Black Sea Geography Map courtesy of the Black Sea Web Project. The Black Sea lies between southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. Excluding its northern arm, the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea occupies about 168,500 square miles (436,400 square kilometers). It is connected to the Aegean Sea through the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles, and has been of critical importance to regional commerce throughout the ages. This major inland sea is bordered by six countries — Romania and Bulgaria to the west; Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia to the north and east; and Turkey to the south. Additionally, it is impacted by another 10 nations through the five major rivers that empty into the Black Sea, the largest of which is the Danube River. The Bordering Countries The following is a brief geographic overview of the nations that border the Black Sea. Also see the History and Culture section to learn more about them. Bulgaria. This mostly mountainous nation, slightly larger than Tennessee, occupies 42,823 square miles (110,912 sq km) and is home to an estimated 7.6 million people.

The capital city is Sofia. About 85% of the people are ethnic Bulgarians, and nearly 10% are Turkish. The Golden Sands Resort along Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. The Balkan Mountains cross the northwestern corner of Bulgaria to the Black Sea, sloping gradually to a plateau that ends at the Danube, the country's chief river. The southern side of the mountain range is bounded by narrow plains, such as the Thracian Plain, an important agricultural region. Forests cover about a third of Bulgaria, and the country has a wealth of minerals, mainly iron ore and coal. Bulgaria has mild summers and cold, snowy winters. In addition to agriculture (primary products: vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets), Bulgaria has major industries for the production of electricity, gas and water, food and beverages, machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, refined petroleum, and nuclear fuel. A major emphasis on the development of heavy industry occurred in the country after World War II. Chief exports include clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, and fuels. Varna , the country's largest city, is Bulgaria's principal port on the Black Sea.

Romania. With a total land area of about 91,700 square miles (237,500 sq km), Romania is slightly larger than the state of Oregon. More than 89% of the country's 22.3 million people are ethnic Romanians. Hungarians are the largest minority (about 8%), living chiefly in Transylvania. Romania's capital and largest city is Bucharest. A forest-lined lake fringes the Black Sea coast at Neptun, Romania. Romania is shaped roughly like an oval. The central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the lowlands of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps. Wild boar, wolves, bears, and deer may be found in the mountainous regions. The lowlands serve as important agricultural areas. The country's most important river, the Danube, flows through a delta in the Dobruja region into the Black Sea. More than 43% of Romania is cultivated. The chief agricultural products include wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, potatoes, grapes, eggs, and sheep.

The country's major industries include textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, and petroleum refining. Constanta is one of Romania's principal Black Sea ports. Monument to the scuttled ships of the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol. Ukraine. The second largest country in Europe, Ukraine is mostly a broad, flat plain. At 233,090 square miles (603,700 sq km), Ukraine is slightly smaller than Texas and has an estimated population of 48.3 million. Over 73% are ethnic Ukrainians, while Russians represent the largest minority, at 22%. The capital and largest city is Kyiv (Kiev). Mountains are found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south. Deer, beaver, marten, vultures, and the steppe eagle are among the wildlife found in Ukraine. In the fertile soil of the central and southern regions, agriculture is a top industry, producing wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, beef, milk, vegetables, and sunflower seeds.

Other industry is based on the country's rich mineral resources, including coal, iron ore, manganese, bauxite, and salt. Odessa and Sevastopol are Ukraine's largest ports on the Black Sea. Russia. At nearly 6.6 million square miles (17 million sq km), Russia is the largest country in the world in geographic size, occupying more than one-ninth of the world's total land area. It is just slightly less than 1.8 times the size of the United States. Russia has a population of nearly 145 million. The majority live in European Russia, but sizable communities also live near mining and industrial centers. Russians are the predominant nationality at over 80%, with Tatars, Ukrainians, and Chuvash the largest minorities. Russia's three major geographic regions include European Russia, consisting of the territory west of the Ural Mountains; Siberia, stretching east of the Urals nearly to the Pacific Ocean; and far eastern Russia, including the extreme southeast and Pacific coast. Russia's capital and largest city is Moscow. European Russian is primarily a rocky, rolling plain with broad marshes. Its southern border includes the Caucasus Mountains, which extend between the Black and Caspian seas.

While the winters may be cool along the Black Sea coast, this part of Russia has a much more temperate climate than Siberia, where temperatures average -59°F in January and have reached as cold as 90 degrees below zero. Novorossijsk is Russia's only deep-water port on the Black Sea. It is a major oil port. Forests cover over two-fifths of Russia, amounting to nearly one-fourth of the world's forest area. The taiga, or boreal forest, in the north contains the world's largest coniferous forest, representing about half the Earth's softwood timber. Lowland areas have a natural vegetation of grasslands with scattered groves of trees. Russia's chief agricultural products include grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables, fruits, beef, and milk.

The country has a complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, food stuffs, and handicrafts. Novorossijsk is Russia's primary Black Sea port. The port of Batumi on Georgia's Black Sea Coast. Georgia. The Caucasus Mountains dominate this country, which is slightly smaller than South Carolina, with a total area of 26,900 square miles (69,700 sq km). The main ridge of the Caucasus Mountains forms most of the northern boundary of Georgia, while the Lesser Caucasus Mountains occupy the southern regions. The Kolkhida Lowland opens to the Black Sea in the west. The uplands are dry, while the coastal climate along the Black Sea is very Mediterranean-like — warm and pleasant. The coastal climate and soils are conducive to growing tea, citrus fruit, hazelnuts, and grapes, which are important agricultural products.

Other industries include the mining of manganese and copper, the production of steel, aircraft, appliances, machine tools, chemicals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, wood products, and wine. Nearly 5 million people live in Georgia. Georgians form about 70% of the population, followed by numbers of Armenians, Russians, and Azeris. The capital and largest city is T'blisi. Batumi, Poti, and Sokhumi are the country's primary Black Sea ports. Turkey. The main area of Turkey, known as Anatolia, is in Asia while Turkish Thrace, representing about 3% of the nation's total area, is in Europe. At nearly 301,000 square miles (780,000 sq km), Turkey is a little larger than Texas. Its capital is Ankara, and Istanbul is the largest city. Istanbul, Turkey, links Europe and Asia. Copyright R. A. Taylor, Images of the World. Turkey is mostly mountainous, with a narrow coastal plain and high central plateau (Anatolia).

The country is located in several active seismic zones and is subject to frequent earthquakes.Thrace and the lands bordering the Sea of Marmara is a region of gently rolling hills rising in the east to Mount Ulu (Olympus) at 8,343 feet (2,543 meters). The Aegean and Mediterranean coastlands are narrow and hilly with little arable land, except for a plain in the east where cotton is grown. The steep slopes of the Black Sea coastline rise directly to the Pontic Mountains. The most mountainous area is the eastern highlands. This is where Mount Ararat is located, noted in the Bible as the place where Noah's ark came to rest. Over 67 million people live in Turkey. About 69% live in urban areas compared to only 21 % in 1950. Turks form about 80% of the population, while Kurds constitute most of the remaining 20%. Turkey is one of the few countries of the world that is self-sufficient in providing basic foods. Nearly half the work force is engaged in farming.

The chief crops include wheat, sugar beets, barley, tobacco, olives, cotton, citrus, tomatoes, melons, grapes, maize, livestock, and apples. Fishing also is important, with most of the catch coming from the Mediterranean and Black seas. In addition to rich agricultural resources, Turkey has significant deposits of lignite, coal, iron ore, and chromium. Its most important industry and largest export is textiles and clothing. Other major industries include food processing, automobiles, mining, steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, and paper. Turkey's principal port on the Black Sea is Istanbul . NASA Visible Earth: Caucasus mountains, Black Sea, and Caspian Sea Caucasus mountains, Black Sea, and Caspian Sea Credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team On June 13, 2001, MODIS captured this true-color image of the Caucasus Mountains, which are at the center of the image. These mountains separate the Russian Federation to the north, from the countries of Georgia and Azerbiajan, left to right respectively, to the south. The Black Sea is the large body of water to the left of the image, and to the right is the Caspian Sea.

Also shown here are several fires, which show up as red dots, burning in both the eastern portion of the Russian Republic of Dagestan, and in Azerbiajan. MODIS is equipped with thermal detectors uniquely designed to detect fires as hot as 500K without saturating. Images & Animations 4400x3400 JPEG 2 MB Note: Often times, due to the size, browsers have a difficult time opening and displaying images. If you experiece an error when clicking on an image link, please try directly downloading the image (using a right click, save as method) to view it locally. Metadata NASA Official: Charles Ichoku Database Updated: January 20, 2017 Caspian Sea | Map, Location & Facts | Lakepedia 249 BOOK Caspian Sea Information and Facts The Caspian Sea is, by standard definition, the largest lake on Earth. It is the largest enclosed inland body of water, and thus sometimes referred to as a sea.

Caspian Sea’s surface area is 378,000 km2 or 143,200 sq mi, and it boasts a volume of 78,200 km3. The lake is endorheic (meaning it has no outflows), and sits at the border between Europe and Asia. The countries on its shores are Kazakhstan to the NE, Russia to the NW, Azerbaijan to the West, Iran to the South and Turkmenistan to the SE. The Caucasus Mountains are located West of the Caspian Sea, while the vast steppes of Central Asia are located to the East. The Caspian Depression in the lake’s northern section is one of the lowest points on Earth. Throughout history, the lake has been considered a sea or an ocean, because of its saltiness and size. Its salinity is actually about one third of most seawater, at about 1.2%, or 12 g/l. However, several of the Caspian Sea’s characteristics classify it as a lake, rather than a sea. Firstly, it’s not either directly or indirectly connected to an ocean basin.

Secondly, it’s located at an altitude of 22 meters below the sea level, while all the other seas and oceans are located roughly at the same altitude, known as altitude 0 or sea level. Regarding its size, several numbers have been acknowledged in different stages, depending on the measurements’ accuracy, whether certain lagoons such as Garabogazköl Aylagy were included or not, and so on. In 1930, its surface area was estimated at about 424,300 km2, in 1952 at 393,200 km2, and in 1957 at 371,000 km2. Named After an Ancient Tribe The word "Caspian" is derived from Caspi, an ancient tribe that lived in the southwestern part of the sea, in Transcaucasia. There is also a region in the Iranian Tehran province called Caspian Gates, which suggests that the tribe moved to the South of sea at one point. Many Different Names The lake was and still is known under many different names. The Greeks and Persians used to call the lake the the Hyrcanian Ocean.

In Persian antiquity but also in modern Iran, the Caspian Sea is known as the Mazandaran Sea. Indians used to call it Kashyap Sagar, which in Turkey is known under the name of Khazar Sea. Russian people used to call it Khvalyn or Khvalis Sea, derived from the name of Khwarezmia, while ancient Arabic sources know it under the name of Baá¸¥r GÄ«lÄn, which means "the Gilan Sea". Formed from the Ancient Paratethys Sea The Caspian Sea is a remnant of the ancient Paratethys Sea, like the Black Sea, the Aral Sea, Lake Urmia and Lake Oroumieh. A tectonic uplift and a fall in sea level caused it to became landlocked approximately 5.5 million years ago. The sea almost dried up during warm and dry periods. In its northern section where the Volga River drains into the Caspian Sea, it is a freshwater lake. However, the Iranian shore is more saline, as there is little flow coming from its catchment basin.

The Garabogazköl embayment dried up during the 1980s because the main water flow coming from the main body of the Caspian Sea was blocked. It has been restored, and here salinity exceeds that of the oceans’ by a factor of 10. About 40% of All Lake Water in the World As the largest lake in the world (similar in size to California), the Caspian Sea accounts for approximately 40 - 44% of the Earth’s total lake water volume. The lake is divided into 3 regions: the Northern Caspian, the Middle Caspian and the Southern Caspian. The Northern and the Middle Caspian are separated by the Mangyshlak Threshold, which runs through Cape Tiub-Karagan and Chechen Island. The Middle and Southern Caspian are separated by the Apsheron Threshold, which runs through Cape Kuuli and Zhiloi Island. The Eastern inlet of the Caspian Sea (in Turkmenistan) is called Garabogazköl Bay and is sometimes considered a distinct lake because it’s cut off from the Caspian Sea by an isthmus.

Three very Different Lake Sections The Northern section is very shallow and only accounts for about 1% of the total water volume, but accounts for 25% of the surface area. It has an average depth of 5-6 meters (about 20 ft) and it usually freezes in winter. Then, the lake floor plunges towards the Middle Caspian to an average depth of 190 meters, or 620 ft. The Middle Caspian accounts for 33% of the total water volume. Finally, the Southern Caspian boasts the greatest depths, of more than 1,000 meters (3,300 ft), and accounts for 66% of the total water volume. The Middle and the Southern Caspian sections both account for approximately 37% of the surface area each. Its shores are extremely varied. It reaches greater heights in the South, when it comes in contact with the Alborz (or Elburz) mountain range and to the Caucasus mountains to the West. However, it’s low and features plains and deltas at the mouths of the Kura River and Volga River.

The lake’s maximum width is 435 kilometers, but it also narrows to about 200 kilometers. Volga, the Caspian Sea's Great Tributary The Volga River, at 3,692 km (2,294 mi) the longest river in Europe, is Caspian Sea’s most important tributary among the 130. Other notable affluents include the Ural River (2,428 km or 1,509 miles), Kura River (1,515 km or 941 miles), Terek River (623 km or 387 miles), and Sulak River (144 km). These 5 rivers contribute with approximately 90% of the lake’s freshwater supply, more specifically: Volga with 241 km3, Kura with 13 km3, Terek with 8.5 km3, Ural with 8.1 km3, and Sulak with 4 km3.

The Volga River Delta, located in the Prikaspiisk lowlands, covers approximately 10,000 km2 and is 200 kilometers in width. Amu Darya and Syr Darya both used to change courses in the past to drain into the Caspian Sea. The lake has several small islands with a total area of approximately 2,000 km2 (or 770 sq mi), which are mainly located in the Northern Caspian. Noteworthy here is the Tyuleniy Archipelago, which is an Important Bird Area (IBA). However its the largest island, Ogurja Ada, is located in the Southern Caspian. It is 37 km (23 miles) long, and gazelles roam freely on the island. Other islands include Chechen, Tyuleny, Morskoy, Kulaly, Zhiloy, and Ogurchin. Kara-Bogaz Gol: the Largest Lagoon in the World The Kara-Bogaz Gol is located on the lake’s eastern coast. With a surface area of 18,000 km2, it can easily be considered the largest lagoon in the world.

It is separated from the Caspian Sea by sand bars. In 1980, a dam was built between the Caspian Sea and Kara-Bogaz Gol, in order to prevent water outflow from the Caspian Sea to the lagoon and a subsequent drop in water level. The dam was effective, so effective in fact that more than 40 km3 were retained in the Caspian Sea, which led to an increase of 11 cm in its water level. A spillway was created in 1984 to allow some water discharge, and in June 1992, the dam was removed completely. Great Biodiversity The Caspian Depression is located adjacent to the North Caspian Shore and lies 27 meters (89 feet) below sea level. The Caucasus mountains are situated near the lake’s western shore, while the Asian steppes stretch from the northeastern shore. Cold, continental desert climates characterize the northern and eastern shores, while the southern and southwestern shore are warm due to a mix of mountain ranges and highlands. The drastic climate variations resulted in great biodiversity. Hydrology As already mentioned, the Caspian Sea can be considered both a sea and a lake.

Although it is not a freshwater lake, it is widely considered to be the world’s largest lake, with 3.5 more water than all of the Great Lakes combined. The Volga River contributes with about 80% of the Caspian Sea’s inflow, but the lake doesn’t have a natural outflow. All this means that the Caspian Sea’s ecosystem is a closed basin, independent of the ocean’s basin. Water level in the lake has fluctuated throughout history. Russian historians claim that a rising of the lake’s level (possibly caused by Amu Darya changing its course to the Caspian Sea), has caused floods in coastal towns between the 13th and the 16th centuries. An even more interesting fact is that the Caspian Sea levels are dependent on atmospheric conditions in the North Atlantic Ocean, thousands of miles to the northwest. This is because the discharge of the Volga, its main inflow, depends on rainfall levels from its catchment basin, which in turn are affected by the cycles of the North Atlantic Oscillation.

The latest changes in the lake’s level were a 3-meter fall (about 10 ft), that happened between 1929 and 1977, which was followed by a 3-meter rise that took place between 1977 and 1995. Environmental Concerns The Volga River, the Caspian Sea’s most important inflow, is also a major source of chemical and biological pollutants. Fossil fuel extraction operations taking place in the region are also a major risk to the lake’s water quality. Furthermore, several underwater oil and gas pipelines have been proposed or constructed. The petrochemical industry has affected the island of Vulf in Azerbaijan, causing a significant decrease in the number of species of birds in the area. Fauna Since the Caspian Sea is a lake of superlatives, it’s no wonder that the largest freshwater fish in the world can also be found here. We are talking about the beluga sturgeon, a fish that is also known for its eggs that are processed into caviar. Unfortunately, overfishing is a problem and it has depleted many historic fisheries, to the point of economic exhaustion of tuna fisheries.

Sturgeon populations are also severely threatened, and many environmentalists believe that sturgeon fishing should be banned completely until populations recover. However, high demand and price of caviar make regulations ineffective. Even more, since reproductive females are targeted for caviar harvesting, this further endangers fish stocks. Many Endemic Species Several species of animals are named after the region, like the Caspian gull, the Caspian tern, and the Caspian seal, which is the only aquatic mammal that can be found here and is endemic to the lake. There are 115 species of fish found in the lake. Some of the species of fish that are endemic to the lake include the kutum (or the Caspian white fish), Caspian roach, Caspian marine shad, Caspian bream, and the Caspian salmon. The Caspian salmon is a subspecies of trout and is critically endangered. The spur-thighed tortoise and Horsfield’s tortoise are two of the most important aquatic reptiles that are native to the Caspian Sea. Caspian turtles can also be found in nearby waters.

The Caspian Sea also shares 2 species with the Black Sea: the zebra mussel and the common carp. Coastal wetlands are an ideal habitat for various bird species. Birds are present throughout the year all around the lake, a delight for visitors who can experience the beauty of protected ecological resources. The Gobustan petroglyphs might also suggest that dolphins and porpoises once lived in the Caspian sea. The rock art on Kichikdash Mountain is assumed to represent a dolphin, but it could also represent a beluga sturgeon. Flora As well as in the case of fauna, there are also many endemic and rare plant species around the lake, especially in the Volga delta. Plants which are adapted to the loose sands of the Central Asian Deserts can also be found along the shores of the lake. There are however a few important factors that lead to a limitation in the number of plant species. These factors include water pollution, land reclamation activities, and water level changes in the Caspian sea. Approximately 11 plant species can be found in the delta of the Samur River, including liana forests.

History Various caves in Georgia and Azerbaijan (like Kudaro and Azykh) suggest human occupation in the region, and there is evidence of human occupation in the Lower Palaeolithic in the Ganj Par and Darband Cave sites. Neanderthal remains have also been discovered in a cave in Georgia. Other discoveries point to human habitation in the area as far back as 11,000 years ago. The area has always been known as a region rich in energy resource. Wells have been dug in the region starting with the 10th century. The rich oil and gas deposits have attracted the interest of Europeans as early as the 16th century. The Caspian Sea was first charted by the pioneering explorer Fedor I. Soimonov in the 18th century. He drew the first modern maps of the lake which were published in 1720 by the Russian Academy of Sciences. More recently, in 1950, construction of the Main Turkmen Canal started, ordered by Joseph Stalin. The canal would have been used for shipping and was meant to run from Nukus (on the Amu Darya) to Krasnovodsk (on the Caspian Sea).

However, the canal’s construction was abandoned. A Region Rich in Oil The lake is the site of the world’s first offshore wells, which were built in the Bibi-Heybat Bay, near Azerbaijan’s current capital, Baku. Some of the largest oil fields known to exist at that time started being exploited in 1873, on the Absheron peninsula. By 1900, Baku was known as the "black gold capital", with more than 3,000 wells. Needless to say, in the early 20th century, Baku was the center of the oil industry. The republic’s oil industry came under the control of the Soviet Union in 1920, when Azerbaijan was captured by the Bolsheviks. 23.5 million tons of oil were being produced in Azerbaijan in 1941. The "Contract of the Century" was signed in 1994, which signaled the start of international development of the Baku oil fields. The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline was opened in 2006, which allows Azerbaijan oil to reach the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan directly.

Due to its large oil and gas reserves, the Caspian Sea is a major economic importance. Oil reserves in the region are estimated to be between 18 and 35 billion barrels. Comparatively, they are similar in size and even exceed reserves in the North Sea (17 billion) and in the United States (22 billion). Natural gas reserves amount to even more than oil reserves. Territorial Disputes The importance of the region has been noted by many, and negotiations regarding territories in the Caspian Sea have been taking place for nearly 10 years among the 5 states on the lake’s shores. The lake boasts important mineral resources like oil and gas and many fisheries. Access to international waters through Russia’s Volga River is another important issue, and is of great importance to the 3 landlocked countries of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Transport The Caspian Sea itself is endorheic, but it does have an important tributary, the Volga. This major Russian river is connected to the Don River through shipping canals, which also gives it access to the Black Sea. It’s also connected to the Baltic Sea, with canals to Northern Dvina and the White Sea.

The Kuma River is connected to the Don basin also. There are several ferries operating on the sea, including lines between TürkmenbaÅŸy in Turkmenistan and Baku, between Baku and Aktau and between cities in Iran and Russia. Most ferries are used for cargo shipping, but the Baku - TürkmenbaÅŸy and the Baku - Aktau accept passengers as well. Conclusion The importance of the Caspian Sea is undeniable. Economically, its oil and gas reserves have always held a strong allure. Its caviar is appreciated by many around the world. Finally, its rich biological diversity has always attracted scientists and nature lovers. It’s up to us to make sure that the lake recovers from the strains it's been put through. Have You Been to Caspian Sea? Write your impressions about it below. Your Name Land of division: lying between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the mountainous Caucasus region has been notorious for centuries as a place of feuds and fighting; outsiders get entangled in the battles at their own peril.

- Free Online Library Land of division: lying between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the mountainous Caucasus region has been notorious for centuries as a place of feuds and fighting; outsiders get entangled in the battles at their own peril. Page URL: HTML link: <a href=" Citations: MLA style: "Land of division: lying between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the mountainous Caucasus region has been notorious for centuries as a place of feuds and fighting; outsiders get entangled in the battles at their own peril.." The Free Library. 2003 Canada & the World 18 Jan. 2017 Chicago style: The Free Library. S.v.

Land of division: lying between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the mountainous Caucasus region has been notorious for centuries as a place of feuds and fighting; outsiders get entangled in the battles at their own peril.." Retrieved Jan 18 2017 from APA style: Land of division: lying between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the mountainous Caucasus region has been notorious for centuries as a place of feuds and fighting; outsiders get entangled in the battles at their own peril.. (n.d.) >The Free Library. (2014). Retrieved Jan 18 2017 from The Caucasian Mountains form one of the world's great ranges, rising to 5,642 metres at the peak of Mount Elbrus. Geographers often refer to the range as one of the dividing lines between Europe and Asia. The mountains themselves and the areas to the north and south have seen human habitation for thousands of years. As with most mountainous regions, enormous ethnic complexity has developed over the centuries with peaks and valleys separating peoples from one another. Throughout history Caucasia has served as a refuge for persecuted peoples who fled into the mountain valleys as protection against invaders.

Wave upon wave of settlement produced a complex ethnic pattern. Today, in an area two-thirds the size of Manitoba, about 40 languages are spoken. There are three countries in the South Caucasus region--Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. All used to be part of the Soviet Union, and all are struggling to stand on their own two feet as sovereign nations. The North Caucasus is inside the boundaries of Russia and it too is facing difficulties. The extremely violent struggle for independence by the Chechens is well known (see sidebar). How ever, there was also an armed revolt in Dagestan in 1999, and there has been fighting in Ingushetia. Russian influence in Caucasia is centuries old, and for the people of the region it has often been negative. For 70 years, the nations of the region were swallowed up by the Soviet Union. With a massive military presence and the heavy-handed activities of the secret police rivalries among the peoples of the Caucasus were kept from exploding. Although independence came in 1991, the South Caucasian region is still in Russia's backyard and everything that happens there is of great interest to Moscow.

Internal squabbling began almost immediately after the I collapse of the Soviet Union in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia--Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Chechnya to the north all exploded in violence. This prompted the EastWest Institute to describe Caucasia as having the "characteristics of war-torn societies and countries in transition." From a distance, the fighting in the region doesn't look all that serious when measured against conflict in say the Middle East, the Balkans, or Indonesia. Close up though, Caucasian battles take on a different complexion. The region is rich in natural resources, particularly oil and gas. This means that what might look like a couple of ethnic groups renewing ancient hatreds because someone stole a goat three centuries ago has wider implications. Economics, politics, and strategic advantages are at stake. What keeps diplomats awake at night is the possibility these smoldering disputes will turn into gale-driven forest fires.

As the EastWest Institute puts it, there is the possibility that "spillover into other volatile zones could bring about the open intervention of powerful neighbours, such as Dan, Iraq, Russia, and Turkey, and could threaten larger peace and security arrangements." One problem even preceded the break-up of the Soviet Union. It was in Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region in southwestern Azerbaijan; 80% of its total population are ethnic Armenians. Since 1988, Nagorno-Karabakh has been in rebellion against Azerbaijan, with the very active support of Armenia. In 1991, warfare got really serious between the government and the rebels, claiming more than 35,000 lives. The fighting ended in a ceasefire in 1994. But, the two sides are still haggling over a permanent peace agreement, and rebel forces still control the province. Three quarters of a million refugees have fled, often living in appalling conditions in Azerbaijan.

Freedom House says most refugees "are unable or unwilling to return to their homes because of fears for their safety and concerns over dismal economic prospects in the breakaway territory." Once called the Soviet "silicon valley," Armenia's economy collapsed when its old markets disappeared. It has since recovered somewhat, but job creation and poverty reduction have not kept pace with growth. Armenia also suffers from a trade blockade, imposed by neighbouring Turkey and Azerbaijan since the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh. The Turks and Armenians have been bitter enemies for a long time. Armenians say Turkey killed 1.5 million of their people in a four year, organized genocide that began in 1915. To this day, the Turkish government denies any plan of mass murder; the official line is that the deaths were casualties of a war the Armenians started. Armenia has always experienced waves of emigration, but the present exodus is causing much alarm. It is estimated that Armenia has lost 20% of its population in recent years, as young families leave for a better life abroad. The negative consequences for the economy have been widespread. It is estimated that 50% of Armenians live below the poverty line.

Corruption and political killings add to the sense of a society under threat. Gunmen who stormed the Yerevan parliament in 1999, killing the prime minister and other politicians, said the plight of the Armenian people was the reason for the bloodshed. To the north, Georgia has been plagued by separatist movements and conflicts between political factions since 1991. Several of Georgia's minorities felt threatened by the prospect of Georgian independence. Nationalist movements in South Ossetia (starting in 1991) and Abkhazia (in 1992-93) sought independence from Georgia, and bitter fighting broke out between these groups and Georgian forces. By 1995, Abkhazia and South Ossetia were outside the control of the Georgian government. Most ethnic Georgian inhabitants of those territories had been forced into exile. The Georgian government doesn't have a lot to say about what goes on in Ajaria in the southwest either. A man called Asian Abashidze exercises almost complete control over what goes on in that province. As if all that isn't enough to keep the government on its toes, it has a major problem to deal with in the Pankisi Valley.

The valley is about 150 kilometres north of Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, and it's another place where the central government doesn't call the shots. The people in the valley are of Chechen origin: they follow Islam and it's the village elders who run things. In recent years, the local population has been swollen by the arrival of Chechen refugees from the north. Mixed in with the 7,000 refugees are probably a fair number of Chechen rebels, Russia says as many as 500 have been holed up in the Pankisi Valley. Moscow claims they use the valley as a base from which to launch strikes against Russia. There are other claims that some al-Qaeda fighters fresh from battles in Afghanistan are also using the Pankisi Valley as a base. This is where the United States and Russia move into the frame. Russian President Vladimir Putin has told the Georgian government that if it doesn't clean out the nest of terrorists in the Pankisi Valley he will do it for them. There are already several hundred American military advisers in Georgia, and the U.S. is paying the government $64 million to train and equip the country's rather rag-tag army.

So, in this 20-kilometre-long valley there is the potential for Russia and the United States to come face to face. There has already been some heated discussion. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said in September 2002, "The United States strongly supports Georgia's territorial integrity and would oppose any unilateral military action by Russia inside Georgia." This strikes the Russians as a little bit odd, coming from a U.S. administration that was in the middle of planning unilateral military action inside Iraq for much the same reason. NO SURRENDER The showdown in a Moscow theatre was a grisly business. A small group of Chechen rebels seized the theatre in the middle of a performance of the Russian version of "Chicago." For a couple of days, the Chechens held 700 people hostage. Then came the rescue mission. A disabling gas was fired into the theatre, quickly followed by soldiers. While the gas dealt with the terrorists it also killed 117 hostages. The bloody episode in October 2002 was the latest in a series of terror attacks on civilians in Russia. The Chechen people have a long, long history of resistance to Russian domination going back well into the pre-communist era.

In the 19th century, it took the Tsars decades to quell the Chechens. The Communists had to do it all over again after they seized power in Russia in 1917. In the latest outbreak of nationalism, the Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev declared his republic's independence from Russia in 1991. By December 1994, Russia had had enough of Chechnya's rebellion against its control and sent in the troops. Russian bombardment flattened the capital city, Grozny, and caused very heavy casualties. At its heaviest, shells were falling at the rate of 900 an hour--the greatest destructive firepower aimed at a European city since World War II. The estimated death toll in the first seven months of fighting was 40,000. Chechen rebels took to the hills from where they mounted guerrilla attacks on Russian troops. At the end of July 1995 a disengagement agreement was reached. In the spring of 1996, the Chechens returned to the offensive and retook Grozny from the Russians. A ceasefire was signed in late August.

This called for both Russian and rebel forces to be pulled out of Grozny. Peace plans called for both sides to talk about a framework for greater Chechen autonomy. Three years of relative peace ended in the fall of 1999 when a series of bombs were detonated in Russian cities, including Moscow. The bombs killed more than 300 people and the Russian government said they were the work of Islamic terrorists, particularly Chechens. Russian troops were ordered back into Chechnya and refugees poured out of the region. By the end of December 1999, the Russian forces were back in control of Grozny, but the city was not much more than a pile of rubble. The rebels are still killing 20 to 30 Russian soldiers a week and both sides have committed gross human rights violations against prisoners. From time to time, fighting has also broken out in neighbouring Dagestan and Ingushetia. Mercenaries have also shown up in all the conflicts. And, guess whose money seems to be funding some of the Islamic groups fighting in region. Give up? Osama bin Laden's. PIPEDREAMS perhaps peace in the Caucasus will come from a pipeline.

In the fall of 2002, the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey took part in a ceremonial laying of the first section of an oil pipeline. The line will stretch 1,750 kilometres from Baku on the Caspian Sea to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean. It will pass through Georgia on the way although a more direct route would be through Armenia. However, nobody in the region seems to be able to get along with the Armenians at present "This project guarantees peace, security, and stability in the region, and still further unites three countries and three peoples," Azerbaijan's President Haydar Aliev said. Certainly, there are plenty of people who hope Mr. Aliev is right, among them U.S. President George W. Bush. As a measure of the importance the U.S. places on this pipeline, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham was sent out to attend the ceremonial start of the project. The United States needs much of the oil that will come out of the Turkish end of the pipeline and it needs regional stability to make sure the oil flows. FACT FILE Canada has no embassies in the South Caucasus.

At the start of the 19th century, the German scientist Johann Friedrich Blumenbach used the word Caucasian to describe the white race, which he believed to have originated in the Caucasus region. Scholars no longer use the word and the very concept of a "white race" has been discarded. However, it survives in popular usage. Medieval Arab writers described the Caucasus Mountain range as Jabal al ansan--"the mountain of languages." SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: 1. The political culture of the Caucasus has been described as "parochial. " This kind of society places great importance on kinship ties, the clan, and its values of honour and mutual obligations. It makes the creation of loyalty to a nation state very difficult. Discuss how barriers between peoples might be broken down. 2. Open clipping files on the various conflicts going on in the Caucasus and periodically review the contents to assess whether or not progress towards peace is being made. Websites Caucasus Early Warning Network-- org/functions/issues/index.

htm Caucasus Foundation english/index.html Country Indicators for Foreign Policy-- carleton.ca/cifp/ Human Rights Watch (Chechwa)-- hrw.org/campaigns/russia/ chechnya/ COPYRIGHT 2003 Canada & the World No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder. Copyright 2003, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company. Article Details Caspian Sea | sea, Eurasia | Britannica.com Caspian Sea Alternative Titles: Daryāye Khezer, Girkansk, Kaspiyskoye More, Khazarsk, Khvalynsk Related Topics Baku Caspian Sea, Russian Kaspiyskoye More, Persian Darya-ye Khezer, world’s largest inland body of water. It lies to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the vast steppe of Central Asia . The sea’s name derives from the ancient Kaspi peoples, who once lived in Transcaucasia to the west.

Among its other historical names, Khazarsk and Khvalynsk derive from former peoples of the region, while Girkansk stems from Girkanos, “Country of the Wolves.” The Caspian Sea and Karakum Desert. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The elongated sea sprawls for nearly 750 miles (1,200 km) from north to south, although its average width is only 200 miles (320 km). It covers an area of about 149,200 square miles (386,400 square km)—larger than the area of Japan—and its surface lies some 90 feet (27 metres) below sea level . The maximum depth, toward the south, is 3,360 feet (1,025 metres) below the sea’s surface. The drainage basin of the sea covers some 1,400,000 square miles (3,625,000 square km).

The sea contains some 63,400,000,000 acre-feet or 18,800 cubic miles (78,200 cubic km) of water—about one-third of Earth’s inland surface water. The sea is bordered in the northeast by Kazakhstan , in the southeast by Turkmenistan , in the south by Iran , in the southwest by Azerbaijan , and in the northwest by Russia . A mosque in Baku, Azerbaijan, near the shore of the Caspian Sea. © Shamil Zhumatov—Reuters/Corbis The Caspian is the largest salt lake in the world, but that has not always been true. Scientific studies have shown that until relatively recent geologic times, approximately 11 million years ago, it was linked, via the Sea of Azov , the Black Sea , and the Mediterranean Sea , to the world ocean. The Caspian is of exceptional scientific interest, because its history—particularly former fluctuations in both area and depth—offers clues to the complex geologic and climatic evolution of the region.

Human-made changes, notably those resulting from the construction of dams, reservoirs, and canals on the immense Volga River system (which drains into the Caspian from the north), have affected the contemporary hydrologic balance. Caspian shipping and fisheries play an important role in the region’s economy, as does the production of petroleum and natural gas in the Caspian basin. The sea’s splendid sandy beaches also serve as health and recreation resorts. Physical features Lake Urmia The Caspian basin, as a whole, is usually divided into the northern, middle, and southern Caspian, based partly on underwater relief and partly on hydrologic characteristics. The sea contains as many as 50 islands, most of them small. The largest are Chechen, Tyuleny, Morskoy, Kulaly, Zhiloy, and Ogurchin. Shoreline features The shores of the northern Caspian are low and reflect the great accumulation of alluvial material washed down by the Ural , Terek , and, above all, Volga rivers, whose deltas are extensive. The western shore of the middle Caspian is hilly.

The foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains loom close but are separated from the coast by a narrow marine plain. The Abşeron Peninsula , on which the city of Baku is sited, thrusts out into the sea there, while just to its south the floodplain of the Kura and Aras rivers forms the Kura-Aras Lowland along the western shore of the southern Caspian. The southwestern and southern Caspian shores are formed of the sediments of the Länkäran and Gīlān-Māzanderān lowlands, with the high peaks of the Talish and Elburz ranges rearing up close inland. The eastern shore of the southern Caspian is low, formed partly by sediments derived from the erosion of the cliffs along the sea. The shoreline there is broken sharply by the low, hilly Cheleken and Türkmenbashi peninsulas.

Just to the north, behind the east shore of the middle Caspian, is the Kara-Bogaz-Gol (Garabogazköl) , formerly a shallow gulf of the Caspian but now a large lagoonlike embayment that is separated from the sea by a man-made embankment. For the most part, the eastern shore of the middle Caspian is precipitous, with the sea destroying the margin of the limestone plateaus of Tüpqaraghan and Kendyrli-Kayasansk. Britannica Stories World War II Short-term wind-induced fluctuations in the sea level can measure up to 7 feet (2 metres), though their average is about 2 feet (60 cm). Seiches (free or standing-wave oscillation of the sea surface mainly caused by winds and local changes in atmospheric pressure) are typically less pronounced. Tidal changes are but a few inches (or centimetres), and seasonal rises induced by high spring water in the rivers are not much greater. Oil-and-gas drilling rig near the Russian shore in the Caspian Sea.

Rogulin Dmitry—Itar-Tass/Landov One of the more-fascinating aspects of study of the Caspian has been the reconstruction of long-term fluctuations over the centuries from archaeological, geological, and historical evidence. It seems that since the 1st century bce the Caspian’s water level has fluctuated by at least 23 feet (7 metres). The main reasons for the long-term fluctuations are climatic changes that determine a balance between water gains (river influx and precipitation) and losses (evaporation). During the first three decades of the 20th century, the level of the Caspian was close to 86 feet (26 metres) below sea level, but in 1977 it dropped to 96 feet (29 metres), the lowest level noted during the past 400 to 500 years. A rapid rise in water level began in 1978—in the mid-1990s the sea was at 87 feet (26.5 metres) below sea level—but after 1995 the sea’s water level fell slightly, only to rebound again in the early 21st century.

The lowering that took place between 1929 and 1977 was attributed to climatic changes that increased evaporation and reduced river influx—amplified by reservoir construction on the Volga to supply river water for irrigation and industry. The rise in water level after 1978 also resulted from climate change causing an increase in the inflow from the Volga, which during some years was considerably greater than average. An increase in precipitation over the sea itself and decrease of evaporation also contributed to the phenomenon. In 1980 Soviet hydrologists stemmed the outflow into the Kara-Bogaz-Gol by constructing sand barricades between the Caspian and the lagoon. Planners have given serious attention to the feasibility of other measures for stabilizing the Caspian’s water level. In summer the average surface temperature of the Caspian ranges from 75 to 79 °F (24 to 26 °C), with the south a little warmer.

There are, however, significant winter contrasts, from 32 to 45 °F (0 to 7 °C) in the north to 46 to 50 °F (8 to 10 °C) in the south. Upwellings of deep water at the eastern shore—a result of prevailing-wind activity—can also bring a marked drop in summer temperature. Salinity in the Caspian is about 12.8 parts per thousand on average, but that figure conceals a variation from a mere 1 part per thousand near the Volga outlet to a high of 200 parts per thousand in the Kara-Bogaz-Gol, where intense evaporation occurs. In the open sea, distribution of salinity is markedly uniform; from the surface to the bottom it increases by only 0.1 to 0.2 part per thousand. Caspian waters differ from those of the ocean in their high sulfate, calcium, and magnesium carbonate content and—as a result of river inflow—lower chloride content.

Circulation of water masses occurs, basically, in a counterclockwise movement (north-to-south along the western shore), with a complex pattern developing farther south, where there are several subsidiary movements. Currents can be speeded up where they coincide with strong winds, and the sea surface is often ruffled by wave action. The maximum storm waves, occurring near the Abşeron Peninsula, have been measured at more than 30 feet (9 metres). Marine life About 850 animal and more than 500 plant species live in the Caspian. Although the number of species is relatively low for a body of water of that size, many of them are endemic (i.e., found only there). Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and diatoms constitute the greatest biomass concentrations, and there are several species of red and brown algae. Animal life—which has been affected greatly by changes in salinity—includes fish species such as sturgeon , herring, pike, perch, and sprat; several species of mollusks; and a variety of other organisms including sponges. Some 15 species of Arctic (e.g., the Caspian seal) and Mediterranean types complement the basic fauna.

Some organisms have migrated to the Caspian relatively recently: barnacles, crabs, and clams, for example, have been transported by sea vessels, while gray mullets have been deliberately introduced by humans. Economy Resources The Caspian long has been famous for its sturgeon, a fish prized for its caviar , and the sea accounts for the great bulk of the world catch. During the long period (1929–77) of water-level decline and consequent drying of the most favourable spawning grounds, the sturgeon population fell considerably. A number of measures, including prohibition of sturgeon fishing in the open sea and the introduction of aquaculture, have been undertaken to improve the situation. The seal industry also has been developed in northern regions mainly for furs. Oil derricks in the Caspian Sea near Baku, Azerbaijan. Dieter Blum/Peter Arnold, Inc. Petroleum and natural gas have become the region’s most important resources. Exploitation began in the 1920s and expanded considerably after World War II and continued to do so into the 21st century. Seabed oil is extracted using drilling platforms and artificial islands.

The most-promising reserves lie under the northeastern Caspian and its adjacent shores. Minerals such as sodium sulfate, extracted from the Kara-Bogaz-Gol, also have considerable economic importance. Transportation The Caspian plays an important role in the region’s transportation: petroleum, wood, grain, cotton, rice, and sulfate are the basic goods carried, while Astrakhan and Makhachkala in Russia, Baku in Azerbaijan, Bandar-e Anzalī in Iran, Türkmenbashi in Turkmenistan, and Aqtaū in Kazakhstan are the most important ports. They are also connected by regular passenger runs, while railway stock is directly ferried, without unloading, between Baku and Türkmenbashi. During the late 1990s the several Caspian countries concluded agreements with petroleum companies to build new pipelines to bring the region’s oil and natural gas to market. One of those, an oil pipeline from Baku to Ceyhan, Turkey , on the Mediterranean coast, opened in 2005. Another project, a trans-Caspian pipeline, would transport Turkmeni natural gas beneath the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan.

Route of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline between the Caspian and Mediterranean seas. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Study and exploration The scientific exploration of the Caspian Sea began in the 18th century on the initiative of Peter I the Great . The first report on the sea was published by the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1720. A description of the sea by Fedor I. Soimonov, which contained the first navigational instructions, and an atlas of the sea were both published in 1731. Hydrographic exploration of the Caspian basin was continued by the Russian navy and was completed mainly in the second half of the 19th century. The important measurements of the sea’s surface level were initiated at Baku in 1830 and are now conducted at more than 20 locations. The first multidisciplinary investigations of the Caspian Sea (hydrologic, chemical, and biological) were conducted during the expeditions (1904, 1912–13, and 1914–15) led by the Russian zoologist Nikolai M. Knipovich.

Regular hydrometeorological observations were started in the 1920s. Investigations of the sea are now coordinated by the Scientific Council of the Caspian Sea. The most important programs are those studying long-term fluctuations in the regime and water level of the sea, the protection of the marine environment , and the preservation of the sea’s biological productivity and unique natural features. With the breakup of the Soviet Union and the development of political conflicts in the region, little major research was undertaken during the 1990s. However, by the early 21st century, scientific research had begun to address environmental problems in the region. Caspian Sea - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The largest inland sea in the world, the Caspian Sea lies east of the Caucasus Mountains at Europe’s southeasternmost extremity. It dominates the huge, flat expanses of west central Asia. The sea is bordered by Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. The area of the Caspian Sea is approximately 149,200 square miles (386,400 square kilometers), which is larger than the size of Japan.

It is nearly 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) long, though its average width is only 200 miles (320 kilometers), making its shape elongated. The major rivers that empty into the sea are the Volga, Ural, and Terek, all three coming in from the north. Article Contributors Caucasus Mountains - Peakware.com Caucasus Mountains Show Map Download either of the following KML maps for use in the full screen Google Earth application: Caucasus Mountains , or Europe . For more information, see our Google Earth page. The Caucasus mountain system stretches for 550 miles between the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, forming a natural southern barrier between Asia and Europe. To the north are the plains of Russia. To the south are the mountainous regions of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Though comparable in character to the European Alps, the Caucasus are considerably higher, averaging 6,000 - 9,000 feet and rising to 18,481 in Mount Elbrus.

The Caucasus consists of a number of short ridges, some parallel, and some curved horse-shoe ridges whose rocky peaks enclose great glacier-filled basins. The backbone of the system is a long narrow crest that is only crossed by four major passes. Caucasus weather is generally precipitous and seldom settled, particularly in the west, where the climate is strongly affected by the Black Sea. The Caucasus is comprised of three primary regions: the Central, Western, and Eastern Caucasus. Peaks of Caucasus Mountains Question Mt Elbrus | The Turner Twins Question Mt Elbrus Social Climbing Europe's highest mountain - Mt Elbrus Mt Elbrus- standing at 5,642m (18,510ft) is located in the Caucasus mountain range- situated between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea stretching for about 1000kms. The twins’ will be testing the traditional clothing and equipment used by mountaineers around 100 years ago and comparing it against today’s modern mountaineering equivalent.

Starting from the north near (Kislovodsk) the route will traverse up to and summit the west peak, dropping to the south side eventually ending at the small settlement of Terskol. King’s College London’s, Department of Twin Research and GlaxoSmithKline’s, Human Performance Lab will be conducting research on them to better understand the effects of high altitude on the human body to advance medical knowledge. Connect with us Caucasus Travel Guide Caucasus Travel Guide Caucasus Travel Guide Explore the Land in between Black and Caspian Seas It's rare in the world where one can see as geographically and ethnically unique region as the South Caucasus that any Russian speaker habitually calls it Transcaucasia. Fertile lands, abundance of water and mild climate always led to the development of the drainage agriculture and cattle breeding. Here trade grew, crafts developed, cities were built, and transport routes were getting better.

Being located on the crossroad of the Eastern Europe and the Western Asia, washed by the Black Sea on the West, and by the Caspian Sea on the East, Transcaucasia had passed reign of different empires: Roman, Byzantine, Mongol, Persian, Osman and Russian, each of which had promoted its own religious and cultural traditions. Rich soil, cities with developed trade and crafts had attracted warlike neighbours. The Medieval Period for Transcaucasia was the time of brutal wars, feodal fragmentation and devastating campaigns of the Mongol Horde and Tamerlane's warriors. Even in the recent history the region was an arena for political, military, religious and cultural disputes and expansionism. Contemporary Transcaucasia currently includes three countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia*, on the north it borders with the Russian Federation, on the south with Turkey and Iran. There are more than 14 mln people living on the territory of 186 043 km2.

Caucasus travel guide provides information about a great number of the most beautiful archeological, historical and architectural monuments of the world significance, natural variety of the reserves, natural parks and ecological parks and of course unique ethnographic heritage of the region. The South Caucasus is one of the most favoured places for tourists from different parts of the world, and mostly from Post-Soviet countries. Popularity of these lands is growing year by year. Only in 2013, 957 000 tourists visited Armenia; around 2 400 000 visited Azerbaijan; and 5 365 000 made it to Georgia. Tours to the countries of Transcaucasia will please any traveler; especially, taking into consideration the hospitality, excellent cuisine and amazing wines of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia*. *In the alphabetical order Caucasus Travel Destinations Azerbaijan Azerbaijan is the country with the largest territory and the highest population of the region and is counted as the most important zone in oil output and development in the world. Thanks to significant investments, Azerbaijan today has very good tourist infrastructure. Visitors are attracted by medieval fortresses, mosques and magnificent palaces, well-known resort areas and natural beauties.

There is a Caspian shore, mountains and plains, semi-desert areas and forests in Azerbaijan. More about Azerbaijan Armenia Armenia is an old country though differs from the neighboring Caucasus countries having no access to the sea, but always had been on crossroad of trading from the Near and Middle East to Europe. Possibilities are created for tourism development in Armenia: hotels are built, skiing resorts are modernized, and touristic complexes are constructed. Armenia is the only Christian state in the world and is considered one of the most interesting in the Old World with its countless historical and cultural monuments. More about Armenia Georgia Caucasus travel cannot be imagined without Georgia, the country with rich history and culture that has been formed for centuries. Numerous monuments of architecture of the early Christianity period attract tourists from around the world. Guests value fresh air, green forests, mountain lakes, alpine lawns and Black Sea resorts in Georgia. Tourism is actively encouraged in the country by investing funds in development of infrastructure. Georgian government plans to reach annual number of tourists by 5mln in 2015.

Europe Landforms and Land Statistics - Europe Landforms, Land Statistics Print this map Alps: Located in south-central Europe, they extend for almost 700 miles from the coastline of southern France (near Monaco) into Switzerland , northern Italy and Austria, then southeast through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina as the (Dinaric Alps). Ending in Albania on the rugged coastline of the Adriatic Sea. Known for stunning scenery, glaciers, lakes and valleys and the best skiing conditions on the planet, they're the source of many rivers and tributaries including the Danube, Po, Rhine and Rhone . The highest point is Mont Blanc at 15,771 ft. (4,807 m) Apennines: The source of almost all rivers in Italy including the Arno, Tiber, and Volturno , the Apennines Mountains (Ital. Appennino) 830 miles (1,350 km) in length, form the backbone of the country, and run the entire length of the Italian Peninsula, ending on the island of Sicily. The highest point is Mt. Corno at 9,560 ft. (2,914 m).

Atlantic Highlands: Formed million of years ago during the Caledonian mountain-building periods as western lands were (forced) or pushed against the Scandinavian Shield. Significant mountain ranges here include the Kjolen in Norway and Sweden, and the Pennines that stretch through the central United Kingdom. Balkan Mountains These mountains extend from Yugoslavia across Bulgaria. Additional ranges run through Albania, Greece and Macedonia. Its most famous mountain is Mt. Olympus, the highest and most awe-inspiring peak in all of Greece. In ancient times it was the mythical home of Zeus, and was declared the first national park in Greece in 1939. It stands at 9,568 ft. (2,918 m). Carpathian Mountains This mountain system located in eastern Europe is the source of the Dniester, Tisza and Vistula Rivers . They form the natural border between Slovakia and southern Poland, and then extend southward through Ukraine and into Romania. There are major subdivisions, and the highest point is Mt. Gerlachovkain in northern Slovakia, standing at 8,711 ft. (2,655 m).

Caucasus Mountains Stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, these volcanic mountains have many peaks above 15,000 ft. (4,572 m). The highest point (and the highest point in Europe) is located here; Mt. Elbrus at 18,506 ft. (5,642 m). Great Hungarian Plain Located in southeastern Europe, and surrounded by mountains, the land features several small forests and large patches of grassland. It averages only 100 meters above sea level and often suffers from dry conditions, thus relying on winter snow run-off from the Alps and Carpathian Mountains. Kjolen Mountains This jagged mountain system runs along the border of eastern Norway and western Sweden. The highest point is Mt. Kebnekaise, standing at 6,965 ft. (2,123 m). Massif Central This mountainous plateau of southeastern France is the source of the Allier, Creuse and Loire . It's about 32,189 sq. miles (85, 001 sq.

km) in size, and the highest point is Puy de Sancy at 6,186 ft. (1,885 m). Mesata The central plateau, or Mesata, covers nearly half of the entire country of Spain. This high plateau averages about 2,300 ft. (700 m) in the north, and 2,000 ft. (600 m) in the south. It's surrounded by a series of mountain ranges including the Cantabrian, Sierra De Gata and Sierra Guadarrama in the north and central, and the Sierra Morena and Sierra Nevada in the south. These mountains separate the Meseta from the Costa Verde, the Ebro valley, the Mediterranean and the valleys of Andalucia. North European Plain The fertile North European Plain slopes to the north-northeast from the Alps, extending to the Baltic Sea, and on into Denmark and southern Finland, Norway and Sweden. It continues east for almost 2,500 miles (4000 km), on into the Russian Federation. The land is largely flat with smaller areas of hills, including the Central Russian Uplands. Farming is prevalent and agricultural communities dot the landscape.

Pyrenees These mountains form the natural border between France and Spain and extend for about 270 miles from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea . The highest point is Pico de Aneto at 11,168 ft. (3,404 m) Scandinavian Shield An ancient area of rocky earth peppered with granite rock that was literally ground down by receding glacial ice sheets. It's a rolling area of land covered with thousands of lakes (mostly small), linked by rivers. Ural Mountains The Urals are 1,640 miles (2,640 km) in length and extend from the northern-edge of the Russian Federation down through Kazakhstan. They form a natural border between Asia and Europe. The highest point is Mt. Narodnaya at 6,214 ft. (1,894 m). The Caucasus Mountains separate what two bodies of water? A) Baltic Sea and Black Sea B) Aral Sea and Caspian Sea C) Black Sea and Caspian Sea D) Aral Sea and Gulf of Finland You have new items in your feed. Click to view. Question and answer The Caucasus Mountains separate what two bodies of water?

A) Baltic Sea and Black Sea B) Aral Sea and Caspian Sea C) Black Sea and Caspian Sea D) Aral Sea and Gulf of Finland The answer is C) Black Sea and Caspian Sea. Get an answer The Caucasus Mountains separate what two bodies of water? A) Baltic Sea and Black Sea B) Aral Sea and Caspian Sea C) Black Sea and Caspian Sea D) Aral Sea and Gulf of Finland Original conversation User: The Caucasus Mountains separate what two bodies of water? A) Baltic Sea and Black Sea B) Aral Sea and Caspian Sea C) Black Sea and Caspian Sea D) Aral Sea and Gulf of Finland Weegy: The answer is C) Black Sea and Caspian Sea. Expert answered|vchutkan|Points 279| User: Which of the following is also known as the Eastern European Plain and stretches from eastern Poland to the Ural Mountains? A) Russian Plain B) West Siberian Plain C) Central Siberian Plateau D) Eastern Highlands Weegy: The Eastern European Plain is also known as the A) Russian Plain.

Expert answered|vchutkan|Points 279| User: Sweden is west of Norway. A) True B) False

Question: Which mountain range stretches from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea?
Answer: Caucasus