There are five million lakes on the Earth.They occupy 1.8% of the entire land area. The largest lake in the world is known as the Caspian Sea. It attracts the attention of scientists and tourists from all over the world.
To the question "which lake is the largest in area"the answer can be ambiguous. Among the possible options are called Upper, Victoria, Huron, but the correct answer can only be the Caspian Sea, called the sea only because of its historical origin and gigantic proportions.
The Caspian is on the Eurasian continent onthe joint of two parts of the world - Asia and Europe. The total area of this reservoir is 321 thousand square kilometers. In addition to water resources, this includes the islands (about 350 square kilometers) and the peninsula. The largest of them are Uch-Kosa (Dagestan), Tyub-Karagan (Kazakhstan), Ashur-Ada (Iran), Kur dashi (Azerbaijan) and others.
Five states have full access to waterThe Caspian Sea. This is Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The longest coastline is about 2320 kilometers and belongs to the territory of Kazakhstan. For comparison: in the Russian Federation, the length of the coastline is the least among all countries - only 695 kilometers.
The sea coast is distinguished by its low position and smooth structure. The only place where you can meet elevations, is in the west. There the banks are rather meandering.
The largest lake in the area has no connection with the World Ocean, although about 130 rivers flow into it. The largest of them is the Russian Volga.
Near the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea there is a saltyLake Kara-Bogaz-Gol, which was a sea lagoon with a small strait until 1980. Then a dam and a dam were built there, but the lake began to dry quickly and the strait was returned to its place.
Such cities as Baku, Turkmenbashi (Krasnovodsk), Avaza, Aktau, Derbent sheltered on their shores the largest lake in Eurasia.
The volume of the Caspian Sea is about 44%lake water reserves around the world. Its area varies depending on the water level, which often varies, but on average is 321,000 square kilometers.
The depth of the Caspian Sea is quite uneven.In the north the reservoir is very shallow and from the surface to the bottom only four meters. But there is also the South Caspian depression, the lowest point of which lies at around 1025 meters.
The water temperature is also not the same and depends onterritorial location. The warmest period for the Caspian Sea occurs in August, when the pond warms up to 26 ° C. However, in the south and in shallow areas it can grow to 32 ° C.
The largest lake is salt.But it has specificity that allows water to differ in composition from oceanic. First of all, this is due to continental run-off. Rivers bring with them to the Caspian a large amount of calcium, carbonates and sulfates. The level of salinity increases from the mouth of the Volga to the southeast.
The bottom relief is shared by the Northern, Middle and SouthernCaspian Sea with the help of rapids (Mangyshlak, Apsheronsky). Basically, it is a muddy surface, shell sand and bedrock in some places (the deepest).
The climatic conditions of the Caspian Sea determinecontinental, temperate and subtropical zones. Therefore, the lowest temperatures in this region stopped at -8 ° C, the highest + 26 ° C. Also, a record was recorded at + 44 ° C in the south of the lake.
The largest lake in the world in comparison with thewith other water bodies is not particularly rich in species, which number about 1800. Of these, only 101 species refer to fish. The Caspian Sea is a habitat for valuable commercial fish, including sturgeon. And although the Caspian is considered a shallow lake, its inhabitants are of considerable size. So, the fish of the beluga reaches a length of 4 meters.
The largest lake in Eurasiaisolated from the oceans, so there is no typical sea shellfish, jellyfish, polyps, etc. But it is home to the Caspian seal (seal), which is on the verge of extinction. She waits the winter on the ice of the Northern Caspian, and in the summer she can embark on a journey to the upper reaches of the Volga or the Urals.
A total of 728 species representing the flora inhabit the Caspian. The basis of algae and phytoplankton.
The flora of the Caspian fully correspondshis shallow-water nature. From flowering there grow only two representatives. It is a seaside and ruppia. The second name of the seagrass is sea grass. It is perennial, with long leaves of bright green color. The flower looks like an ear.
Ruppia loves brackish water, so in fresh waterponds not found. By its appearance, this plant resembles an expanded rhizome. On the surface of the water appears only during flowering, preferring to rest at the rest of the time at the bottom. Ruppia multiplies vegetatively, as well as with the help of fish and birds that eat its fruits.
Thus, the largest lake in areaThe world is not rich in flora and fauna. Mostly small populations are associated with the economic activities of people and the general ecological situation in the region.
The largest lake in the area has largeoil and gas reserves. The first attempts to develop deposits belong to the distant 1820. It was then that the first well was drilled near the coast of Baku.
Half a century later, oil was being produced in industrial quantities. Today, oil reserves in the Caspian Sea are estimated at ten million tons.
In addition to these two gold mines, the Caspian shares its reserves of salts, clay, sand and limestone.
Due to the presence of therapeutic mud and mineralwaters of the Caspian Sea has become a therapeutic recreation area. However, it became widespread only in Azerbaijan. Iran and Turkmenistan are in some isolation from the tourism business. And in Russia the competition of the Black Sea coast is too high.
The largest lake in the area attracts the attention of anglers. Almost 90% of the world sturgeon fishing is taken here. Often illegal.
Environmental problems faced this region after the start of oil production. Drilling of wells, transportation of resources and much more threaten the marine environment with pollution and its partial change.
In November 2003, the Caspian states signed the Framework Convention, which is designed to protect the Caspian Sea, protect its natural environment and monitor biological resources.
A particular problem is poaching, which reduces the population of fish and seals and does not allow them to conduct full-fledged legal prey.
