Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often called the world's largest lake. It sits between Europe and Asia, east of the Caucasus, west of the steppe of Central Asia, south of Southern Russia, and north of the Iranian Plateau. It covers an area of 371,000 km² (143,244 sq mi), about the size of Japan, and holds a lot of water.

This large body of water has a salinity of around 1.2%, which is less salty than regular seawater. It is bordered by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. The Caspian Sea stretches very far from north to south, and its surface is below sea level.

The Caspian Sea is well-known for its caviar and oil industries. But pollution from oil activities has harmed the environment. Scientists think that because of global warming and changes in the land, the sea's depth may drop during the 21st century.

Etymology

The Caspian Sea is named after the Caspi people who lived near its southwest in Transcaucasia. Old writers, like Strabo, said the area was named for this tribe. Many places still carry this name today.

Different cultures have different names for the Caspian Sea. In some Turkic languages, it uses the word "Caspi." Others call it the "Khazar sea," after an old empire north of the sea. In Iran, it is known as the Mazandaran Sea, after a province on its southern coast. Old Russian texts used names like Khvalyn Sea, and ancient Greeks and Persians called it the Hyrcanian Sea. Later maps from Europe had names such as Abbacuch Sea or Mar de Bachu.

Basin countries

Border countries

North

• Kazakhstan
• Russia

East

• Turkmenistan

West

• Azerbaijan

South

• Iran

Former border countries

North

•  Soviet Union

South

• Pahlavi Iran

West

• Ottoman Empire

Physical characteristics

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest lake and is landlocked, meaning it has no outlet to the ocean. It is found between Europe and Asia, east of the Caucasus and west of Central Asia. The sea covers an area of about 371,000 km² (143,244 sq mi), which is similar in size to Japan.

The Caspian Sea is divided into three main regions: the Northern, Middle, and Southern Caspian. The Northern part is very shallow, with an average depth of only 5–6 m (16–20 ft). The Middle Caspian is much deeper, averaging around 190 m (620 ft), and the Southern Caspian is the deepest, with depths over 1,000 m (3,300 ft). The Northern part can freeze in winter, and sometimes ice forms in the south during very cold winters.

Many rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, with the Volga River being the largest. The sea has several small islands, mostly located in the northern part. The climate around the Caspian varies, with colder conditions in the north and warmer, more humid conditions in the south. The water in the Caspian is not fresh; it is brackish, meaning it is slightly salty. The sea's level has changed many times over the centuries due to natural factors like rainfall and evaporation.

Flora and fauna

Flora

The rising water level of the Caspian Sea between 1995 and 1996 made it hard for rare water plants to grow. New coastal areas did not have enough seeds.

Many rare plants in Russia grow near the Volga Delta and Samur River areas. The shoreline helps plants that grow in loose sand. But changes in water level, water pollution, and land changes make it hard for plants to grow. These changes affect plants like Aldrovanda vesiculosa and Nelumbo caspica. Over a thousand plant types grow in the Samur River delta, including very old special forests. In 2018, Samursky National Park was created to protect this area. Since 2019, UNESCO has recognized the Hyrcanian forests in Mazandaran, Iran, as important natural areas.

Fauna

The Caspian turtle lives only in fresh water. The zebra mussel comes from the Caspian and Black Sea areas but has spread to other places. The Caspian seal is the only seal that lives in the Caspian Sea and is found only there. There used to be over one million seals, but now there are very few left.

Old rock art might show pictures of ocean animals like whales or dolphins. These pictures might show animals that lived in the Caspian Sea long ago because of connections to other oceans.

The Caspian Sea has many fish species, with over 60 groups. About 62% of these fish are found only in the Caspian Sea. The most common fish families include small fish called gobies, minnows, and herring-like fish. The sea is home to six kinds of sturgeon, with the beluga being the largest freshwater fish in the world. These sturgeons produce eggs called caviar. However, overfishing has greatly reduced their numbers.

The area also has native reptiles like the spur-thighed tortoise and Horsfield's tortoise.

• The Asiatic cheetah used to live in areas around the Caucasus and Central Asia but is now mainly in Iran.
• The Asiatic lion once lived in the Trans-Caucasus, Iran, and possibly southern Turkestan.
• The Caspian tiger lived in northern Iran, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.
• The endangered Persian leopard can still be found in Iran, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

History

Geology

The Caspian Sea's history has two main parts. The first part happened during a time called the Miocene. The second part happened during the Pleistocene, a time with ice ages. During the first part, the Tethys Sea turned into the Sarmatian Lake, formed from the Black Sea and the south part of the Caspian Sea. This happened when the Arabian peninsula moved into West Asia. The Caspian Sea was often separated from the Black Sea. Later, a mountain range split the southern part of the sea. Eventually, the sea grew larger and connected with the Black Sea and the Aral Sea. Then it shrank to its current size.

Early settlement nearby

The oldest human remains near the Caspian Sea are from Dmanisi, about 1.8 million years old. These show early humans called Homo erectus or Homo ergaster lived there. Later, people lived in caves in Georgia and Azerbaijan. There is evidence of humans living south of the Caspian Sea from places like Ganj Par and Darband Cave. Ancient Greeks called the sea the Hyrcanian Sea.

Fossil fuel

The area around the Caspian Sea has lots of oil and gas. People were digging for oil as early as the 10th century to use for medicine and lighting homes. By the 16th century, Europeans knew about the oil there. Traders described oil coming out of the ground near Baku, used for heating homes. Today, many oil and gas platforms are along the edges of the sea.

Geography, geology and navigation studies

During the time of Peter I the Great, an explorer named Fyodor Soimonov studied the Caspian Sea. He made detailed maps and wrote the first full report about the sea, called Pilot of the Caspian Sea, published in 1720 by the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Cities

Ancient

Some old cities near the Caspian Sea include Hyrcania in Iran, Sari in Mazandaran Province, Anzali in Gilan Province, Astara in Gilan Province, Astarabad in Golestan Province, Tamisheh in Golestan Province, Atil, Khazaria, Khazaran, Derbent in Dagestan, Russia, and Xacitarxan, which is now Astrakhan.

Modern

Today, many cities are around the Caspian Sea. In Iran, you can find cities such as Ali Abad, Astane-ye Ashrafiye, Astara, Babolsar, Bandar-e Anzali, Bandar-e-Gaz, Bandar Torkaman, Behshahr, Chalus, Fenderesk, Gomishan, Gonbad-e Kavus, Gorgan, Juybar, Kordkuy, Lahijan, Langarud, Mahmudabad, Neka, Nowshahr, Nur, Ramsar, Rasht, Rudbar, Rudsar, Sari, Sorkhrud, Talesh, and Tonekabon.

In Azerbaijan, cities include Astara, Baku, Gobustan, Khudat, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Masallı, Nabran, Neftchala, Shabran, Siyazan, Oil Rocks, and Sumqayit.

In Kazakhstan, there are Atyrau and Aktau.

In Russia, you can find Astrakhan, Dagestanskiye Ogni, Derbent, Izberbash, Kaspiysk, and Makhachkala.

In Turkmenistan, cities include Türkmenbaşy (formerly Krasnovodsk), Hazar (formerly Çeleken), Esenguly, and Garabogaz (formerly Bekdaş).

Economy

Countries around the Caspian Sea, like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, rely on natural resources such as oil and gas. These resources are very important for their economies and affect the world's energy markets.

These countries also have lots of sunshine and can use solar power. They have rivers that can help make electricity. Iran has lots of oil and natural gas, and Russia has huge amounts of mineral and energy resources.

The countries around the Caspian Sea work together to improve their roads, attract tourists, and increase trade. They held a big meeting about these ideas in Turkmenistan in 2019. They are also working on technology projects to connect Asia and Europe.

Oil and gas

The Caspian Sea area helps supply oil to the world, though it is not the biggest supplier. In the early 2000s, the region produced about 1.4 to 1.5 million barrels of oil each day. Kazakhstan produces most of this oil, and Azerbaijan produces about a fifth. Oil production was higher in the past but dropped after the Soviet Union broke apart.

The first oil wells were made a long time ago near Baku, in Azerbaijan. By the end of the 1800s, Baku had many oil wells and was an important center for oil. After the Soviet Union took control, Azerbaijan's oil industry grew a lot. In 1994, a big agreement was made to develop the oil fields more, and a major pipeline was built to carry oil to Turkey. In 2005, a big oil field was found in the Russian part of the Caspian Sea.

Transport

Baku is the main port for big ships like oil tankers in Azerbaijan. It is the biggest port on the Caspian Sea and can reach the oceans through canals. The Caspian Sea Shipping Company helps move goods and people and supports oil and gas work at sea. In the 1800s, when oil production grew a lot in Baku, new ships were needed to carry the oil.

Political issues

Some islands along the coast of Azerbaijan are important because of the oil fields near them. Since the Soviet Union broke apart, many international companies have started working in the area. Agreeing on exact borders for all countries around the Caspian Sea is a big problem that could affect future development.

There is discussion about building oil and gas pipelines to help Western countries get resources from Kazakhstan and other places more easily. Russia does not like this idea because it would lose money from moving these products. Both Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan support these pipelines.

Territorial status

Five countries share the Caspian Sea. They are Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia.

For many years, these countries talked about how to share the Caspian Sea. In 2018, they signed an agreement called the 'Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea'. This agreement said that each country can control 24 km (15 mi) of water near its coast, with an extra 16 km (10 mi) for fishing. The rest of the water is shared by all countries. But how the seabed is used is still being talked about.

Coastline

Five countries have coasts along the Caspian Sea. Here is how long each country's coastline is:

1. Kazakhstan – 1,422 km (884 mi)
2. Turkmenistan – 1,035 km (643 mi)
3. Iran – 728 km (452 mi)
4. Azerbaijan – 813 km (505 mi)
5. Russia – 747 km (464 mi)

Negotiations

In 1931, a treaty between Iran and the Soviet Union said the sea belonged to both. In 2000, talks about the demarcation of the sea had been going on for almost ten years. Whether it is a sea, a lake, or something in between would decide rules for sharing it. This matters for oil and natural gas, fishing, and access to international waters through Russia's Volga river and canals to the Black Sea and Baltic Sea. Access to the Volga is important for the economies of landlocked Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. This also matters for Russia because more traffic may use its inland waterways. If the Caspian is a sea, foreign ships can pass through freely. If it is a lake, there are no such rules. Solving environmental problems also depends on its status and borders.

Caspian Summit

The Caspian Summit is a meeting of the leaders of the five countries that share the Caspian Sea. The fifth Caspian Summit happened on August 12, 2018, in the Kazakh city of Aktau. The leaders signed the 'Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea'.

Representatives of these countries met in Kazakhstan on September 28, 2018, after the Aktau Summit. They agreed to hold an investment forum for the Caspian region every two years.

Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea

Main article: Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea

The five countries worked together to make rules for the Caspian Sea through Special Working Groups. Before the Caspian Summit, the 51st Special Working Group met in Astana in May 2018. They agreed on many things: working together for transport; trade; preventing problems on the sea; fighting terrorism; stopping crime; and helping with border security.

The convention gives each country control over 24 km (15 mi) of water near its coast, plus an extra 16 km (10 mi) for fishing. The rest is international waters. The seabed is still undefined and depends on agreements between countries. So, the Caspian Sea is not fully a sea or a lake.

The convention talks about caviar, oil and gas, and military use, but it does not cover environmental issues.

Crossborder inflow

UNECE lists several rivers that cross borders and flow into the Caspian Sea. These are:

Transportation

The Caspian Sea is linked to other important waterways by canals. The Volga River flows into the Caspian Sea and is connected by canals to the Don River, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Northern Dvina, and the White Sea. These links help ships travel between different areas.

Regular ferry services cross the Caspian Sea. These ferries connect cities such as Türkmenbaşy in Turkmenistan and Baku, as well as Aktau and Kuryk in Kazakhstan with Baku. There are also ferry routes between cities in Iran and Russia, mostly for moving cargo.

Canals

Because the Caspian Sea has no natural outlet to the ocean, people have built canals to connect it to other waterways. In the early 1700s, simple canals were built linking the Volga Basin to the Baltic Sea.

Today, two major canal systems connect the Volga Basin — and the Caspian Sea — to the ocean: the Volga–Baltic Waterway and the Volga–Don Canal.

There were past plans to build a canal called the Pechora–Kama Canal to bring water from the Pechora River into the Volga River. This would help with irrigation and keep the Caspian Sea’s water level stable.

In 2007, Kazakhstan’s president suggested building a new canal called the Eurasia Canal, also known as the Manych Ship Canal. This canal would connect the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea, helping Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries increase their trade. The canal would likely follow the Kuma–Manych Depression, where rivers and lakes are already linked by a canal. Another option would be to improve the existing Volga–Don Canal.