Bodies of Water
The Caspian Sea
Also Known As Hyrcanian Sea The name used by classical Greek and Persian writers, after Hyrcania, an ancient region on the sea's southern shore.
Seas
The Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water on Earth by surface area, bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. It sits in a deep basin left behind by the ancient Paratethys Sea, carries brackish rather than fresh water, and has no natural outlet to any ocean.
Whether the Caspian is properly a sea or the world's largest lake is a genuine, unresolved classification dispute among geographers: its marine origin, tectonic basin and brackish water argue for sea, while its total enclosure and lack of any natural ocean outlet argue for lake, and the surrounding states have had to negotiate the question directly, since which label applies affects how its waters and seabed resources are divided among them.
Facts
Area (sq km) Maximum Depth (m)Depth given is for the South Caspian Basin; the sea grows dramatically shallower toward its northern end, which averages only a few meters deep. Elevation (m) Connections
Associated With
Source Caspian Sea (Wikipedia)
This source names Russia directly: "on Earth by surface area, bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan."
Source National Geographic Atlas of the World
Source Caspian Sea (Wikipedia)
Source Ural River (Wikipedia)
The Volga flows into the Caspian Sea.
Source Volga (Wikipedia)
Borders
Source Caspian Sea (Wikipedia)
Source Caspian Sea (Wikipedia)
Source Caspian Sea (Wikipedia)
Source Caspian Sea (Wikipedia)
Source Caspian Sea (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. National Geographic Atlas of the World
National Geographic Society, 2019
2. Caspian Sea (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationInfobox, Max. length
1,030 km (640 mi)
Infobox, Surface elevation
−28 m (−92 ft) below sea level
Infobox, Coordinates field
42.0N 50.5E
Associated With: Central Asia, Lead section
It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.
Associated With: The Caucasus, Lead section
It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.
View the Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Caspian Sea (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, opening sentence
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water.
Borders: Kazakhstan, Lead section
It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.
Borders: Russia, Lead section
It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.
Borders: Azerbaijan, Lead section
It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.
Borders: Iran, Lead section
It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.
Borders: Turkmenistan, Lead section
It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.
View the Source Wikidata: The Caspian Sea
Volga (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Volga River, Lead sectionQuote, Associated With: Volga River, Lead section
Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea.
Ural River (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Ural River, Lead section, opening paragraphQuote, Associated With: Ural River, Lead section, opening paragraph
It originates in the southern Ural Mountains and discharges into the Caspian Sea.
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