Source: TT
Context: At the Third Economic Forum of Caspian Littoral States’ Prime Ministers in Tehran, Russia is taking proactive measures to prevent the Caspian Sea’s water levels from declining.
About Caspian Sea:
- Location: It is located between Europe and Asia.
- The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland water body, often referred to as both a lake and a sea due to its unique characteristics.
- The region is rich in oil, natural gas, and biodiversity, making it strategically and economically significant.
- It lies to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the vast steppe of Central Asia.
- Bordered by: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia.
- It is now a remnant of the ancient Paratethys Sea, with a salinity of 1.2%, making it less saline than ocean water but saltier than freshwater lakes.
- Major river inflows:
- The Volga River, Europe’s longest river, is the largest freshwater contributor.
- Other rivers: Ural River, Terek River, Kura and Aras Rivers, Sulak and Samur Rivers, and Atrek River.
- Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the largest city on the Caspian.
