Caspian sea, Map, Bordering Countries, Geographical Features

Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea, which is alternatively referred to as the largest lake or a full-fledged sea, is the largest inland body of water in the world. Between Europe and Asia, it is an endorheic basin.

Read More: Mediterranean Sea

Caspian Sea Bordering Countries

Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan are the five nations that surround the Caspian Sea.

Read More: Sea of Azov

Caspian Sea in World Map

Here is the Map of the Caspian Sea including neighbouring countries with international borders.

Read More: South China Sea

Caspian Sea Geographical Features

East of the Caucasus, west of the wide steppe of Central Asia, south of the rich plains of Southern Russia in Eastern Europe, and north of the high Iranian Plateau in Western Asia, the Caspian Sea is located between Europe and Asia. The Caspian Sea, which makes up 40 to 44% of all lacustrine waters on the planet, is the biggest inland body of water. There are several islands in the Caspian Sea, however, they are all located close to the coast and none are found in the deeper waters. Island Ogurja Ada is the biggest.

Read More: East China Sea

Caspian Sea Environmental Concerns

A little more than 80% of the inflow into the Caspian Sea comes from the Volga River. There is an uncontrolled release of chemical and biological contaminants in the lower sections of the Volga due to the presence of numerous industrial centres.

The Caspian Seas face the weight of several wastes that are predominantly introduced into its basin by the Volga River, the United Nations Environment Programme says. Numerous islands, including Vulf, have experienced ecological harm as a result of the region’s substantial oil drilling. As a result, the populations of numerous avian and marine species have been greatly reduced.

Read about: Pacific Ocean

Caspian Sea Important Facts for UPSC

• The Caspian Sea, which has an area of around 371,000 square kilometres, is the biggest inland body of water in the world. The Sea has surpassed other inland water bodies as the largest one with few outflow zones.
• The seafloor is Earth’s second-lowest natural relief depression. Since there are no natural outlets, it is an endorheic basin.
• The Caspian Sea, an inland lake, is home to several local marine plant and animal species. To avoid causing ecological harm, the majority of these are protected species.
• In order to distinguish some Sea-specific species from others, the name “Caspian” has been prefixed. This includes the Caspian seal described above, the Caspian tern, the Caspian gull, the Caspian turtle, and the Caspian turtle.
• The Caspian Sea’s neighbouring nations are heavily reliant on mineral resources, such as oil and gas. This accounts for about 40% of all exports and 10% of their total GDP, respectively.
• One of the lowest spots on Earth is the Caspian Depression, a lowland area that encompasses the northern part of the Caspian Sea.
• It is widely categorised as either the biggest lake in the world or a true sea.
• The Volga River in the north, which contributes roughly 80% of the inflowing water, is the main tributary. Significant tributaries include the Kura River in the west and the Ural River in the north.
• Today, most bodies of water are divided into one of six major categories: oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, and pools (further classified into above-the-ground, underground, etc.). The Caspian Sea, however, stands apart since it has never been correctly classified.

Read More: Atlantic Ocean

Is the Caspian Sea a Lake?

Since the Caspian Sea’s discovery and initial description in antiquity, it has been referred to as a sea. In their own languages, the neighbouring nations of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan refer to it as a sea.

But the Caspian Sea has several distinctive qualities that make determining its identity difficult. It is an inland sea that can only be reached by way of the canals that connect Russia’s Volga River to the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Sea of Azov. It receives its water from freshwater sources and is not connected to the world’s open oceans via saltwater.

The conclusions of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names are not binding in court.

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