The sea has organically entered our life. We cannot imagine now our city without the sea. Its atomically desalted water gives us life, water, heat and energy. The winds born from its vast are bracing cool in summer and mitigating in winter. It gives so much joy to sea sports fans. Wind-surfing, water-skiing, yachting, catamarans, cutters, water bicycles, undersea hunting and finally simple fishing – a long list of sports presented by the sea.
The Caspian Sea is the largest lake on the globe. The north-south length is 1200 km and width 320 km. The sea is relatively shallow especially in the north: few meters by the Kazakh shore to 200 m in the middle. Southward the depth is 1025m. and salinity 12.4%. The northern part gets desalted by rivers. It has 6 inflowing rivers: Volga, Ural, Kura, Sulak, Emba and Samut. The Caspian Sea is the greatest closed reservoir with oil and gas under its floor. Its ultra salted Gulf Karabogaz Gol is the world biggest sulfate accumulation. Many puzzles and hypotheses are related to the Caspian. The origin and formation and very ancient and complex typically Caspian fauna history classify it into a separate zoological and geographical area. The basis of this amazing area is sea fauna that has suffered significant changes.
In ancient times, the sea repeatedly covered entire Europe and joined the Arctic Ocean. This where seals, sheefish and salmon came from. As the sea stepped back, flocks of various animals – herbivorous and carnivorous, meek and fierce – appeared in the rich green steppes of Ural and Caspian regions.
The Caspian Sea had 35 names such as Girland, Cold, Blue, North, Khazar etc. The name Caspian is related to Caspian tribes that lived on the sea shore.
The Caspian has long become a fish granary. 32 fish types inhabit the sea. It is famous Zalom herring, vobla, sheefish, sprat, pike-perch, bream, pike, catfish, beluga, star sturgeon, etc. Sturgeons are the national wealth. Every year, tides and storms cast ashore up to 1.5 million tons of algae. The algae contain nitrogen, phosphorous and micro elements, valuable raw material for pharmaceutics and fertilizer production. Unlimited food and warm climate attracts here more than 100 bird types. Innumerable flocks of rare birds hurry to come here in autumn from the north such as cormorants, griffins, herons, ducks and cranes. Flamingo and pelicans do not leave the sea at all. They only migrate to its different parts. There are lots of seagulls – everlasting loyal satellites. Though the people got used, sea-gulls continue to delight everybody. They do not leave the sea in any weather and devotedly meet and see off ships.
The grey-haired Caspian (our sea is the most stormy) both in storm and calm weather. Thousands of colors and hues can touch any heart and rejoice everybody. One can talk about this a lot but it is better to see it.
