Roughly oval in shape, the Black Sea is an inland sea lying in the extreme southeast of Europe. Its waters are carried out through the Bosporus Strait to the Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles Strait, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and finally, to the Atlantic Ocean. Physical featuresThe Black Sea is bordered by the countries of Ukraine to the north, Russia to the northeast, Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west. The Crimean Peninsula juts into the Black Sea from the north. The Black Sea occupies about 163,000 square miles (422,000 square kilometers). Its maximum depth of more than 7,250 feet (2,210 meters) is in the south-central part of the sea. Several great rivers empty into the Black Sea. These include the Danube, Dniester, Bug, Dnieper, Don, and Kuban. The Black Sea contains a few small islands. Zmiyini is the largest, lying east of the Danube delta. A delta is a triangular plain formed by a river at its mouth. An important feature of the Black Sea is that sea life is possible only in the upper water levels. Below a depth of about 230 to 330 feet (70 to 100 meters) at the center there is no oxygen. In those reaches the sea is contaminated by hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gas. This results in a gloomy, “dead” zone frequented only by some bacteria that have adapted to the conditions. EconomyThe Black Sea is important for transportation that takes place year round. It links the Eastern European nations with world markets. Fish constitute the most widely used living resource of the Black Sea. There are about 180 species of fish, a fifth of them of commercial importance. The most important are khamsa, sprat, horse mackerel, and others, including the small Black Sea shark. - The Rustaveli Prospekt promenade along the subtropical Black Sea coast, Sokhumi, Georgia.
The magnificent climate and mineral springs around the Black Sea have made it a major health and vacation center, with the Crimea being the most important region. The sandy beaches of Bulgaria and Romania also attract tourists. ExplorationsBecause of its location between Europe and Asia, the Black Sea has been important for 30 centuries. The shores of the Black Sea were settled by a number of peoples, including the Slavs, Turks, and Genoese. By the 15th century the Turks controlled the entire shoreline. When they came to control the lands beyond the sea's southern shores, the Turks encountered only the sudden storms whipped up on its waters. They therefore gave it the uncomplimentary name of Karadeniz, or Black Sea. |