Western coast of the Caspian Sea. Caspian Sea: description, depth, width, interesting facts

Holidays on the shores of the Caspian Sea– an excellent alternative for those who want to have a pleasant rest away from the hustle and bustle.

And also to gain new impressions and vitality, to improve the health of children, but does not have the financial means to travel to distant warm countries.

Cheap flights to Makhachkala

General information

The Caspian Sea, which is the most large lake in the world, stretches from North to South for about 1200 km. Its width is on average up to 320 km. The water surface area is about 370 thousand km2. The level of the Caspian Sea is almost 28 meters below ocean level.

The maximum depth was recorded in the South Caspian depression and is 1025 meters.

The unique sea-lake is rich in small islands, about 50 of them.

More than 100 rivers flow into the sea, among them the Volga, Ural, Kura, Atrek, Terek and others.

The Caspian Sea is famous for its unique flora and fauna.

In its warm waters you can find more than 850 species of fish and animals, and more than 500 species of plants. Many representatives of flora and fauna are listed in the Red Book.

The sea is rich in fish, including valuable sturgeon. The Caspian seal lives in warm waters. There are no sharks or other fish that are predatory and dangerous to humans.

Nature lovers can visit the famous Astrakhan International biosphere reserve. This is a magnificent natural monument.

In spring and summer, people especially come here to admire the amazingly beautiful phenomenon: fields of blooming lotus.

Russian resorts of the Caspian Sea

The length of the coast of the Russian part of the Caspian Sea is more than 600 kilometers.

Large sandy beaches, warm sea, pleasant weather - excellent prospects for organizing a quality summer holiday.

The best Russian resorts The Caspian Sea is located in Dagestan.

Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Izberbash, Lagan, Derbent, Dagestan Lights - famous seaside resort towns.

Climate

The coast of the Astrakhan region has a temperate climate. Warm weather lasts from the first days of May until the first half of September.

During the season, clear, warm weather prevails ( average temperature 24-25 0 C). Cloudy days and rain are rare.

The hottest month is July.

In summer, the sea water warms up to 23-28°C along the entire length of the Russian coastline.

Accommodation

There are more than 150 boarding houses and recreation centers on the Caspian coast of Russia.

Vacationers can buy a ticket in advance or register on the spot.

In Derbent and Kaspiysk, tourists will be warmly greeted by the staff of large, comfortable hotels.

Small cozy hotels are also available for vacationers. family vacation. You can find comfortable housing in the private sector. Prices are very affordable .

How to get there?

You can get to the Astrakhan coast of the Caspian Sea by the following route: by train or plane to regional center the city of Astrakhan, and then by bus, taxi or by water transport to your destination.

The resorts of Dagestan can be reached by local transport(bus, taxi) from the capital of the republic, Makhachkala, which can be reached by train or intercity bus.

Treatment

Those who wish can relax and undergo treatment at the Caspiy sanatorium, which is located on the seashore 40 km from Makhachkala.

This hydropathic clinic with healing mineral baths is equipped with modern diagnostic equipment.

The course of treatment is designed for 21 days, which gives a noticeable balneological effect.

Sanatorium "Lezzet"- climatic, sea, balneo-mud resort on the Caspian Sea. It is located 8 kilometers from Makhachkala airport.

Specialized areas: diseases of the nervous, musculoskeletal, genitourinary, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory systems, gynecological problems and infertility.

The resort will help you combine seaside relaxation with treatment "Talgi". The health resort is located in Makhachkala.

Specialization: treatment and prevention of diseases of the joints, nervous and genitourinary systems. Unique sulfide waters with hydrogen sulfide are used for treatment.

Recreation and entertainment

All resorts and health resorts on the Russian coast have developed infrastructure and created conditions for a good rest:

• athletic facilities;
• cafes, restaurants;
• various attractions;
• for those who wish to organize boat trips, fishing, thematic excursions.

Holidays in the Astrakhan region

The city of Astrakhan is located in the Caspian lowland in the delta of the Volga River. This old City included in tourist tours and is popular among travelers.

Guests are attracted by the wonderful architectural ensembles, majestic churches, interesting museums.

At the end of summer and autumn, you can enjoy the famous Astrakhan watermelons and fragrant melons from the garden.

From the regional center to the Caspian Sea is only 60 km.

The most common and affordable housing for vacationers and tourists in the Volga delta and on the Caspian coast are recreation centers. As a rule, these are small cozy houses located in picturesque corners.

"Dardanelles", recreation center

The Astrakhan region is an excellent region for lovers of fishing and active recreation.

Fishermen have long chosen the Dardanelles recreation center, located in the Volga River delta.

In the modern building, the rooms are equipped with air conditioning, refrigerators, and bathrooms.

Dardanelles

For vacationers, high-quality meals are provided three times a day.

In the restaurant, the base can prepare delicious dishes from its own catch.

Vacationers have a sauna and billiards at their disposal. Guests are offered a variety of excursions, including to Astrakhan, boat trips by sea and Volga.

Address: s. Zaton, Kamyzyaksky district, Astrakhan region (base 9 km).

"Tortuga", fishing base

"Tortuga" in terms of cost of living is not very different from "Dardanelle".

A standard house has comfortable furniture, household appliances, necessary utensils, and bathrooms. It is very comfortable for families with children to stay here.

Those who wish can stay in a floating house. The necessary fishing equipment can be rented on site.

Address: s. Vyshka, Limansky district, Astrakhan region.

Country of mountains - Dagestan- offers tourists the sandy beaches of the Caspian Sea, ski resorts, unique nature and culture, ancient monuments and wonderful national cuisine.

And although the idea of ​​holidays in Dagestan is perceived ambiguously due to doubts about safety, many guests come to the republic. This mountain region is very beautiful and original.

Resort complex "Chindirchero"

This popular place holiday resort welcomes guests all year round.

In summer, guests can enjoy relaxing by the sea.

For vacationers:

• windsurfing;
• kiting;
• rafting.

Chindirchero

All conditions for paragliding and rock climbing have also been created.

In winter, Chindirchero is a popular ski resort.

Address: s. Ginta, Akushinsky district, Makhachkala,

Derbent

Derbent, a city with a history of 5 thousand years, is one of the most attractive resorts for tourism on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Derbent region is a subtropical paradise with a riot of nature and plenty of sun. Beauty sea ​​coast framed by picturesque mountains.

Derbent has many ancient monuments and interesting sights. Vacationers are welcome exciting excursions, including helicopters. Both in the city and in its environs there are hotels, tourist centers.

The most popular hotels in Derbent:

• Hotel Krasny Bak;
• Hotel Complex Europe;
• Elit Hotel.

The resort can be reached by train or regular minibus from the bus station of Makhachkala or Kaspiysk. The Moscow - Baku train stops in Derbent.

Izberbash

This colorful city is located at the foothills Greater Caucasus, covered with picturesque forests.

Izberbash

The warm sea, extensive sandy beaches, and amazing landscapes attract tourists.

The combination of sea and mountain air and the presence of healing mineral springs make it possible to improve your health.

Tourist base "Priboy"

The windows of the three-story building of the tourist center offer magnificent views. The living rooms have all the necessary amenities, air conditioning and televisions. Vacationers have a clean, well-maintained beach at their disposal.

The camp site offers delicious, healthy food, a cozy bar, and a guarded parking lot.

Address: pos. Primorsky, Izberbash.

Reviews

“We came for the first time from Orenburg. Nature is simply a miracle! Everything is so beautiful – I didn’t part with my camera. The base itself is a most picturesque corner. Ideal place for relax. It’s a pity that we didn’t provide complete information and came for a three-day tour.

Next time we'll try to stay longer. Excellent service. Such hospitality and cordiality is rare to find. We left with great regret. We will definitely come back."

“There are beaches in Derbent. But their most of- rented from private owners. City beaches usually quickly fill with garbage and are poorly cleaned, and this fact does not even soften the charm of clear, beautiful, warm sea water.”

Resorts of Kazakhstan on the Caspian Sea

Amazing nature and warm healing water of the sea make holidays in the Caspian Sea very attractive.

People come to Kazakhstan to the coast to relax and improve their health. It offers comfortable sandy beaches, natural mineral springs and healing mud.

Aktau is the only city near the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan.

On the Kazakh coast, the infrastructure is not yet very developed. However, there are already many pleasant places where tourists come with pleasure.

How to get there?

You can only get to Aktau by train or plane.

On road transport getting there is difficult not only because of the very long distance, but also because of the quality of the local roads.

Climate

On the coast of the Caspian Sea, winters are mild and summers are dry and warm.

On a summer day, the air temperature rises to +30..+32 degrees, and at night drops to +20 degrees.

The beach season lasts from May to September.

Accommodation

There will be no problems with accommodation in Aktau, even if you do not come with a tour package. There are more than 20 modern comfortable hotels in the city.

The most popular of them:

• "Aktau";
• "Chagala" ;
• "Zheruyik".

Treatment

On the Kazakh shore of the Caspian Sea, two large medical and health complexes can be distinguished:

• “Kenderli” – 300 km from Aktau;
• Steagle, near the city.

The unique balneological hospital “Chagala” is located within the city.

Recreation and entertainment

"Kenderlik"

A sports and fitness complex is located near Aktau. It attracts lovers of active recreation.

This modern complex meets all international norms and standards.

Kenderli

Guests stay in small cozy cottages located on the shore or in comfortable hotel rooms, in the building of which there is a sauna, indoor swimming pool, solarium and winter Garden.

At the service of vacationers billiard room, gyms, tennis courts, outdoor summer swimming pool, football and volleyball courts, bowling alley, dance floor, bars and restaurant.

"Chagala", sanatorium

The sanatorium-preventorium “Chagala” (“Chaika”) offers quality rest and recreation. This is a unique balneological hospital. It is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, within the city of Aktau.

Guests are offered single and double rooms with private facilities. The sanatorium building has a comfortable winter garden where you can relax and admire exotic plants.

Vacationers can visit Entertainment Center, casino, technology park, roller skating area.

New impressions will be given sightseeing tours By historical places And natural monuments Mangyshlak.

Address: Aktau, mn 1, coastal zone.

On the seashore, 18 kilometers from Aktau, there is a modern sports and recreational entertainment center “Stigl”.

There are two hotels on the territory of the center. This complex is equipped in accordance with international standards.

On its territory there is a unique sea sauna, SPA salon, fitness center, massage rooms, as well as cafes, restaurants, and attractions.

The Caspian Sea is the most big lake of our planet, which is located in a depression of the earth’s surface (the so-called Aral-Caspian Lowland) on the territory of Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Iran. Although they consider it as a lake, because it is not connected with the World Ocean, but by the nature of the formation processes and history of origin, by its size, the Caspian Sea is a sea.

The area of ​​the Caspian Sea is about 371 thousand km 2. The sea, stretching from north to south, has a length of about 1200 km and an average width of 320 km. The length of the coastline is about 7 thousand km. The Caspian Sea is located 28.5 m below the level of the World Ocean and its greatest depth is 1025 m. There are about 50 islands in the Caspian Sea, mostly small in area. The large islands include such islands as Tyuleniy, Kulaly, Zhiloy, Chechen, Artem, Ogurchinsky. There are also many bays in the sea, for example: Kizlyarsky, Komsomolets, Kazakhsky, Agrakhansky, etc.

The Caspian Sea is fed by more than 130 rivers. Largest quantity water (about 88% of the total flow) is brought by the rivers Ural, Volga, Terek, Emba, which flow into the northern part of the sea. About 7% of the flow comes from the large rivers Kura, Samur, Sulak and small ones that flow into the sea on the west coast. The rivers Heraz, Gorgan, and Sefidrud flow into the southern Iranian coast, bringing only 5% of the flow. IN eastern part Not a single river flows into the sea. The water in the Caspian Sea is salty, its salinity ranges from 0.3‰ to 13‰.

Shores of the Caspian Sea

The shores have different landscapes. The shores of the northern part of the sea are low and flat, surrounded by low-lying semi-desert and somewhat elevated desert. In the south, the shores are partly low-lying, they are bordered by a small coastal lowland, behind which the Elburz ridge runs along the coast, which in some places comes close to the shore. In the west, the Greater Caucasus ranges approach the coast. In the east there is an abrasion coast, carved out of limestone, and semi-desert and desert plateaus approach it. The coastline changes greatly due to periodic fluctuations in water levels.

The climate of the Caspian Sea is different:

Continental in the north;

Moderate in the middle

Subtropical in the south.

At the same time, there are severe frosts and snowstorms on the northern shore, while fruit trees and magnolias bloom on the southern shore. In winter, strong storm winds rage at sea.

On the coast of the Caspian Sea there are big cities, ports: Baku, Lankaran, Turkmenbashi, Lagan, Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Izberbash, Astrakhan, etc.

The fauna of the Caspian Sea is represented by 1809 species of animals. More than 70 species of fish are found in the sea, including: herring, gobies, stellate sturgeon, sturgeon, beluga, white fish, sterlet, pike perch, carp, bream, roach, etc. Of the marine mammals, only the smallest in the world, the Caspian seal, is found in the lake. not found in other seas. The Caspian Sea lies on the main migratory route of birds between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Every year, about 12 million birds fly over the Caspian Sea during migration, and another 5 million usually winter here.

Vegetable world

The flora of the Caspian Sea and its coast includes 728 species. Basically, the sea is inhabited by algae: diatoms, blue-greens, red, characeae, brown and others, of the flowering ones - rupee and zoster.

The Caspian Sea is rich in reserves natural resources, many oil and gas fields are being developed in it, in addition, limestone, salt, sand, stone and clay are also mined here. The Caspian Sea is connected by the Volga-Don Canal with Sea of ​​Azov, shipping is well developed. A lot is caught in the reservoir different fish, including more than 90% of the world's sturgeon catch.

The Caspian Sea is also a recreation area; on its shores there are holiday homes, tourist centers and sanatoriums.

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The Caspian Sea is remarkable in that its western shore belongs to Europe, and its eastern shore is located in Asia. This is a huge body of salt water. It is called a sea, but, in fact, it is a lake, since it has no connection with the World Ocean. Therefore, it can be considered the largest lake in the world.

The area of ​​the water giant is 371 thousand square meters. km. As for the depth, the northern part of the sea is quite shallow, and the southern part is deep. The average depth is 208 meters, but it does not give any idea of ​​​​the thickness of the water mass. The entire reservoir is divided into three parts. These are the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian. The northern one is a sea shelf. It accounts for only 1% of the total volume of water. This part ends behind the Kizlyar Bay near the island of Chechen. The average depth in these places is 5-6 meters.

In the Middle Caspian, the seabed noticeably decreases, and the average depth reaches 190 meters. The maximum is 788 meters. This part of the sea contains 33% of the total volume of water. And the South Caspian is considered the deepest. It absorbs 66% of the total water mass. The maximum depth is noted in the South Caspian depression. She is equal 1025 meters and is considered the official maximum depth of the sea today. The Middle and Southern Caspian Seas are approximately equal in area and occupy a total of 75% of the area of ​​the entire reservoir.

The maximum length is 1030 km, and the corresponding width is 435 km. The minimum width is 195 km. The average figure corresponds to 317 km. That is, the reservoir has an impressive size and is rightfully called a sea. The length of the coastline together with the islands reaches almost 7 thousand km. As for the water level, it is 28 meters below the level of the World Ocean.

The most interesting thing is that the level of the Caspian Sea is subject to cyclicity. The water rises and falls. Water level measurements have been carried out since 1837. According to experts, over the last thousand years the level has fluctuated within 15 meters. This is a very large number. And they associate it with geological and anthropogenic (human impact on the environment) processes. However, it has been noted that since the beginning of the 21st century, the level of the huge reservoir has been steadily rising.

The Caspian Sea is surrounded by 5 countries. These are Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. Moreover, Kazakhstan has the longest coastline. Russia is in 2nd place. But the length of the coastline of Azerbaijan reaches only 800 km, but in this place there is the most major port in the Caspian Sea. This is, of course, Baku. The city is home to 2 million people, and the population of the entire Absheron Peninsula is 2.5 million people.

"Oil Rocks" - a city in the sea
These are 200 platforms with a total length of 350 kilometers

Notable is the oil workers' village, which is called " Oil Rocks". It is located 42 km east of Absheron in the sea and is a creation of human hands. All residential and industrial buildings are built on metal overpasses. People service drilling rigs that pump oil from the bowels of the earth. Naturally, there are no permanent residents in this village.

In addition to Baku, there are other large cities along the shores of the salty reservoir. At the southern tip is the Iranian city of Anzali with a population of 111 thousand people. This is the largest Iranian port on the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan owns the city of Aktau with a population of 178 thousand people. And in the northern part, directly on the Ural River, is the city of Atyrau. It is inhabited by 183 thousand people.

The Russian city of Astrakhan also has the status of a seaside city, although it is 60 km from the coast and is located in the Volga River delta. This is a regional center with a population of more than 500 thousand people. Directly on the seashore there are such Russian cities like Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Derbent. The latter refers to ancient cities peace. People have been living in this place for more than 5 thousand years.

Many rivers flow into the Caspian Sea. There are about 130 of them. The largest of them are the Volga, Terek, Ural, Kura, Atrek, Emba, Sulak. It is rivers, not precipitation, that feed the huge reservoir. They give him up to 95% of water per year. The basin of the reservoir is 3.626 million square meters. km. These are all rivers with their tributaries flowing into the Caspian Sea. The territory is huge, it includes Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay.

It would be more correct to call this bay a lagoon. It means a shallow body of water separated from the sea by a sandbar or reefs. There is such a spit in the Caspian Sea. And the strait through which water flows from the sea is 200 km wide. True, people, with their restless and ill-considered activities, almost destroyed Kara-Bogaz-Gol. They fenced off the lagoon with a dam, and its level dropped sharply. But after 12 years the mistake was corrected and the strait was restored.

The Caspian Sea has always been shipping is developed. In the Middle Ages, merchants brought exotic spices and snow leopard skins from Persia to Rus' by sea. Nowadays, the reservoir connects the cities located on its banks. Practicing ferry crossings. There is a water connection with the Black and Baltic Sea through rivers and canals.

Caspian Sea on the map

The body of water is also important from the point of view fisheries, because sturgeon live in large numbers there and provide caviar. But today the number of sturgeon has decreased significantly. Environmentalists propose to ban the fishing of this valuable fish until the population recovers. But this issue has not yet been resolved. The number of tuna, bream, and pike perch also decreased. Here you need to take into account the fact that poaching is highly developed at sea. The reason for this is the difficult economic situation of the region.

And, of course, I need to say a few words about oil. The extraction of “black gold” at sea began in 1873. The areas adjacent to Baku have become a real gold mine. There were more than 2 thousand wells here, and oil production and refining was carried out on an industrial scale. At the beginning of the 20th century it was the center of the international oil industry. In 1920, Azerbaijan was captured by the Bolsheviks. Oil wells and factories were requisitioned. The entire oil industry came under the control of the USSR. In 1941, Azerbaijan supplied 72% of all oil produced in the socialist state.

In 1994, the “Contract of the Century” was signed. He marked the beginning of the international development of the Baku oil fields. The main Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline allows Azerbaijani oil to flow directly to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. It was put into operation in 2006. Today, oil reserves are estimated at 12 trillion. US dollars.

Thus, it is clear that the Caspian Sea is one of the most important economic regions of the world. The political situation in the Caspian region is quite complicated. For a long time there have been debates about maritime borders between Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iran. There were many inconsistencies and disagreements, which negatively affected the development of the region.

This came to an end on August 12, 2018. On this day, the states of the “Caspian Five” signed the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. This document delimited the bottom and subsoil, and each of the five countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan) received its share in the Caspian basin. Rules for navigation, fishing, scientific research, and pipeline laying were also approved. The boundaries of territorial waters received state status.

Yuri Syromyatnikov

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, maximum depth- 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° v. 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. On east coast Limestone coasts predominate, adjacent to semi-deserts and deserts. The most winding shores are on the western coast in the area of ​​the Absheron Peninsula and on the eastern 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 total area 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, when the temperature varies 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 is west coast 1-2 °C higher than in the east, and in the open sea the water temperature is 2-4 °C higher than near 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 chemical composition 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 part 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. There are ferry crossings on the Caspian Sea, 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. Negotiations took place for a long time between 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 by 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 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, is an inland European river, and only its upper course in Russia belongs to Asia.

The mouth of the watercourse gradually becomes 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 gently sloping 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: mountains Ural ridge, which are the main guideline for drawing boundaries, disappear, forming a homogeneous terrain.

Terek - mountain water stream

Terek is a river of the 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 located, and the Mingachevir reservoir created on the river is one of the main reserves fresh water 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, water resources The lands 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.