Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-03-30
eeoer.nh,oal Features Of the black Sea.

The Black Sea (Ponfus Eurinus) is an inland ba-
sin with margin of coast generally elevated ana
murky, having transverse diameter OF about ooo{
miles from west 10 east and conjugate one OF more
than 800. and an area of $4,000 square miles lis
modern name supposed originate from the dense
fogs which occasionally il, or the danger OF ITS
navigation arising from these fogs at all events, 1t
was much dreaded by the anciens, who placed their
Cimmerian land of utter darkness lis northern
shores Besides the fresh water from Asia Minor,
it receives some of the largest rivers in Europe in
Guiding the Danube (Iser), Dnieper (Borpsthenes).
Dniester Tyras), the Don (Iana's), and the Kuban
its waters in consequence only brackish, and 1t is
singular that. with such large and constant acces-
sion of fresh streams continually poured into it, any
saltness could be retained Its depth in general is
great no bottom being struck with 500 fathoms OF
line; but off the mouth of the Danube, the water
deepens very gradually, and nearly as much so from
Serpent's Isle by Odessa, to the Crimea
ihe large body of waller on the northeast OF the
Euxine, called the Sea of Azof (Palus MGtis,) the
AJAX deniz-i of the Turks, has surface of more
than $4,000 square miles and from the action OF Its
rivers it's waters rather btacksh than salt. The
navigation of this subdivision of the Black Sea is
mpeded by the freshets of the Don its general shall
lewness, numerous shoals, and occasional ice; nor
can it be entered by shipping otherwise than by the
narrow straits of Tamen Yenikaleh (NelU GdsneO
the ancient Zimmerman Bosphorus. But notwhstand-
ing these physical impediments, such the advan.
tages of moral exer:ons, that Taganrog, its chief
port is place of considerable and increasing
quence the value of lis import trade in 1850 being
upwards of 938O,0O and lis exports about half a
million
The streams of the great rivers produce strong cur
rents particularly in the beginning of summer, when
they are increased by the melting of the SHOWS and
when strong winds act against these howings, a
chopping sea is produced which, in foggy weather,
is dangerous to small craft. independently, howev
err of such chances, the Black Sea is free from any
danger; having, with trivial exception or two nei-
ther island, rocks reef in the general track OF
navigation, and aordng good riding for the largest
ships. Its trade consists of grain, wne timber char
COAL pitch, potash fish, cavair isingass, shagreen,
sailed provisions cheese, poultry, butter, WOOL hides,
hemp taow, honey, salt, tobacco, iron, "copper" and
saltpetre; but especially corn.
1t seems agreed among cosmonoglsts, that the
Black Sea, at remote period extended much further
to the east and north than it does occupylr e
the whole of the vast plains and steppeS thatsurround
the Caspian and the OF Are neither Of which had
then separate existence the difference of their lev
els having arisen at later periods. Their depths
must probably alter materially, since the beds on the
rivers above mentioned are charged with an extraor-
binary quantity of sand and slime, which from the
rapidty of their they hold in suspension till
they approached the sea- and flowing in more gentle
current, they deposite the substances brought down.
gradually that the elevation of their beds almost
imperceptble. Polybus, who states this a cause
for predicting the filing up of the Euxne in process
of time, describes shoa one thousand sada in length
before the mouth of the lister, at days sail from
land this having long since disappeared, has no
doubt become part of the delta of The Danube
The of Azo has manifestly contracted lis boun-
diaries.