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Caspian Sea |
The Caspian Sea is an inland sea that is sometimes also referred to as a saltwater lake. This is not surprising, because of its position surrounded by land. The Caspian Sea is surrounded by Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
The Caspian Sea is the largest inland water or sea in the world. This sea is at an altitude of 28 meters below sea level. It is 1,030 km long, and 435 km wide. This inland sea has a coast of 7,000 km.
With a surface area of 371,000 km², the Caspian Sea can hold 78,200 km of water. The Caspian Sea has an average depth of about 211 meters, with a maximum depth of 1,025 meters.
The depth of the Caspian Sea is uneven. The difference in depth between the northern, central, and southern Caspian Sea Regions is extreme. The northern Caspian Sea is very shallow, with an average depth of about 5 to 6 meters. The central part of the Caspian Sea, is much deeper, with an average depth of up to 190 meters. The southern Caspian is the deepest, reaching a depth of 1,030 meters.
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Baku, Azerbaijan (Caspian Sea) |
The Caspian Sea is a remnant of the Paratethys Sea, a vast and shallow ancient sea. This sea was formed during the late Jurassic, stretching from the north of the Alps, Central Europe, to the Aral Sea region, in Central Asia.
As a result of the process of uplifting land, and lowering sea levels, about 5.5 million ago, the Caspian Sea was finally landlocked.
The Caspian Sea derives its water from more than 130 rivers. Among them are the Kura River, the Ural River, and the Volga River. About 80% of the total water flowing into the Caspian Sea comes from the Volga River. A river that flows in Russia, and is the longest river in Europe.
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Ogurja Ada Island |
The Caspian Sea also has a number of small islands. These islands are scattered around the coast. Ogurja Ada is the largest island, with a length of 37 km. Most of the islands, especially the smaller ones, are uninhabited. Only a few islands have human settlements.