Caspian lake is one of the most unique places on earth.It holds many mysteries associated with the history of our planet.
situation in the physical map
Caspian Sea - is an internal endorheic salt lake.The geographical position of the Caspian lake - the continent of Eurasia at the junction parts of the world (Europe and Asia).
length of the shoreline of the lake is from 6500 km to 6700 km.In view of the islands the length increases to 7,000 km.
coastal area of the Caspian lake is mainly lowland.North of them dissected by canals Volga and Ural.Deltas rich islands.The surface of the water in these areas is covered with thickets.There waterlogging of large areas of land.
East coast of the Caspian Sea adjacent to the deserts and semi-deserts.On the shores of the lake, there are significant deposits of limestone.To the west and parts of the east coast is characterized by meandering coastline.
Caspian Lake on the map is represented by the considerable size.The entire adjacent territory is called the Caspian Sea.
Some characteristics
Caspian Lake in its area and volume of water in it has no equal in the world.It stretches from north to south for 1049 kilometers, and the largest of its length from east to west is 435 kilometers.
If we take into account the depth of the water, their size and the amount of water, the lake is comparable with the yellow, Baltic and Black seas.For the same parameters Caspian exceeds the Tyrrhenian, Aegean, Adriatic and other seas.
volume of water available in the Caspian Lake, is 44% of the stock of lake water of the planet.
lake or the sea?
Why Caspian lake called the Sea?Is it impressive dimensions of the reservoir caused the assignment of the "status"?More precisely, it was one of those reasons.
Other include the huge mass of water in the lake, the presence of tides, large waves during gales.All this is characteristic of the present seas.It becomes clear why the lake is called the Caspian Sea.
But there is not named one of the basic conditions that must exist to geographers might consider a pond to the sea.This is a direct relationship with the oceans of the lake.It is this condition does not correspond to the Caspian Sea.
Where is the Caspian Lake, tens of thousands of years ago formed a depression in the earth's crust.Today it is filled with the water of the Caspian Sea.According to scientists, the end of XX century, the water level in the Caspian Sea was 28 meters below sea level.Direct connection of waters of the lake and the ocean ceased to exist about 6 thousand years ago.The conclusion from the above is that the Caspian Sea - the lake.
There is another feature that distinguishes the Caspian Sea - the salinity of the water in it is almost 3 times lower than the salinity of the oceans.The explanation for this lies in the fact that about 130 large and small rivers are fresh water into the Caspian Sea.Volga brings to this work the most significant contribution - up to 80% of all water "gives" the lake is it.
River played another important role in the life of the Caspian Sea.That it helps to answer the question of why the lake is called the Caspian Sea.Now, when a man built a plurality of channels, was the fact that the Volga connects the lake with the oceans.
History of Lake
modern shape and geographical location of the Caspian lake due to continuous processes occurring on the Earth's surface and in its depths.There were times when the Caspian was connected to the Sea of Azov, and through him with the Mediterranean and the Black.That is tens of thousands of years ago, the Caspian Lake was part of the World Ocean.
As a result of the processes associated with raising and lowering the earth's crust, there were mountains, located on the site of the modern Caucasus.They isolate the reservoir, which was part of a large ancient ocean.It has been more than a dozen thousand years before the basins of the Black and Caspian Seas are divided.But for a long time, the connection between their water carried through the strait, which was on the site of the Kuma-Manych depression.
Periodically narrow strait then dried, then re-filled with water.This was due to the fluctuations in the level of the oceans, and changing the face of the land.
In short, the origin of the Caspian lake is closely linked to the general history of the formation of the Earth's surface.
Its modern name of the lake was due Caspians tribes inhabiting the eastern part of the Caucasus and the Caspian steppe zone areas.In the history of the lake had 70 different names.
territorial division of the lake-sea
depth Caspian Lake in its different locations is very different.On this basis, the entire area of the lake, the sea divided into three parts: the Northern Caspian, Middle and Southern.
shallow - the northern part of the lake.The average depth of these places is 4.4 meters.The biggest indicator is the mark of 27 meters.And 20% of the total area of the North Caspian depth of only about one meter.It is clear that for shipping this part of the lake is of little use.
Middle Caspian has the greatest depth of 788 meters.Deep occupies the southern part of the lake area.The average depth is 345 meters here, and the highest - 1026 meters.
Seasonal changes in sea
Because of the large extent of the reservoir from the north to the south of the climatic conditions on the coast of Lake vary.From the same and depend on seasonal changes in the areas adjacent to the pond.
winter, on the southern coast of the lake in the territory of Iran, the water temperature does not drop below 13 degrees.In the same period in the northern part of the lake off the coast of Russia water has a temperature above 0 degrees.Northern Caspian icebound for 2-3 months a year.
summer almost everywhere Caspian lake warms up to 25-30 degrees.Warm water, excellent sandy beaches, sunny weather creates the perfect conditions for recreation.
Caspian Sea on the political map of the world
on the Caspian lake located five states - Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
territory of Russia belong to the western regions of the Northern and Middle Caspian.Iran is located on the southern shores of the sea, he owns 15% of the entire coastline.Eastern shoreline divide Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.In the south-western territories of the Caspian region is Azerbaijan.
issue dividing the waters of the lake between the Caspian states has for many years is most acute.The heads of the five countries are trying to find a solution that would satisfy the needs and requirements of each.
natural wealth of the lake
Caspian Sea since ancient times for the locals served water transport line.
Lake is famous for valuable species of fish, such as sturgeon.These reserves amount to 80% of the world's resources.The issue of conservation of sturgeon population is of international importance, he decided at the government level of the Caspian states.
Caspian seal - another mystery of the unique sea-lake.Scientists still do not fully unraveled the mystery of the animal in the waters of the Caspian Sea, for that matter, and other species of the northern latitudes.
Total in the Caspian Sea in 1809 species inhabit different groups of animals.There are 728 species of plants.Most of them are "indigenous people" of the lake.But there is a small group of plants that were brought here by man deliberately.
The mineral resources of the Caspian Sea the main wealth - oil and gas.Some information sources oil fields in the Caspian lake compared with Kuwait.Industrial marine mining black gold is conducted on the lake at the end of the XIX century.First there was the well on the Absheron offshore in 1820.
Today, governments of the Caspian states agree that the region can not be seen only as a source of oil and gas, while leaving unattended the ecology of the Caspian Sea.
Besides oil deposits in the territory of the Caspian region there are deposits of salt, stone, limestone, clay and sand.Their production also could not help but affect the ecological situation in the region.
Sea level fluctuations
The water level in the Caspian lake is not permanent.This is indicated by the evidence relating to the IV century BC.The ancient Greeks, who studied the sea and found a large bay at the confluence of the Volga.The existence of a shallow strait between the Caspian Sea and the Sea of Azov was also found them.
There are other data on the level of water in the Caspian Lake.The evidence suggests that the level was much lower than existing today.Evidence of ancient architectural structures are found on the seabed.Buildings are VII-XIII centuries.Now the depth of flooding is from 2 to 7 meters.
In 1930, the water level in the lake has become a catastrophic decline.The process continued for nearly fifty years.This caused great concern to the people, since all economic activity adapted to the Caspian water level set earlier.
Since 1978, the level began to rise again.Today it has become higher than 2 meters.It is also undesirable for people living on the shores of the lake, the sea.
main reason affecting the fluctuation of the water level in the lake, called climate change.This entails an increase in the volume of river water flowing into the Caspian, rainfall, reducing the rate of evaporation of water.
But we can not say that this is only an opinion, explaining the fluctuation of the water level in the Caspian Lake.There are other, equally plausible.
human activities and environmental problems
The catchment area of the Caspian lake is 10 times the surface of the waters of the reservoir.Therefore, all the changes taking place on such a vast territory one way or another affect the ecology of the Caspian Sea.
important role in changing the ecological situation in the Caspian lake plays a human activity.For example, water pollution hazardous substances takes place together with the influx of fresh water.This is directly related to industrial production, extraction of fossil fuels and other human activities in the catchment area.
State of the Environment of the Caspian Sea and the surrounding areas of common concern of governments of countries located here.Therefore, a discussion of measures aimed at the preservation of the unique lake, its flora and fauna, has become a tradition.
Each state has an understanding that only joint efforts can improve the environment of the Caspian Sea.
