Where is the Caspian Sea located? Resources of the Caspian Sea. Brief description. Holidays on the Caspian Sea

I was resting somehow in the camp. It's no secret that almost every day competitions are held there to entertain children and youth. So here it is. Was with us quiz. Question: “Which lake is the largest?” One guy of about fifteen was the first to raise his hand and answer: “Baikal.” The strangest thing was that his answer was counted as correct! How so? Isn't the Caspian Sea the most big lake? Now I will explain to you.

How to distinguish a sea from a lake

I'll list several signs by which a body of water is identified as a sea.

1. Rivers can flow into the sea.

2. The outer sea has direct access to the ocean.

3. If the sea is internal, then it is connected by straits with other seas or directly with the ocean.

Does the Caspian Sea fit sea parameters?

Need to check does the Caspian Sea have signs of a sea. into it really rivers flow in, but they flow into many bodies of water: seas, lakes, oceans, and other rivers. The Caspian Sea is surrounded from all sides by land. Is this really inland sea? Then it must connect with Black or Seas of Azov somehow strait. Strait Same No. Exactly due to the lack of access to the World Ocean, the Caspian Sea is considered a lake.

“But why was it called the sea then, if it is a lake?”- you ask. Answer very simple: because of his large size and salinity. In fact, The Caspian Sea is several times larger than the Azov Sea and almost equal in size to the Baltic Sea.

Great! The problem with the quiz has been resolved. Judge to hell!!!

Well then, I told, that the Caspian Sea In fact - lake. Now I want to you provide small selection interesting facts about this lake.

1. The Caspian Sea is below sea level (-28 m), which once again proves that this is a lake.

2. BC near the lake area lived nomadic Caspian tribes,in honor of which he was nicknamed Caspian.

3. This the deepest enclosed body of water on the planet.

4. Many people think that the name of the group “Caspian Cargo” is related to the Caspian Sea. In some ways they are right ( No). In fact the expression “Caspian cargo” can mean any illegal cargo.

5.Caspian Sea Fine suitable for tourism. During the USSR it was built here large number sanatoriums. Today same here you can see many hotels, water parks and beaches.

The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on planet Earth, located on the continent of Eurasia - in the border territory of the states of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. In fact, it is a giant lake left after the disappearance of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Nevertheless, there is every reason to consider it as an independent sea (this is indicated by its salinity, large area and considerable depth, a bottom made of oceanic crust and other signs). In terms of maximum depth, it is the third among closed reservoirs - after lakes Baikal and Tanganyika. In the northern part of the Caspian Sea (a few kilometers from northern shore- parallel to it) runs the geographical border between Europe and Asia.

Toponymy

Other names: throughout the history of mankind, the Caspian Sea has had about 70 different names. The most famous of them: Khvalynskoye or Khvalisskoye (took place during the Ancient Rus', arose from the name of the people praises, who lived in the Northern Caspian region and traded with the Russians), Girkanskoe or Dzhurdzhanskoe (derived from alternative names for the city of Gorgan, located in Iran), Khazar, Abeskunskoe (after the name of the island and city in the Kura delta - now flooded), Saraiskoe, Derbentskoe, Sikhai .
Origin of the name: According to one hypothesis, the Caspian Sea received its modern and most ancient name from a tribe of nomadic horse breeders Caspian Sea who lived in 1st millennium BC on the southwest coast.

Morphometry

Catchment area: 3,626,000 km².
Mirror area: 371,000 km².
Length coastline: 7,000 km.
Volume: 78,200 km³.
Average depth: 208 m.
Maximum depth: 1,025 m.

Hydrology

Availability of permanent flow: no, drainless.
Tributaries:, Ural, Emba, Atrek, Gorgan, Heraz, Sefidrud, Astarchay, Kura, Pirsagat, Kusarchay, Samur, Rubas, Darvagchay, Ulluchay, Shuraozen, Sulak, Terek, Kuma.
Bottom: very diverse. At shallow depths, sandy soil with an admixture of shells is common; in deep-sea areas, it is silty. In the coastal strip there may be pebble and rocky places (especially where mountain ranges adjoin the sea). In the estuarine areas, the underwater soil consists of river sediments. The Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay is notable for the fact that its bottom is a thick layer of mineral salts.

Chemical composition

Water: salty.
Salinity: 13 g/l.
Transparency: 15 m.

Geography

Rice. 1. Map of the Caspian Sea basin.

Coordinates: 41°59′02″ n. latitude, 51°03′52″ e. d.
Altitude:-28 m.
Coastal landscape: due to the fact that the coastline of the Caspian Sea is very long, and it itself is located in different geographical areas— The coastal landscape is diverse. In the northern part of the reservoir, the banks are low, swampy, and in the deltas of large rivers, they are cut by numerous channels. Eastern Shores Mostly limestone - desert or semi-desert. Western and southern coast adjacent to mountain ranges. The greatest ruggedness of the coastline is observed in the west, in the area of the Absheron Peninsula, and also in the east, in the area of the Kazakh and Kara-Bogaz-Gol bays.
Settlements on the banks:
- Russia: Astrakhan, Derbent, Kaspiysk, Makhachkala, Olya.
- Kazakhstan: Aktau, Atyrau, Kuryk, Sogandyk, Bautino.
- Turkmenistan: Ekerem, Karabogaz, Turkmenbashi, Khazar.
- Iran: Astara, Balboser, Bender-Torkemen, Bender-Anzeli, Neka, Chalus.
- Azerbaijan: Alyat, Astara, Baku, Dubendi, Lankaran, Sangachali, Sumgayit.

Interactive map

Ecology

The ecological situation in the Caspian Sea is far from ideal. Almost all large rivers flowing into it are polluted by wastewater from industrial enterprises located upstream. This could not but affect the presence of pollutants in the waters and bottom sediments of the Caspian Sea - over the past half century, their concentration has increased markedly, and the content of some heavy metals has already exceeded permissible standards.

In addition, the waters of the Caspian Sea are constantly polluted by domestic wastewater from coastal cities, as well as during oil production on the continental shelf, and during its transportation.

Fishing on the Caspian Sea

Types of fish:
Artificial settlement: not all of the above fish species in the Caspian Sea are native. About 4 dozen species were found by chance (for example, through canals from the Black and Baltic seas), or were deliberately inhabited by humans. As an example, it is worth citing mullets. Three Black Sea species of these fish - mullet, sharpnose and singil - were released in the first half of the 20th century. The mullet did not take root, but the sharpnose and the singil successfully acclimatized, and by now have settled virtually throughout the entire Caspian waters, forming several commercial herds. At the same time, the fish fatten up faster than in the Black Sea and reach larger sizes. In the second half of the last century (starting from 1962), attempts were also made to introduce such Far Eastern salmon fish as pink salmon and chum salmon into the Caspian Sea. In total, several billion fry of these fish were released into the sea over the course of 5 years. Pink salmon did not survive in the new habitat, chum salmon, on the contrary, successfully took root and even began to enter the rivers flowing into the sea to spawn. However, it was unable to reproduce in sufficient quantities and gradually disappeared. There are still no favorable conditions for its full natural reproduction (there are very few places where spawning and development of fry could successfully occur). To provide them, river reclamation is necessary, otherwise, without human help (artificial collection of eggs and their incubation), the fish will not be able to maintain their numbers.

Fishing spots

In fact, fishing is possible anywhere on the Caspian Sea coast, which can be reached by land or water. What types of fish will be caught depends on local conditions, but to a greater extent on whether the rivers flow here. As a rule, in places where estuaries and deltas are located (especially large watercourses), the water in the sea is greatly desalinated, so freshwater fish (carp, catfish, bream, etc.) usually predominate in the catches; species characteristic of the flowing rivers may also be found. rivers (usachi, shemaya). Of the marine species in desalinated areas, those for which salinity does not matter (mullet, some gobies) are caught. At certain periods of the year, semi-anadromous and anadromous species can be found here, feeding in the sea and entering rivers to spawn (sturgeon, some herrings, Caspian salmon). In places where there are no flowing rivers, freshwater species are found in slightly smaller numbers, but marine fish also appear, usually avoiding desalinated areas (for example, sea pike perch). Far from the coast, fish are caught that prefer salt water, and deep-sea species.

Conventionally, we can distinguish 9 places or areas that are interesting in terms of fishing:

North Shore (RF)- this site is located on the northern coast of the Russian Federation (from the Volga delta to the Kizlyar Bay). Its main features are low salinity of water (the lowest in the Caspian Sea), shallow depth, the presence of multiple shoals, islands, and highly developed aquatic vegetation. In addition to the Volga delta with its numerous channels, bays and eriks, it also includes the estuary coastal area, called the Caspian Peaks. These places are popular among Russian fishermen, and for good reason: the conditions for fish here are very favorable, and there is also a good food supply. The ichthyofauna in these parts may not shine with a wealth of species, but it is distinguished by its abundance, and some of its representatives reach quite considerable sizes. Typically, the bulk of the catches are freshwater fish characteristic of the Volga basin. Most often caught: perch, pike perch, roach (more precisely, its varieties called roach and ram), rudd, asp, sabrefish, bream, silver carp, carp, catfish, pike. Somewhat less common are black bream, silver bream, white-eye, and bluegill. Representatives of sturgeons (sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, beluga, etc.) and salmonids (nelma, brown trout - Caspian salmon) are also found in these places, but their fishing is prohibited.
Northwestern coast (RF)- this area covers west coast Russian Federation(from Kizlyar Bay to Makhachkala). The rivers Kuma, Terek and Sulak flow here - they carry their waters both through natural channels and artificial canals. There are bays in this area, some of which are quite large (Kizlyarsky, Agrakhansky). The sea in these places is shallow. Freshwater fish predominate in the catches: pike, perch, carp, catfish, rudd, bream, barbel, etc., and marine species are also caught here, for example, herring (blackback, bellyfish).
West Bank (RF)- from Makhachkala to the border of the Russian Federation with Azerbaijan. An area where mountain ranges adjoin the sea. The salinity of the water here is slightly higher than in previous places, so marine species are more common in fishermen's catches (sea pike perch, mullet, herring). However, freshwater fish are by no means uncommon.
West Bank (Azerbaijan)- from the border of the Russian Federation with Azerbaijan along the Absheron Peninsula. Continuation of the area where mountain ranges adjoin the sea. Fishing here is even more similar to typical offshore fishing, with fish such as razorback and mullet and several species of gobies also caught here. In addition to them, there are kutum, herring, and some typically freshwater species, for example, carp.
Southwestern coast (Azerbaijan)- from the Absheron Peninsula to the border of Azerbaijan with Iran. Most of this area is occupied by the Kura River delta. The same types of fish that were listed in the previous paragraph are caught here, but freshwater ones are somewhat more common.
Northern coast (Kazakhstan)- this area covers north coast Kazakhstan. Here are the Ural delta and state reserve“Akzhaiyk”, therefore fishing directly in the river delta and in some adjacent water areas is prohibited. Fishing can only be done outside the reserve - upstream from the delta, or in the sea - at some distance from it. Fishing near the Ural delta has much in common with fishing at the confluence of the Volga - almost the same species of fish are found here.
Northeast coast (Kazakhstan)- from the mouth of the Emba to Cape Tyub-Karagan. Unlike the northern part of the sea, where the water is greatly diluted by large rivers flowing in, its salinity here is slightly increased, so those species of fish appear that avoid desalinated areas, for example, sea pike perch, which is fished in Dead Kultuk Bay. Also, other representatives of marine fauna are often found in the catches.
Eastern coast (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan)- from Cape Tyub-Karagan to the border of Turkmenistan and Iran. It is distinguished by the almost complete absence of flowing rivers. The salinity of the water here is at its maximum. Of the fish in these places, marine species predominate; the bulk of the catches are mullet, sea pike perch and gobies.
South Bank (Iran)- covers south coast Caspian Sea. Along the entire length of this section, the sea is adjacent to mountain range Elborz. Many rivers flow here, most of which are small watercourses, there are also several medium-sized ones and one large river. Of the fish, in addition to marine species, there are also some freshwater, as well as semi-anadromous and anadromous species, for example, sturgeon.

Fishing Features

The most popular and catchy amateur tackle used on the Caspian coast is a heavy spinning rod, converted into a “sea bottom”. It is usually equipped with a durable reel on which a fairly thick fishing line (0.3 mm or more) is wound. The thickness of the fishing line is determined not so much by the size of the fish, but by the mass of a fairly heavy sinker, which is necessary for ultra-long casting (in the Caspian Sea it is widely believed that the farther from the shore the casting point is, the better). After the sinker comes a thinner line - with several leashes. Shrimps and amphipods that live in coastal algae thickets are used as bait - if fishing is intended sea fish, or a regular bait like a worm, chafer larvae and others - if there are freshwater species in the fishing area.

At the mouths of inflowing rivers, other gear can be used, such as a float rod, feeder and traditional spinning rod.

kasparova2 majorov2006 g2gg2g-61 .

Photo 8. Sunset in Aktau.

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 largest lake in the world, stretches from North to South for approximately 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 his warm waters You can find more than 850 species of fish and animals, 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.

Most hot month- 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 the regional center 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

In all resorts and health resorts Russian coast The infrastructure has been developed, conditions have been created for good rest:

sports facilities;
cafes, restaurants;
various attractions;
Boat trips, fishing, and thematic excursions are organized for those interested.

Holidays in the Astrakhan region

The city of Astrakhan is located in the Caspian lowland in the delta of the Volga River. This ancient 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 regional center The Caspian Sea is only 60 km away.

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 on the sea and the 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, 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 the riot of nature and plenty of sun. Beauty sea coast framed by picturesque mountains.

Derbent has many ancient monuments and interesting sights. Vacationers can enjoy exciting excursions, including helicopter ones. There are hotels, inns, and tourist centers both in the city and in its surroundings.

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 located at the foothills of the 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 TVs. 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 relaxation. It's a pity that you didn't bother 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 most of them are 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, which include 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 one and double rooms with amenities. 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 located in different geographical zones. It plays a large role in world history and is an important economic region and source of resources. The Caspian Sea is a unique body of water.

Brief description

This sea is large. The bottom is covered with oceanic crust. These factors allow us to classify it as a sea.

It is a closed body of water, has no drains and is not connected to the waters of the World Ocean. Therefore, it can also be classified as a lake. In this case, it will be the largest lake on the planet.

The approximate area of the Caspian Sea is about 370 thousand square kilometers. The volume of the sea changes due to various fluctuations in water level. The average value is 80 thousand cubic kilometers. The depth varies in its parts: the southern one has greater depth than the northern one. The average depth is 208 meters, the greatest value in the southern part exceeds 1000 meters.

The Caspian Sea plays a major role in the development of trade relations between countries. Resources extracted from it, as well as other trade items, were transported to different countries since the development of maritime navigation. Since the Middle Ages, merchants have brought exotic goods, spices and furs. Today, in addition to transporting resources, transportation by sea is carried out ferry crossings between cities. The Caspian Sea is also connected by a shipping canal through rivers to the Sea of Azov.

Geographical characteristics

The Caspian Sea is located between two continents - Europe and Asia. It washes the territory of several countries. These are Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

It has more than 50 islands, both large and small in area. For example, the islands of Ashur-Ada, Tyuleniy, Chigil, Gum, Zenbil. And also the peninsulas, the most significant - Absheronsky, Mangyshlak, Agrakhansky and others.

The Caspian Sea receives its main influx of water resources from the rivers flowing into it. There are a total of 130 tributaries of this reservoir. The largest is the Volga River, which brings the bulk of water. The rivers Heras, Ural, Terek, Astarchay, Kura, Sulak and many others also flow into it.

The waters of this sea form many bays. Among the largest: Agrakhansky, Kizlyarsky, Turkmenbashi, Hyrkan Bay. In the eastern part there is a bay-lake called Kara-Bogaz-Gol. It communicates with the sea through a small strait.

Climate

The climate is characterized geographical location sea, therefore it has several types: from continental in the northern region to subtropical in the southern. This affects air and water temperatures, which have large contrasts depending on the part of the sea, especially in the cold season.

In winter, the average air temperature in the northern region is about -10 degrees, the water reaches -1 degree.

In the southern region, air and water temperatures in winter warm up to an average of +10 degrees.

IN summer time The air temperature in the northern zone reaches +25 degrees. It's much hotter in the south. The maximum recorded value here is + 44 degrees.

Resources

The natural resources of the Caspian Sea contain large reserves of various deposits.

One of the most valuable resources of the Caspian Sea is oil. Mining has been carried out since approximately 1820. The springs opened on the territory of the seabed and its coast. Already by the beginning of the new century, the Caspian Sea occupied a leading position in obtaining this valuable product. During this time, thousands of wells were opened, which made it possible to extract oil on a huge industrial scale.

The Caspian Sea and its surrounding area also have rich deposits of natural gas, mineral salts, sand, lime, several types of natural clay and rocks.

Inhabitants and fisheries

The biological resources of the Caspian Sea are distinguished by great diversity and good productivity. It contains more than 1,500 species of inhabitants and is rich in commercial fish species. Occupancy depends on climatic conditions in different parts of the sea.

In the northern part of the sea, pike perch, bream, catfish, asp, pike and other species are more common. The western and eastern areas are inhabited by gobies, mullet, bream, and herring. Southern waters are rich in different representatives. One of the many is sturgeon. In terms of their content, this sea occupies a leading place among other bodies of water.

Among the wide variety, tuna, beluga, stellate sturgeon, sprat and many others are also caught. In addition, there are mollusks, crayfish, echinoderms and jellyfish.

The Caspian seal is a mammal that lives in the Caspian Sea, or this animal is unique and lives only in these waters.

The sea is also characterized by a high content of various algae, for example, blue-green, red, brown; sea grass and phytoplankton.

Ecology

Oil production and transportation have a huge negative impact on the ecological situation of the sea. Oil products getting into water is almost inevitable. Oil stains cause irreparable damage to marine habitats.

The main influx of water resources to the Caspian Sea comes from rivers. Unfortunately, most of them have high levels of pollution, which deteriorates the quality of sea water.

Industrial and domestic wastewater from surrounding cities is discharged into the sea in huge quantities, which also causes environmental damage.

Poaching causes great damage to marine habitats. The main target for illegal fishing is sturgeon species. This significantly reduces the number of sturgeon and threatens the entire population of this type.

The information provided will help to assess the resources of the Caspian Sea and briefly study the characteristics and ecological situation of this unique body of water.

The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on planet Earth, located on the continent of Eurasia - in the border territory of the states of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. In fact, it is a giant lake left after the disappearance of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Nevertheless, there is every reason to consider it as an independent sea (this is indicated by its salinity, large area and considerable depth, a bottom made of oceanic crust and other signs). In terms of maximum depth, it is the third among closed reservoirs - after lakes Baikal and Tanganyika. In the northern part of the Caspian Sea (several kilometers from the northern shore - parallel to it) there is a geographical border between Europe and Asia.

Toponymy

Other names: throughout the history of mankind, the Caspian Sea has had about 70 different names among different peoples. The most famous of them: Khvalynskoe or Khvalisskoe (took place during the times of Ancient Rus', arose from the name of the people praises, who lived in the Northern Caspian region and traded with the Russians), Girkanskoe or Dzhurdzhanskoe (derived from alternative names for the city of Gorgan, located in Iran), Khazar, Abeskunskoe (after the name of the island and city in the Kura delta - now flooded), Saraiskoe, Derbentskoe, Sikhai .
Origin of the name: According to one hypothesis, the Caspian Sea received its modern and most ancient name from a tribe of nomadic horse breeders Caspian Sea, who lived in the 1st millennium BC on the southwestern coast.

Morphometry

Catchment area: 3,626,000 km².
Mirror area: 371,000 km².
Coastline length: 7,000 km.
Volume: 78,200 km³.
Average depth: 208 m.
Maximum depth: 1,025 m.

Hydrology

Availability of permanent flow: no, drainless.
Tributaries:, Ural, Emba, Atrek, Gorgan, Heraz, Sefidrud, Astarchay, Kura, Pirsagat, Kusarchay, Samur, Rubas, Darvagchay, Ulluchay, Shuraozen, Sulak, Terek, Kuma.
Bottom: very diverse. At shallow depths, sandy soil with an admixture of shells is common; in deep-sea areas, it is silty. In the coastal strip there may be pebble and rocky places (especially where mountain ranges adjoin the sea). In the estuarine areas, the underwater soil consists of river sediments. The Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay is notable for the fact that its bottom is a thick layer of mineral salts.

Chemical composition

Water: salty.
Salinity: 13 g/l.
Transparency: 15 m.

Geography

Rice. 1. Map of the Caspian Sea basin.

Coordinates: 41°59′02″ n. latitude, 51°03′52″ e. d.
Altitude:-28 m.
Coastal landscape: Due to the fact that the coastline of the Caspian Sea is very long, and it itself is located in different geographical zones, the coastal landscape is diverse. In the northern part of the reservoir, the banks are low, swampy, and in the deltas of large rivers, they are cut by numerous channels. The eastern shores are mostly limestone - desert or semi-desert. The western and southern shores are adjacent to mountain ranges. The greatest ruggedness of the coastline is observed in the west, in the area of the Absheron Peninsula, and also in the east, in the area of the Kazakh and Kara-Bogaz-Gol bays.
Settlements on the banks:
- Russia: Astrakhan, Derbent, Kaspiysk, Makhachkala, Olya.
- Kazakhstan: Aktau, Atyrau, Kuryk, Sogandyk, Bautino.
- Turkmenistan: Ekerem, Karabogaz, Turkmenbashi, Khazar.
- Iran: Astara, Balboser, Bender-Torkemen, Bender-Anzeli, Neka, Chalus.
- Azerbaijan: Alyat, Astara, Baku, Dubendi, Lankaran, Sangachali, Sumgayit.

Interactive map

Ecology

Fishing on the Caspian Sea

Types of fish:
Artificial settlement: not all of the above fish species in the Caspian Sea are native. About 4 dozen species arrived by accident (for example, through canals from the basins of the Black and Baltic Seas), or were intentionally populated by humans. As an example, it is worth citing mullets. Three Black Sea species of these fish - mullet, sharpnose and singil - were released in the first half of the 20th century. The mullet did not take root, but the sharpnose and the singil successfully acclimatized, and by now have settled virtually throughout the entire Caspian waters, forming several commercial herds. At the same time, the fish fatten up faster than in the Black Sea and reach larger sizes. In the second half of the last century (starting from 1962), attempts were also made to introduce such Far Eastern salmon fish as pink salmon and chum salmon into the Caspian Sea. In total, several billion fry of these fish were released into the sea over the course of 5 years. Pink salmon did not survive in the new habitat, chum salmon, on the contrary, successfully took root and even began to enter the rivers flowing into the sea to spawn. However, it was unable to reproduce in sufficient quantities and gradually disappeared. There are still no favorable conditions for its full natural reproduction (there are very few places where spawning and development of fry could successfully occur). To provide them, river reclamation is necessary, otherwise, without human help (artificial collection of eggs and their incubation), the fish will not be able to maintain their numbers.

Fishing spots

In fact, fishing is possible anywhere on the Caspian Sea coast, which can be reached by land or water. What types of fish will be caught depends on local conditions, but to a greater extent on whether the rivers flow here. As a rule, in places where estuaries and deltas are located (especially large watercourses), the water in the sea is greatly desalinated, so freshwater fish (carp, catfish, bream, etc.) usually predominate in the catches; species characteristic of the flowing rivers may also be found. rivers (usachi, shemaya). Of the marine species in desalinated areas, those for which salinity does not matter (mullet, some gobies) are caught. At certain periods of the year, semi-anadromous and anadromous species can be found here, feeding in the sea and entering rivers to spawn (sturgeon, some herrings, Caspian salmon). In places where there are no flowing rivers, freshwater species are found in slightly smaller numbers, but marine fish also appear, usually avoiding desalinated areas (for example, sea pike perch). Away from the coast, fish that prefer salt water and deep-sea species are caught.

Conventionally, we can distinguish 9 places or areas that are interesting in terms of fishing:

North Shore (RF)- this site is located on the northern coast of the Russian Federation (from the Volga delta to the Kizlyar Bay). Its main features are low salinity of water (the lowest in the Caspian Sea), shallow depth, the presence of multiple shoals, islands, and highly developed aquatic vegetation. In addition to the Volga delta with its numerous channels, bays and eriks, it also includes the estuary coastal area, called the Caspian Peaks. These places are popular among Russian fishermen, and for good reason: the conditions for fish here are very favorable, and there is also a good food supply. The ichthyofauna in these parts may not shine with a wealth of species, but it is distinguished by its abundance, and some of its representatives reach quite considerable sizes. Typically, the bulk of the catches are freshwater fish characteristic of the Volga basin. Most often caught: perch, pike perch, roach (more precisely, its varieties called roach and ram), rudd, asp, sabrefish, bream, silver carp, carp, catfish, pike. Somewhat less common are black bream, silver bream, white-eye, and bluegill. Representatives of sturgeons (sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, beluga, etc.) and salmonids (nelma, brown trout - Caspian salmon) are also found in these places, but their fishing is prohibited.
Northwestern coast (RF)- this section covers the western coast of the Russian Federation (from Kizlyar Bay to Makhachkala). The rivers Kuma, Terek and Sulak flow here - they carry their waters both through natural channels and artificial canals. There are bays in this area, some of which are quite large (Kizlyarsky, Agrakhansky). The sea in these places is shallow. Freshwater fish predominate in the catches: pike, perch, carp, catfish, rudd, bream, barbel, etc., and marine species are also caught here, for example, herring (blackback, bellyfish).
West Bank (RF)- from Makhachkala to the border of the Russian Federation with Azerbaijan. An area where mountain ranges adjoin the sea. The salinity of the water here is slightly higher than in previous places, so marine species are more common in fishermen's catches (sea pike perch, mullet, herring). However, freshwater fish are by no means uncommon.
West Bank (Azerbaijan)- from the border of the Russian Federation with Azerbaijan along the Absheron Peninsula. Continuation of the area where mountain ranges adjoin the sea. Fishing here is even more similar to typical offshore fishing, with fish such as razorback and mullet and several species of gobies also caught here. In addition to them, there are kutum, herring, and some typically freshwater species, for example, carp.
Southwestern coast (Azerbaijan)- from the Absheron Peninsula to the border of Azerbaijan with Iran. Most of this area is occupied by the Kura River delta. The same types of fish that were listed in the previous paragraph are caught here, but freshwater ones are somewhat more common.
Northern coast (Kazakhstan)- this section covers the northern coast of Kazakhstan. The Ural delta and the Akzhaiyk state reserve are located here, so fishing directly in the river delta and in some adjacent water areas is prohibited. Fishing can only be done outside the reserve - upstream from the delta, or in the sea - at some distance from it. Fishing near the Ural delta has much in common with fishing at the confluence of the Volga - almost the same species of fish are found here.
Northeast coast (Kazakhstan)- from the mouth of the Emba to Cape Tyub-Karagan. Unlike the northern part of the sea, where the water is greatly diluted by large rivers flowing in, its salinity here is slightly increased, so those species of fish appear that avoid desalinated areas, for example, sea pike perch, which is fished in Dead Kultuk Bay. Also, other representatives of marine fauna are often found in the catches.
Eastern coast (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan)- from Cape Tyub-Karagan to the border of Turkmenistan and Iran. It is distinguished by the almost complete absence of flowing rivers. The salinity of the water here is at its maximum. Of the fish in these places, marine species predominate; the bulk of the catches are mullet, sea pike perch and gobies.
South Bank (Iran)- covers the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Throughout this section, the Elborz mountain range adjoins the sea. Many rivers flow here, most of which are small streams, there are also several medium-sized and one large river. Of the fish, in addition to marine species, there are also some freshwater, as well as semi-anadromous and anadromous species, for example, sturgeon.

Fishing Features

The most popular and catchy amateur tackle used on the Caspian coast is a heavy spinning rod, converted into a “sea bottom”. It is usually equipped with a durable reel on which a fairly thick fishing line (0.3 mm or more) is wound. The thickness of the fishing line is determined not so much by the size of the fish, but by the mass of a fairly heavy sinker, which is necessary for ultra-long casting (in the Caspian Sea it is widely believed that the farther from the shore the casting point is, the better). After the sinker comes a thinner line - with several leashes. The bait used is shrimp and amphipods that live in coastal algae thickets - if you plan to catch sea fish, or ordinary bait like a worm, chafer larvae and others - if there are freshwater species in the fishing area.

At the mouths of inflowing rivers, other gear can be used, such as a float rod, feeder and traditional spinning rod.

kasparova2 majorov2006 g2gg2g-61 .

Photo 8. Sunset in Aktau.