The Caspian Sea is located on the border of Europe and Asia and is surrounded by the territories of five states: Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Despite the name, the Caspian is the largest lake on the planet (its area is 371,000 km2), however, the bottom, composed of the oceanic crust, and salt water, together with its large size, give reason to consider it a sea. A large number of rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, for example, such large ones as the Volga, Terek, Ural, Kura and others.
Relief and depth of the Caspian Sea
According to the bottom relief, the Caspian Sea is divided into three parts: southern (the largest and deepest), middle and northern.
In the northern part, the depth of the sea is the smallest: on average, it is from four to eight meters, and the maximum depth here reaches 25 m. Caspian Sea limited to the Mangyshlak Peninsula and occupies 25% of the total area of the reservoir.
The middle part of the Caspian is deeper. Here the average depth becomes equal to 190 m, while the maximum is 788 meters. The area of the middle Caspian is 36% of the total, and the volume of water is 33% of the total volume of the sea. It is separated from the southern part by the Absheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan.
the deepest and large part Caspian Sea - southern. It occupies 39% of the total area, and its share of the total water volume is 66%. Here is the South Caspian depression, in which the deepest point of the sea is located - 1025 m.
Islands, peninsulas and bays of the Caspian Sea
In total, there are about 50 islands in the Caspian Sea, almost all of them are uninhabited. Due to the shallower depth of the northern part of the sea, most of the islands are located there, among them the Baku archipelago belonging to Azerbaijan, the Seal Islands in Kazakhstan, as well as many Russian islands off the coast Astrakhan region and Dagestan.
Among the peninsulas of the Caspian Sea, the largest are Mangyshlak (Mangistau) in Kazakhstan and Absheron in Azerbaijan, where such big cities as the capital of the country Baku and Sumgayit.
Gulf of Kara-Bogaz-Gol Caspian Sea
The coastline of the sea is heavily indented, and there are many bays on it, for example, Kizlyar, Mangyshlak, Dead Kultuk and others. Special mention deserves the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay, which is actually a separate lake connected to the Caspian Sea by a narrow strait, thanks to which a separate ecosystem and higher salinity of water are preserved in it.
Fishing in the Caspian Sea
Since ancient times, the Caspian Sea has attracted the inhabitants of its shores with its fish resources. About 90% of the world's sturgeon production is mined here, as well as such fish as carp, bream, and sprat.
Caspian Sea video
In addition to fish, the Caspian is extremely rich in oil and gas, the total reserves of which are about 18-20 million tons. Salt, limestone, sand and clay are also mined here.
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The Caspian Sea is located on the Eurasia continent. Surprisingly, the Caspian Sea with an area of 370 thousand square kilometers is actually the largest lake, since it has no connection with the ocean. Although it is difficult to call it a lake, because the composition of the water, flora and fauna are similar to those of the sea. The salinity of the water is close to oceanic (from 0.05% to 13%).
Photo: Seagulls on the shore of the Caspian Sea.
About 50 million years ago in the territory of Eastern Europe The Tethys Sea was located, which, drying up, was divided into several large reservoirs - the Caspian, Black and Mediterranean Seas.
Thanks to mineral waters and therapeutic mud near the Caspian Sea has a great recreational and health-improving potential. Therefore, there is an increase in the popularity of the coast of Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russian Dagestan among tourists.
Especially popular is resort area in the Baku region, where popular resort in Amburan, as well as the area of the village of Nardaran, sanatoriums in the villages of Zagulba and Bilgah. In the north of Azerbaijan, the resort in Nabran is gaining popularity.
Unfortunately, tourism in Turkmenistan is underdeveloped due to the isolation policy. And in Iran, Sharia law prohibits foreign tourists from relaxing on the coast.
But if you decide to relax on the Caspian Lake, then you will like to walk in protected areas, you will burn to see unusual floating islands, a variety of plants and animals that live in fresh and salt waters.
Here, throughout the year, a greater variety of ways to have a good time is offered. For example, you can go on boat cruises, go fishing or waterfowl hunting, or you can simply enjoy the healing waters, watching seals and various birds. The protected areas of the seashores are very beautiful, for example, the Astrakhan International Biosphere Reserve and the Volga Delta with lotus fields.
A feature of the Caspian region is oriental flavor with a hookah and bewitching dances. Hearing will please traditional music, and East Asian cuisine will satisfy your hunger.
See where the Caspian Sea is located on the world map.
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Video: Caspian Sea. Storm. 08.07.2012.
CaspAndmOre(Caspian) - the largest enclosed body of water on Earth. In size, the Caspian Sea is much larger than such lakes as the Upper, Victoria, Huron, Michigan, Baikal. According to formal features, the Caspian Sea is an endorheic lake. However, given its large size, brackish waters and sea-like regime, this body of water is called the sea.
According to one of the hypotheses, the Caspian Sea (among the ancient Slavs - the Khvalyn Sea) got its name in honor of the tribes of the Caspians who lived before our era in its southeast. west coast.
The Caspian Sea washes the shores of five states: Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
The Caspian Sea is elongated in the meridional direction and is located between 36°33' and 47°07' N latitude. and 45°43΄ and 54°03΄ E (without Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay). The length of the sea along the meridian is about 1200 km; the average width is 310 km. The northern coast of the Caspian Sea is bordered by the Caspian lowland, the eastern coast by the deserts of Central Asia; in the west, the mountains of the Caucasus approach the sea, in the south, near the coast, the Elburz ridge stretches.
The surface of the Caspian Sea is much lower than the level of the World Ocean. Its current level fluctuates around -27 ... -28 m. These levels correspond to the sea surface area of 390 and 380 thousand km 2 (without the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay), the volume of water is 74.15 and 73.75 thousand km 3, average depth is about 190 m.
The Caspian Sea is traditionally divided into three large parts: the North (24% of the sea area), the Middle (36%) and the South Caspian (40%), which differ significantly in morphology and regime, as well as the large and isolated Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay. The northern, shelf part of the sea is shallow: its average depth is 5–6 m, maximum depths are 15–25 m, and the volume is less than 1% of the total water mass of the sea. The Middle Caspian is a separate basin with the area of maximum depths in the Derbent depression (788 m); its average depth is about 190 m. In the South Caspian, the average and maximum depths are 345 and 1025 m (in the South Caspian depression); 65% of the water mass of the sea is concentrated here.
There are about 50 islands in the Caspian Sea with total area approximately 400 km 2 ; the main ones are Tyuleniy, Chechen, Zyudev, Konevsky, Dzhambaysky, Durneva, Ogurchinsky, Apsheronsky. length coastline about 6.8 thousand km, with islands - up to 7.5 thousand km. The shores of the Caspian Sea are diverse. In the northern and eastern parts, they are quite strongly indented. There are large bays Kizlyarsky, Komsomolets, Mangyshlaksky, Kazakhsky, Kara-Bogaz-Gol, Krasnovodsky and Turkmensky, many bays; off the western coast - Kyzylagach. The largest peninsulas are Agrakhansky, Buzachi, Tyub-Karagan, Mangyshlak, Krasnovodsky, Cheleken and Apsheronsky. The most common banks are accumulative; areas with abrasion shores are found along the contour of the Middle and South Caspian.
More than 130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, the largest of which is the Volga. , Ural, Terek, Sulak, Samur, Kura, Sefidrud, Atrek, Emba (its runoff enters the sea only in high-water years). Nine rivers have deltas; the largest are located at the mouths of the Volga and Terek.
The main feature of the Caspian Sea, as a drainless reservoir, is instability and a wide range of long-term fluctuations in its level. This most important hydrological feature of the Caspian Sea has a significant impact on all its other hydrological characteristics, as well as on the structure and regime of river mouths, on coastal zones. In the Caspian Sea level varied in the range of ~200 m: from -140 to +50 m BS; in from -34 to -20 m BS. From the first third of the 19th century and until 1977, sea level dropped by about 3.8 m - to the lowest point in the last 400 years (-29.01 m BS). In 1978–1995 The level of the Caspian Sea rose by 2.35 m and reached -26.66 m BS. Since 1995, a certain downward trend has dominated - to -27.69 m BS in 2013.
During major periods, the northern shore of the Caspian Sea shifted to Samarskaya Luka on the Volga, and perhaps even further. At maximum transgressions, the Caspian turned into a sewage lake: excess water flowed through the Kuma-Manych depression into the Sea of Azov and further into the Black Sea. In extreme regressions South coast The Caspian was shifted to the Apsheron threshold.
Long-term fluctuations in the level of the Caspian are explained by changes in the structure of the water balance of the Caspian Sea. The sea level rises when the incoming part of the water balance (primarily river runoff) increases and exceeds the outgoing part, and decreases if the inflow of river waters decreases. The total water flow of all rivers averages 300 km 3 /year; while the five largest rivers account for almost 95% (the Volga provides 83%). During the period of the lowest sea level, in 1942–1977, the river flow was 275.3 km 3 / year (of which 234.6 km 3 / year is the flow of the Volga), precipitation - 70.9, underground flow - 4 km 3 /year, and evaporation and outflow to the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay - 354.79 and 9.8 km 3 /year. During the period of intensive sea level rise, in 1978-1995, respectively, 315 (Volga - 274.1), 86.1, 4, 348.79 and 8.7 km 3 / year; in the modern period - 287.4 (Volga - 248.2), 75.3, 4, 378.3 and 16.3 km 3 / year.
The intra-annual changes in the level of the Caspian Sea are characterized by a maximum in June–July and a minimum in February; the range of intra-annual level fluctuations is 30–40 cm. Surge-surge level fluctuations are manifested throughout the sea, but they are most significant in the northern part, where, with maximum surges, the level can rise by 2–4.5 m and the edge “retreat” by several tens of kilometers inland, and in case of surges - to drop by 1–2.5 m. Seiche and tidal level fluctuations do not exceed 0.1–0.2 m.
Despite the relatively small size of the reservoir in the Caspian Sea, there is strong excitement. The highest wave heights in the South Caspian can reach 10–11 m. Wave heights decrease from south to north. Storm waves can develop at any time of the year, but more often and more dangerously in the cold half of the year.
The Caspian Sea is generally dominated by wind currents; nevertheless, runoff currents play an appreciable role on the estuarine coasts of large rivers. Cyclonic water circulation prevails in the Middle Caspian, and anticyclonic circulation in the South Caspian. In the northern part of the sea, the patterns of wind currents are more irregular and depend on the characteristics and variability of the wind, bottom topography and coastlines, river runoff and aquatic vegetation.
The water temperature is subject to significant latitudinal and seasonal changes. In winter, it varies from 0–0.5 o C at the ice edge in the north of the sea to 10–11 o C in the south. In summer, the water temperature in the sea averages 23–28 o C, and in shallow coastal waters in the Northern Caspian it can reach 35–40 o C. At depths, a constant temperature is maintained: deeper than 100 m it is 4–7 o C.
Only freezes in winter Northern part the Caspian Sea; in severe winter - the entire Northern Caspian and the coastal zones of the Middle Caspian. Freezing in the Northern Caspian lasts from November to March.
The salinity of water changes especially sharply in the northern part of the sea: from 0.1‰ on the estuarine coasts of the Volga and Urals to 10–12‰ on the border with the Middle Caspian. In the Northern Caspian, the temporal variability of water salinity is also great. In the middle and southern parts of the sea, salinity fluctuations are small: it is mainly 12.5–13.5‰, increasing from north to south and from west to east. The highest water salinity is in the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay (up to 300‰). With depth, the salinity of water increases slightly (by 0.1–0.3‰). The average salinity of the sea is about 12.5‰.
More than a hundred species of fish live in the Caspian Sea and the mouths of the rivers flowing into it. There are Mediterranean and Arctic invaders. The object of fishing is goby, herring, salmon, carp, mullet and sturgeon fish. The latter number five species: sturgeon, beluga, stellate sturgeon, spike and sterlet. The sea is capable of producing up to 500-550 thousand tons of fish annually if overfishing is not allowed. Of the marine mammals, the endemic Caspian seal lives in the Caspian Sea. Every year 5-6 million waterfowl migrate through the Caspian region.
The economy of the Caspian Sea is associated with oil and gas production, shipping, fishing, seafood, various salts and minerals (Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay), using recreational resources. The explored oil resources in the Caspian Sea are about 10 billion tons, the total resources of oil and gas condensate are estimated at 18–20 billion tons. Oil and gas are being produced on an ever-increasing scale. Used by the Caspian Sea and water transport, including along the river-sea and sea-river routes. The main ports of the Caspian Sea: Astrakhan, Olya, Makhachkala (Russia), Aktau, Atyrau (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Nowshahr, Bender-Enzeli, Bender-Torkemen (Iran) and Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan).
The economic activity and hydrological features of the Caspian Sea create a number of serious environmental and water management problems. Among them: anthropogenic pollution of river and sea waters (mainly with oil products, phenols and synthetic surfactants), poaching and reduction of fish stock, especially sturgeons; damage to the population and coastal economic activity due to large-scale and rapid changes in the level of the reservoir, the impact of numerous hazardous hydrological phenomena and hydrological and morphological processes.
The total economic damage for all the Caspian countries associated with the rapid and significant recent rise in the level of the Caspian Sea, the flooding of part of the coastal land, the destruction of coasts and coastal structures, was estimated at 15 to 30 billion US dollars. It took urgent engineering measures to protect the coast.
A sharp drop in the level of the Caspian Sea in the 1930s–1970s. led to less damage, but they were significant. The navigable approach channels became shallow, the shallow seashore at the mouths of the Volga and the Urals became heavily overgrown, which became an obstacle to the passage of fish into the rivers for spawning. It was necessary to build fish passages through the seasides mentioned above.
Among the unresolved problems is the lack of an international agreement on the international legal status of the Caspian Sea, the division of its water area, bottom and subsoil.
The Caspian Sea is the object of many years of research by specialists from all the Caspian states. Such domestic organizations as the State Oceanographic Institute, the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, the Caspian Research Institute of Fisheries, the Faculty of Geography of the Moscow state university and etc.
Caspian Sea or Caspian Lake?
An amazing body of water located at the junction of Europe and Asia was called the Caspian Sea. Today it is not difficult to find it on a geographical map, since its waters wash the shores of 5 states at once. Although not everyone agrees that this is the sea. Many experts say that this is a huge lake in size. Indeed, the Caspian Sea does not have a direct outlet to the World Ocean, but is connected with it only through the Volga River.
However, some time ago, the Sarmatian Sea was located on this territory, which disappeared due to climatic conditions, and in its place appeared more shallow seas, including the Caspian. The waters of the Caspian Sea are quite deep, and its bottom is the earth's crust. This is another argument for calling this body of water a sea.
Depth and temperature
The Caspian Sea is heterogeneous in its depth and different time different depth indicators can be observed here. All this depends on the season. According to scientists, the recorded depth of the sea is 1025 meters. Those scientists who rank the Caspian Sea as a lake in terms of depth put it in fourth place in the world.
Washing the shores of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, the lake-sea is becoming more and more popular with tourists. The lake almost never freezes. The temperature regime of water in the Caspian reaches 28 degrees, and in places where the depth is less, the water can warm up to 32 degrees.
Climate
The waters of the Caspian are located in three different climatic zones. Subtropical in the south, temperate in the middle and continental in the north. Depending on the climatic zone, fluctuations in temperature indicators are observed. On average, the temperature reaches 26-27 degrees, but in the south it is possible to increase the air temperature to 44 degrees.
The inhabitants of the Caspian
The inner world of the Caspian Sea is very rich, various plants, mammals and hundreds of species of fish live in it. It is believed that some species of algae, which prevail in the Caspian Sea, got there from outside. The most famous species of fish living in the Caspian Sea belong to the sturgeon family.
The largest part of all black caviar is mined in the Caspian Sea.
The Caspian Sea is also famous for such an inhabitant as the albino beluga, which spawns very rarely, about once every hundred years, so its caviar is considered the most expensive in the world. Today, the countries that own the waters of the Caspian are extremely interested in preserving the sturgeon population. For this, restrictions have been introduced on the export of this type of fish. A special place in the conservation of the famous species of fish is the fight against poaching, for which various measures have also been developed to combat illegal fishing.
Resorts of the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea amazing place for recreation, and those who decide to spend their holidays on the shores of the Caspian will not regret it. The Caspian Sea will attract everyone who comes here with its beauty, landscapes, air and its mild climate. Well-equipped beaches will complement the impressions of nature and the sea.
And quite affordable prices will be a pleasant bonus for those who choose the Caspian coast as a vacation spot. Russian cities- ports located on the shores of the Caspian Sea are the capital of Dagestan and the city. Distance from the city-port of Astrakhan to north coast The Caspian Sea is 60 kilometers.
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42° N sh. 51° E d. HGIOLCaspian Sea- the largest enclosed body of water on Earth, which can be classified as the largest drainless lake, or as a full-fledged sea, due to its size, and also due to the fact that its bed is composed of an oceanic type of earth's crust. Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The water in the Caspian is brackish, - 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.
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Subtitles
Etymology
Geographical position
The Caspian Sea is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The length of the 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 ° in d.).
According to the physical and geographical conditions, the Caspian Sea is conditionally divided into three parts - the North Caspian (25% of the sea area), the Middle Caspian (36%) and the South Caspian (39%). The conditional border between the North and Middle Caspian runs along the line Chechen Island - Cape Tyub-Karagan, between the Middle and South Caspian - along the line Chilov Island - Cape Gan-Gulu.
Coast
The territory adjacent to the Caspian Sea is called the Caspian Sea.
peninsulas
- Absheron peninsula, located on the western coast of the Caspian in the territory of Azerbaijan, at the northeastern end of the Greater Caucasus, the cities of Baku and Sumgayit are located on its territory
- Mangyshlak, located on the east coast of the Caspian Sea, on the territory of Kazakhstan, on its territory is the city of Aktau
Islands
There are about 50 large and medium-sized islands in the Caspian Sea with a total area of approximately 350 square kilometers.
The largest islands:
gulfs
Major bays:
Kara-Bogaz-Gol
At east coast located salt Lake Kara-Bogaz-Gol, which until 1980 was a bay-lagoon of the Caspian Sea, connected to it by a narrow strait. In 1980, a dam was built separating Kara-Bogaz-Gol from the Caspian Sea, in 1984 a culvert was built, after which the level of Kara-Bogaz-Gol dropped by several meters. In 1992, the strait was restored, through which water leaves the Caspian Sea to Kara-Bogaz-Gol and evaporates there. Every year, 8-10 cubic kilometers of water (according to other sources - 25 cubic kilometers) and about 15 million tons of salt enter Kara-Bogaz-Gol from the Caspian Sea.
Rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea
130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, of which 9 rivers have a mouth in the form of a delta. The major rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea are the Volga, Terek, Sulak, Samur (Russia), Ural, Emba (Kazakhstan), Kura (Azerbaijan), Atrek (Turkmenistan), Sefidrud (Iran). largest river, which flows into the Caspian Sea - the Volga, its average annual drainage is 215-224 cubic kilometers. The Volga, Ural, Terek, Sulak and Emba provide up to 88-90% of the annual runoff to the Caspian Sea.
Caspian Sea Basin
coastal states
According to the Intergovernmental Economic Conference of the Caspian States:
The Caspian Sea washes the shores of five coastal states:
Cities on the coast of the Caspian Sea
On the Russian coast there are cities - Lagan, Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Izberbash, Dagestan Lights and the most Southern City Russian Derbent. port city The Caspian Sea is also considered Astrakhan, which, however, is not located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, but in the Volga delta, 60 kilometers from the northern coast of 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 levels. 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
Vegetable world
The flora of the Caspian Sea and its coast is represented by 728 species. Of the plants in the Caspian Sea, algae predominate - blue-green, diatoms, red, brown, char and others, of flowering - zoster and ruppia. By origin, the flora refers mainly to the Neogene age, however, some plants were brought into the Caspian Sea by man consciously, or on the bottoms of ships.
Story
Origin
The Caspian Sea is of oceanic origin - its bed is composed of an oceanic type of earth's crust. 13 million liters n. the formed Alps separated the Sarmatian Sea from the Mediterranean. 3.4 - 1.8 million liters. n. (Pliocene) there was the Akchagyl Sea, the deposits of which were studied by N. I. Andrusov. It was originally formed on the site of the dried up Pontic Sea, from which Lake Balakhani remained (on the territory of the southern Caspian). The Akchagyl transgression was replaced by the Domashkino regression (falling by 20-40 m from the level of the Akchagyl basin), accompanied by a strong desalination of sea waters, which was due to the cessation of the inflow of sea (oceanic) waters from outside. After a short Domashkino regression at the beginning of the Quaternary period (Eopleistocene), the Caspian is almost restored in the form of the Apsheron Sea, which covers the Caspian and floods the territories of Turkmenistan and the Lower Volga region. At the beginning of the Apsheron transgression, the basin turns into a brackish water reservoir. The Absheron Sea existed from 1.7 to 1 million years ago. The beginning of the Pleistocene in the Caspian was marked by a long and deep Turkyan regression (-150 m to -200 m), corresponding to the Matuyama-Brunhes magnetic reversal (0.8 Ma). The water mass of the Turkyan basin with an area of 208 thousand km² was concentrated in the South Caspian and part of the Middle Caspian basins, between which there was a shallow strait in the area of the Apsheron threshold. In the early Neopleistocene, after the Turkyan regression, there were isolated Early Baku and Late Baku basins with a runoff (level up to 20 m) (about 400 thousand years ago). The Vened (Mishovdag) regression separated the Baku and Urundzhik (Middle Neopleistocene, up to −15 m) transgressions at the end of the Early - the beginning of the Late Pleistocene (basin area - 336 thousand km²). Between the marine Urundzhik and Khazar deposits, a large deep Cheleken regression (up to −20 m) was noted, corresponding to the optimum of the Likhvin interglacial (350-300 thousand years ago). In the middle Neopleistocene, there were basins: early Khazar early (200 thousand years ago), early Khazar middle (level up to 35-40 m) and early Khazar late. In the Late Pleistocene, there was an isolated Late Khazar basin (level up to −10 m, 100 thousand years ago), after which a small Chernoyarsk regression of the second half - the end of the Middle Pleistocene occurred (thermoluminescent dates 122-184 thousand years ago), in in turn, replaced by the Hyrkanian (Gyurgyan) basin.
The deep long-term Atelian regression of the middle of the late Pleistocene at the initial stage had a level of -20 - -25 m, at the maximum stage -100 - -120 m, at the third stage - -45 - -50 m. At the maximum, the basin area is reduced to 228 thousand km² . After atelier regression (−120 - −140 m), approx. 17 thousand liters n. the early Khvalynian transgression began - up to + 50 m (the Manych-Kerch Strait functioned), which was interrupted by the Elton regression. The Early Khvalynsk II basin (level up to 50 m) was replaced at the beginning of the Holocene by a short-term Enotaev regression (from −45 to −110 m), coinciding in time with the end of the Preboreal and the beginning of the Boreal. The Enotaevka regression was replaced by the late Khvalynian transgression (0 m). The Late Khvalynian transgression was replaced in the Holocene (about 9-7 thousand years ago or 7.2-6.4 thousand years ago) by the Mangyshlak regression (from −50 to −90 m). The Mangyshlak regression was replaced in the first phase of interglacial cooling and moistening (Atlantic period) by the New Caspian transgression. The Novo-Caspian basin was brackish (11-13‰), warm-water and isolated (level up to −19 m). At least three cycles of transgressive-regressive phases have been recorded in the development of the New Caspian basin. The Dagestan (Gousan) transgression previously belonged to the initial stage of the New Caspian epoch, but the absence of the leading New Caspian form in its sediments Cerastoderma glaucum (cardium edule) gives grounds for separating it into an independent transgression of the Caspian. The Izberbash regression, separating the Dagestan and New Caspian transgressions of the Caspian proper, occurred in the interval between 4.3 and 3.9 thousand years ago. Judging by the structure of the Turali section (Dagestan) and radiocarbon analysis data, transgressions were noted twice - about 1900 and 1700 years ago.
Anthropological and cultural history of the Caspian Sea
Shipping
Shipping is developed in the Caspian Sea. On the Caspian Sea ferry crossings, in particular, Baku - Turkmenbashi, Baku - Aktau, Makhachkala - Aktau. The Caspian Sea has a navigable connection with Sea of Azov through the rivers Volga, Don and the Volga-Don Canal.
Fishing and seafood
Fishing (sturgeon, bream, carp, pike perch, sprat), caviar production, as well as seal fishing. More than 90 percent of the world's sturgeon catch is carried out in the Caspian Sea. In addition to industrial production, illegal production of sturgeons and their caviar flourishes in the Caspian Sea.
Recreational resources
The natural environment of the Caspian coast with sandy beaches, mineral waters and therapeutic mud in the coastal zone creates good conditions for recreation and treatment. At the same time, in terms of the degree of development of resorts and the tourism industry, the Caspian coast noticeably loses to the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. At the same time, in recent years, the tourism industry has been actively developing on the coast of Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Russian Dagestan. The resort area in the Baku region is actively developing in Azerbaijan. At the moment, a world-class resort has been created in Amburan, another modern tourist complex is being built near the village of Nardaran, recreation in the sanatoriums of the villages of Bilgah and Zagulba is very popular. A resort area is also being developed in Nabran, in northern Azerbaijan. However, high prices in general low level service and the lack of advertising lead to the fact that there are almost no foreign tourists. The development of the tourism industry in Turkmenistan is hampered by a long policy of isolation, in Iran - by Sharia law, due to which the mass vacation of foreign tourists on the Caspian coast of Iran is impossible.
Ecological problems
The environmental problems of the Caspian Sea are associated with water pollution as a result of oil production and transportation on the continental shelf, the flow of pollutants from the Volga and other rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea, the vital activity of coastal cities, as well as the flooding of individual objects due to the rise in the level of the Caspian Sea. Predatory harvesting of sturgeons and their caviar, rampant poaching lead to a decrease in the number of sturgeons and forced restrictions on their production and export.
Legal status
After the collapse of the USSR, the division of the Caspian Sea has long been and still remains the subject of unsettled disagreements related to the division of the resources of the Caspian shelf - oil and gas, as well as biological resources. For a long time there were negotiations 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 - on dividing the Caspian along one fifth between all the Caspian states.
With regard to the Caspian Sea, the key is the physical and geographical circumstance that it is a closed inland water body that does not have a natural connection with the World Ocean. Accordingly, the norms and concepts of international maritime law, in particular, the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, should not automatically apply to the Caspian Sea. Based on this, it would be unlawful to apply such concepts as “territorial sea”, “exclusive economic zone”, “continental shelf”, etc. to the Caspian Sea.
The current legal regime of the Caspian Sea 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 navigation in its waters of ships flying the flag of non-Caspian states.
Negotiations on the legal status of the Caspian are currently ongoing.
Delimitation of sections of the bottom of the Caspian Sea for the purpose of subsoil use
The Russian Federation concluded an agreement with Kazakhstan on the delimitation of the bottom of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights to subsoil use (dated July 6, 1998 and the Protocol dated May 13, 2002), an agreement with Azerbaijan on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the bottom of the northern part of the Caspian Sea (dated September 23, 2002), as well as the trilateral Russian-Azerbaijani-Kazakhstan agreement on the junction of the demarcation lines of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea bottom (dated May 14, 2003), which established geographical coordinates dividing lines delimiting seabed areas within which the parties exercise their sovereign rights in the field of exploration and extraction of mineral resources.
