerous ports include Baku in Azerbaijan and Bandar-e Anzal and Bandar-e Torkaman in Iran. This oil is black and is called nefte. Its seafloor is, therefore, a standard oceanic basalt and not a continental granite body. With a basin 750 mi (1,200 km) long and up to 200 mi (320 km) wide and an area of 149,200 sq mi (386,400 sq km), it is the largest inland body of water in the world. The Southern Caspian reaches depths of more than 3,300 feet (1,000 m) and holds most of the water. A series of submerged ridges breaks up the relief to the north, but otherwise the bottom of the depression is a flat plain and contains the Caspians greatest depths. Another important city along the Caspian is Irans Nowshahr, with a population of about 50,000 people.