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News: A recent study found that the Caspian Sea is shrinking mainly because of human activities, along with the impact of climate change.
About Caspian Sea
- The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water and an enclosed water body surrounded by land on all sides.
- Location: It is located between Asia and Europe.
- Surrounded by: It is bordered by Russia and Azerbaijan in the west, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in the north and east, and Iran in the south.
- Water Composition: The water is almost fresh in the northern part and becomes saltier towards the south.
- Water Source: The Volga, Ural, and Terek rivers flow into the Caspian Sea from the north.
- Key Features:
- Basin: It is an endorheic basin, which means it is a closed drainage basin where water flows in through rivers but has no natural outlet to the oceans.
- Energy Resources: It is known for large offshore and coastal oil and natural gas reserves.
- Major Cities: Baku is the largest city on the Caspian, while Nowshahr is another important coastal city.
- Important Islands: Major islands include Chechen, Tyuleny, Morskoy, Kulaly, Zhiloy, and Ogurchin.
- Threats: Human activities, including dams, river diversion, irrigation, industrial use, weak pollution control, and rising evaporation, are causing the Caspian Sea to shrink.
About Volga River
- The Volga River is the longest river in Europe and the principal waterway of Russia.
- Origin: The river originates in the Valdai Hills, northwest of Moscow.
- Course: It flows southeast through the Upper, Middle, and Lower Volga before forming its delta at Astrakhan and entering the Caspian Sea.
- Key Tributaries: Its major tributaries are the Kama, Oka, Vetluga, and Sura rivers.
- Key Features:
- Freshwater source: The Volga River is the primary freshwater source for the Caspian Sea, accounting for approximately 80% of its total surface inflow.
- Navigation: The river is navigable for most of its length and is linked with the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas through canals and river networks.
- Economic Importance: It supports transportation, irrigation, hydroelectric power, fishing, agriculture, and major industries across Russia.
