Exploring The Unique Features of Sea of Azov [MAP] 2023

The Sea of Azov is a sea in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the east, Ukraine to the west, and the Crimean Peninsula to the south. The Sea of Azov is connected to the Black Sea to the south by the Strait of Kerch, which is controlled by Russia. The sea is relatively shallow, with an average depth of only about 14 meters, and it is known for its warm, sunny climate and sandy beaches. The cities of Rostov-on-Don and Taganrog are located along the shores of the Sea of Azov.

The Sea of Azov is bounded in the east by Russia and in the west by Ukraine. Azov sea is an internal sea with passage to the Atlantic Ocean going through the Black, Marmara, and Mediterranean Seas and it is connected to the Black Sea by the Strait of Kerch, which at its narrowest has a width of about 4 kilometres.

Contentions over Sea of Azov

There have been several recent incidents and issues involving Russia and Ukraine in the Sea of Azov. In November 2018, Russian border guards fired on and seized three Ukrainian navy vessels and their crews as they tried to pass through the Strait of Kerch into the Sea of Azov. The incident sparked a crisis between the two countries and led to the imposition of new sanctions by the United States and other countries.

In addition to the 2018 incident, there have been ongoing tensions over the use of the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch. Ukraine has accused Russia of blocking access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov and harassing Ukrainian ships, while Russia has accused Ukraine of violating its sovereignty.

There have also been concerns about Russia’s construction of a bridge over the Strait of Kerch, which Ukraine has said could be used to restrict access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov. The situation has been further complicated by the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists.

Importance of Sea of Azov

The Sea of Azov is an important body of water for several countries in the region. Here are some of the ways in which the sea is important for different nations:

  • Russia: The Sea of Azov is an important economic resource for Russia, as it is home to a number of ports, including Taganrog and Rostov-on-Don, which are used for trade and transportation. The sea is also an important source of fish for Russia.
  • Ukraine: The Sea of Azov is an important economic resource for Ukraine, as it is home to several Ukrainian ports, including Berdyansk and Mariupol, which are used for trade and transportation. The sea is also an important source of fish for Ukraine.
  • Both Russia and Ukraine: The Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch are important transportation routes for both countries. The sea is used to transport goods between Russia and Ukraine, and it is also used as a transit route for goods being shipped between Europe and Asia.
  • Other countries: The Sea of Azov is an important transportation route for other countries as well, as it is used to transport goods between Europe and Asia. The sea is also an important source of fish for countries in the region.
Sae of Azov
Sae of Azov

Sea of Azov

The Sea of Azov is the shallowest in the world with an average depth of 7 meters and a maximum depth of 14 meters; in the bays, the average depth is about 1 meter. The bottom of the Sea is relatively flat with the depth gradually increasing from the coast towards the centre.

It may be considered both as a peripheral waterbody of the Black Sea and a vast brackish estuary of the River Don; i.e. the mixing zone of fluvial and the Black Sea waters. The Sea of Azov is a unique brackish waterbody from many points of view despite its small size.

The Low salinity of Sea of Azov is the main reason for the low diversity of flora and fauna in comparison with the Mediterranean, Caspian and Black Seas. Also the shallow water, high summer temperature, large input of organic and minerals with river influx, and some other factors that lead to a very high biological productivity in the Sea.

The entire Sea of Azov area, with few exceptions, represents an extended feeding ground for fish species. The deltas of rivers entering the Sea of Azov, primarily large rivers such as the Don and the Kuban, serve as spawning grounds for several fish species.

Historical names of Sea of Azov

The Sea of Azov has had several historical names. Here are a few:

  • In ancient times, the sea was known as the Maeotis Palus or Maeotian Swamp.
  • In the Middle Ages, the sea was known as the Palus Maeotis or Maeotian Lake.
  • In the 16th and 17th centuries, the sea was known as the Mer d’Azoff or Azov Sea.
  • In the 18th and 19th centuries, the sea was known as the Azov Sea or the Sea of Azov.
  • In the 20th century, the sea was also sometimes referred to as the Sea of Azof.

Ancient Greeks called it Maeotian Lagoon, while Romans referred to it as Palus Meotis (Maeotian Marsh) after the tribe Maeotae that dwelled on its coasts. In the antique epoch, locals called it Temerinds. In medieval times, the Russian name for the Sea was the Surozh Sea after the name of the Crimean town of Surozh (now Sudak).

Economic Importance of Sea of Azov

The Sea of Azov is an economically important body of water for several countries in the region. Here are some of the ways in which the sea has economic value:

  • The sea is home to a number of ports, including Taganrog, Rostov-on-Don, and Berdyansk, which are used for trade and transportation. These ports are important for the economies of Russia and Ukraine.
  • The Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch are important transportation routes for the region. The sea is used to transport goods between Russia and Ukraine, and it is also used as a transit route for goods being shipped between Europe and Asia.
  • The sea is an important source of fish for Russia and Ukraine. The sea is home to a variety of fish species, including herring, sprat, and flounder, which are harvested for food and other purposes.
  • The sea is also an important source of oil and natural gas for Russia. There are a number of oil and gas fields in the sea, and these resources are important for Russia’s energy needs.
  • The sea is an important tourist destination, with a number of resorts and beaches along the shores of the sea. Tourism is an important economic activity in the region.

Oil and Gas

Yes, the Sea of Azov is an important source of oil and natural gas for Russia. There are a number of oil and gas fields in the sea, and these resources are important for Russia’s energy needs.

The main oil field in the Sea of Azov is the Azov-Donskoy field, which is located off the coast of Russia. The field is estimated to contain about 120 million barrels of oil and is operated by the Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft. There are also several smaller oil fields in the sea.

In addition to oil, the Sea of Azov is also an important source of natural gas for Russia. The main gas field in the sea is the Azov-Black Sea field, which is located off the coast of Russia. The field is estimated to contain about 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas and is operated by Gazprom, the Russian state-owned natural gas company.

Oil and natural gas production in the Sea of Azov is an important contributor to the Russian economy.

Geography of Sea of Azov

  • The Sea of Azov is the most shallow and one of the smallest seas in the world. Its area is 39000 sq.km; the average depth is 7 m with a maximum value of 14 m. It is connected with the Black Sea by the narrow and shallow-water Kerch Strait. The maximum length of the sea of Azov is 360 km and maximum width of 180 km.
  • The Sea of Azov is a small, shallow sea located in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the east and Ukraine to the west, and it is connected to the Black Sea to the south by the Strait of Kerch. The Crimean Peninsula extends southward into the sea.
  • The coastline of the Sea of Azov is heavily indented, with numerous bays and inlets. The major ports on the sea include Taganrog, Rostov-on-Don, and Berdyansk. The sea is fed by several rivers, including the Don, the Mius, and the Kalmius. The sea has a warm, sunny climate and is known for its sandy beaches.

Features of Sea of Azov

The Azov sea features rather simple outlines. The various direction of the area is detailed below. The northern coast is even and steep and have presence of accumulative sandy spits. In the northeast, the largest of the sea bays – Taganrog Bay – penetrates the land; its top coincides with the delta of the Don River.

Sivash Bay (Syvash Bay)

In the west, the Arabatskaya Strelka Spit separates Sivash Bay from the sea. The Sivash bay is connected with the Azov Asea by the Genichesk Strait. Sivash Bay represents a system of shallow-water bays with a total area of 2560 sq. km. Their depths are 0.5-1.5 meters, with a maximum value of 3 m. Annually, Sivash accepts up to 1.5 km3 of the water from the Sea of Azov. Owing to the strong evaporation, the Sivash water transforms into a saturated salt solution (brine, or Rapa) with a salinity reaching 170 PSU.

Just like the Kara Bogaz Gol of the Caspian Sea, Sivash Bay also provides various chemical resources. It provides millions of tons of salt, magnesium sulfate, sodium sulfate, bromine, and various other ingredients. For a long time long, table salt works existed in Sivash Bay. Mirabilite is also extracted from the Sivash lagoon brines through salt precipitation.

In the southeast of the Azov Sea, the Kuban River delta with vast flooded plains and numerous channels extends over about 100 km. The Kuban River enters the top part of the Temryuk Bay. In this part low seacoasts gradually descend to a flat sandy bottom and the depths smoothly increase with the distance from the coast. The largest depths are found in the central portion of the sea, in Taganrog Bay, they range from 2 to 9 m. In Temryuk Bay, mud volcanoes are also found.

The Sea of Azov is essentially a vast zone of mixing between the riverine and Black Sea waters. Almost the entire riverine runoff to the sea (more than 90%) is provided by the Don and Kuban’ rivers and its major part is confined to the spring-summer season. The major exchange between the waters of the Sea of Azov and those of the Black Sea occurs via the Kerch Strait.

The main sources for the terrigenous matter that forms the bottom sediments of the Sea of Azov is coastal abrasion and the riverine alluvium. The bottom sediments consists of clayey and silty oozes and sands.

Sea of Azov map
Sea of Azov map

Climate of Sea of Azov

The climate of the Sea of Azov, which deeply penetrates land, is continental. It is represented by cold winters and dry and hot summers. (Learn about the Ocean currents of the world)

Winters of Sea of Azov

During the autumn-winter period, the weather in the area is determined by the influence of a spur of the Siberian anticyclone with the domination of easterly and north-easterly winds with a speed of 4-7 m/s. Increase of the impact of this spur cause strong winds (up to 15 m/s) and are accompanied by invasions of cold air masses. The mean monthly temperature in January ranges from – 1 to – 5 °C; during northeasterly storms, it may fall to – 25 to – 27 °C.

Summers of Sea of Azov

In the spring-summer period, warm and fair weather with weak winds prevails in the area. In July, the mean monthly temperature over the entire sea equals 23-25 °C, while its maximum values reach more than 30 °C.

In this season, especially in the spring, Mediterranean cyclones often pass over the sea; they are accompanied by westerly and south-westerly winds with speeds of 4-6 m/s.

Sea of Azov remains a contentious area between Ukraine and Russia nowdays.

Conclusion

The Sea of Azov is a small, shallow sea located in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the east and Ukraine to the west, and it is connected to the Black Sea to the south by the Strait of Kerch. The Crimean Peninsula extends southward into the sea. The sea has an area of about 39,000 square kilometers and an average depth of only about 14 meters. It is the shallowest sea in the world.

The Sea of Azov is an economically important body of water for the region. It is home to a number of ports, including Taganrog, Rostov-on-Don, and Berdyansk, which are used for trade and transportation. The sea is also an important transportation route for the region, as it is used to transport goods between Russia and Ukraine, and as a transit route for goods being shipped between Europe and Asia. The sea is an important source of fish for Russia and Ukraine, and it is also an important source of oil and natural gas for Russia. The sea is also an important tourist destination, with a number of resorts and beaches along the shores of the sea.

However, there have been tensions and incidents involving Russia and Ukraine in the Sea of Azov in recent years, including the seizure of Ukrainian navy vessels by Russian border guards in 2018, and ongoing concerns about the use of the sea and the Strait of Kerch. The situation has been further complicated by the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists.

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UCN Team
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