On Earth, located five million lakes.They occupy 1.8% of the total land area.The largest lake area in the world is known as the Caspian Sea.It attracted the attention of scientists and tourists from all over the world.
Geographical location
the question "What is the largest lake area" answer can be ambiguous.Among the options are called Upper, Victoria, Lake Huron, but the correct answer can only be the Caspian Sea called only because of its historical origins and giant sizes.
Caspian is on the Eurasian continent at the crossroads of two continents - Asia and Europe.The total area of the lake is 321 000 square kilometers.In addition to water, here are the island (350 square kilometers) and the peninsula.The largest of them - is Uch Cos (Dagestan), Tub-Karagan (Kazakhstan), Ashuradeh (Iran), Coeur dashi (Azerbaijan) and others.
Five states have full access to the waters of the Caspian Sea.This is Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.The longest coastline of about 2320 km and belongs to the territory of Kazakhstan.For comparison, the Russian Federation coastline lowest among all countries - only 695 kilometers.
Sea coast is distinguished by its low position and smooth structure.The only place where you can meet the rise, is in the west.There's quite a meandering coast.
biggest lake area has no connection with the oceans, although it falls about 130 rivers.The largest of them - a Russian Volga.
the eastern shores of the Caspian Sea is located salt lake Garabogazköl, which was a seawater lagoon with a small strait until 1980.Then they built dams, but the lake was dry quickly and the Strait back into place.
cities like Baku, Turkmenbashi (Krasnovodsk), Avaz, Aktau, Derbent sheltered on its shores, the largest lake in the area of Eurasia.
physiography
volume of the Caspian Sea is about 44% of the reserves of the lake waters around the world.Its area varies depending on the water level, which changes frequently, but the average is 321,000 square kilometers.
depth Caspian quite uneven.In the north of the pond is very shallow, and from the surface to the bottom of just four meters.But there is also the South Caspian Basin, the lowest point of which lies at around 1025 meters.
water temperature also varies and depends on the location.The warmest period for Caspian begins in August when the body of water is heated to 26 ° C.However, in the south and in areas of shallow water and can grow up to 32 ° C.
biggest area lake - salty.But it has a specificity that allows water to be different in composition from the ocean.Primarily, this is due to continental runoff.Rivers bring with them into the Caspian Sea a large amount of calcium carbonates and sulfates.The level of salinity increases from the mouth of the Volga River to the southeast.
bottom relief divides the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian Sea via thresholds (Mangyshlak, Absheron).This is mainly silty surface shell sand and bedrock in some places (the deepest).
Climatic conditions define the area of the Caspian Sea continental, temperate and subtropical.Therefore, the lowest temperature in the region stood at around - 8 ° C, the highest +26 ° C.It was also recorded an original record of + 44 ° C in the south of the lake.
Fauna
The largest lake on the area of the Earth compared to other bodies of water is not particularly rich in species, of which there are about 1800. Of these, only 101 species belongs to the fish.The Caspian Sea is the habitat of valuable commercial fish, including sturgeon.Although the Caspian Sea is considered to be shallow lakes, its inhabitants have a considerable size.Thus, white sturgeon fish reaches a length of 4 meters.
biggest lake in the area of Eurasia is isolated from the oceans, so there will not meet typical sea mollusks, jellyfish, polyps, and so on. N. But it is home to the Caspian seal (seal), which is on the verge of extinction.Winter she waits on the ice of the Northern Caspian and in the summer can embark on a journey to the upper reaches of the Volga and the Urals.
Flora
Total 728 species of flora, inhabits the Caspian Sea.Base of algae and phytoplankton.
flora of the Caspian Sea is fully consistent with the shallow his character.From there flowering grow only two representatives.It Zostera and Rupp.Second name Zostera - sea grass.It perennial with long leaves bright green color.The flower looks like an ear.
Rupp loves brackish water, so fresh water is not encountered.In its view, this plant resembles proliferating rhizome.On the surface, the water appears only during flowering, preferring the rest of the rest on the bottom.Rupp propagated vegetatively, and by fish and birds that eat its fruit.
Thus, the largest lake by area in the world is rich in flora and fauna.Mostly small populations are linked to the economic activity of people and the general environmental situation of the region.
Natural Resources
biggest lake area has large oil and gas reserves.The first attempts to develop deposits belong to the distant 1820.It was then that the first well was drilled off the coast of Baku.
Even after half a century was oil production on an industrial scale.Today the oil reserves in the Caspian Sea is estimated at ten million tons.
In addition to these two gold veins, the Caspian Sea is divided into its reserves of salts, clay, sand and limestone.
Due to the medicinal mud and mineral waters of the Caspian Sea became therapeutic recreation area.However, it has spread only in Azerbaijan.Iran and Turkmenistan are somewhat isolated from the tourist business.And in Russia, too high competition of the Black Sea coast.
biggest lake area has attracted the attention of anglers.Here it is mined almost 90% of the world catch of sturgeons.Often illegal.
Environmental Safety
Environmental problems faced by this region since the beginning of oil production.Drilling wells, transportation resources and more threatened by pollution to the marine environment and its partial changes.
In November 2003, the Caspian states signed the Framework Convention, which aims to protect Caspian Sea, protect the environment and monitor the biological resources.
particular problem is poaching, which reduces fish populations and seals and allows full legitimate prey.
