The Sea of Azov is the inland sea of Europe, located within the borders of Ukraine and Russia. Its area is 39 thousand square meters. km. The reservoir belongs to the basin of the Atlantic Ocean. The depth of the Sea of Azov is average, does not even reach 10 m, the maximum is about 15 m.
Despite the fact that this reservoir is located deep inside the Eurasian continent, however, it is not considered completely internal, rather semi-closed. Through a long way - 4 straits and 4 seas - nevertheless, the waters of Azov fall into the ocean. The sea is 380 km long and 200 km wide. The length of the entire coastline is more than 2,500 km.
Historical information
The Sea of Azov is considered a fairly young sea. Previously, there was a version that the Don flowed directly into the Black Sea. But Azov was formed presumably between the 5th and 6th millennium BC
The history of the name of the reservoir is quite interesting. It is worth noting that it has changed several times. Currently, the most plausible version of the origin of the nameis directly related to such an indicator as the depth of the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov (the average varies from 6 m to 8 m). This reservoir is considered the smallest on the planet Earth.
In ancient times, the Sea of Azov often changed its name: the ancient Greeks called it Meotida; Scythians - Kargaluk; the ancient Meotian tribes who lived on the coast in the 1st century BC. They called the sea Temerinda. The modern name was assigned to the reservoir only at the end of the 18th century - "Azov", which means "low" in Turkic.
Depth of the Sea of Azov: average, minimum, maximum
The Sea of Azov will not surprise you with its depths. The highest figure was recorded only in the central part. In this area, the depth almost reaches 13-15 m. This reservoir is an ideal place to relax with small children, as you need to walk a few meters from the shore until the water reaches at least the waist of an adult. In the coastal zone at a distance of 10 m, the depth varies within 1 m. This indicator increases only when deepening in the sea by 1-2 km, reaching 5 m. From this we can conclude that the depth of the Sea of Azov: average - 7.4 m, and the maximum - 13-15 m. But the minimum was recorded in the area between the Elenina spit and the Zhelezinskaya bank. There is a relief elevation of the bottom here, so the depth in these places does not exceed 3-4 m. In the area of the Taganrog Bay there are depressions of 9-10 m, and closer to the top - 5 m.
The Sea of Azov is also called flat. It is characterized by shallow depths and shallow shores. The depth increases gradually. The coastal slope of the northern and southern regions differs: wide shallow water is common in the north, up to 30 km inland, while the southern regions have a steep underwater slope.
Features of the reservoir
Shallow depths of the reservoir contribute to a low indicator of the catchment area. It is 586 thousand square meters. km. The coast of the Sea of Azov is predominantly flat and sandy, consisting of small shell rock. The width of the beaches is of medium size. It tends to go completely under water during high tides.
Sea currents on the sea are fickle - they depend on the incoming northern and western winds, only one thing is constant here - local circular counterclockwise.
Bays and spits
The sea is not full of bays. There are only four large ones: Sivash, Obitochny, Berdyansk and Taganrog Bays. There are few islands in the sea. A characteristic feature of the coastline is the long spits, which, alternating with the smooth edge of the coast, make the coastline indented. The largest of them is Arbatskaya, its length is 115 km. In addition to the Arbat Spit, the Fedotova, Berdyansk, and Belosaraysk spits run into the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov. Large rivers flowing into the Sea of Azov - Don, Kuban.
Climatic features
The type of climate characteristic of Azov is temperate continental. Due to the fact that the maximum depth of the Sea of Azov does not exceed 15 m, in summer the water temperature can reach + 20 … + 25 ° С. In winter, in the northern regions, it drops to 0 … -3 ° C, in the south to 0 … + 3 ° C. Ice-covered seacovered unevenly and only in coastal areas. In severe winters, the reservoir can freeze completely over the entire territory by 90 cm. The main period of freezing formation is January.
Salinity
The waters of the Sea of Azov are getting s altier every year. The reason for this is the reduced annual flow of large rivers. The fact is that in the 20th century, reservoirs were built on large rivers that carried water to the sea, thereby significantly reducing the volume of water. And the salinity of Azov is supported by the Black Sea, in which this figure is much higher. According to the latest data, the salinity of the water in the Azov reservoir varies within 13.5% and continues to increase every year. This factor adversely affects the organic world of freshwater species.
Natural Features
The organic world that inhabits the basin of the Sea of Azov is quite highly productive. Only one representative of mammals is found in the waters. This is an Azov dolphin. In total, there are about 103 fish species that constantly live in the reservoir. Of these, there are those that are most valuable for industry. Anchovy, tyulka, flounder, goby, herring and sturgeon are caught here. In recent years, bearing acclimatization has been successfully carried out.
Use
The coast of the Sea of Azov is successfully used for recreation. Despite the fact that the reservoir is shallow and rather small, it is important for two states: Russia and Ukraine. Large ports have been built in Mariupol and Berdyansk. The shelf is promising for the search for oil, gas and other minerals. S alt is mined on the Sivash. Since 1999, oil has been officially produced on the southern coast (at the Kazantip cape).
Tourism
The climate of the coast is very comfortable for living and recreation. The holiday season here begins in May and lasts until October, about 150 days in total. The air on the coast is saturated with ions of iodine, bromine, calcium and other trace elements. Mostly the sea is surrounded by a steppe area, small winds always blow here. The shallow depths of the reservoir allow the water to warm up well during the tourist season. The air temperature in summer can reach +45°C in the hottest month - July. Average t° in season +25°…+30°С. Precipitation is 400-600 mm/g, most of it falls in autumn. The average t° of January is 0…+6°С, but due to the winds blowing in the territory and constant air humidity (75-85%), the actual weather condition is much more severe.
The Sea of Azov, due to its shallow depth, has become a favorite place for families, especially with young children. Due to its shallow water, the water warms up well in summer to + 23 ° С. Houses and recreation centers, sanatoriums and dispensaries have been built along the entire coast.
