Don River Spilling Sediments into Sea of Azov
47.0N 39.4E
July 12th, 2009 Category: Lakes, Rivers
Russia - June 21st, 2009
The Sea of Azov is the shallowest sea in the world with an average depth of 13 metres (43 ft) and maximum depth of 15.3 metres (50 ft).
In places where silt has built up, such as Taganrog Bay (above, center), the average depth is less than 1 metre (3 ft). Here, sediments from the Don River (top right quadrant) can be seen spilling into the bay, coloring its waters green, and gradually swirling downwards into the rest of the sea.
The prevailing current in the sea is a counter-clockwise swirl. Salinity varies from 1 to 15 parts per thousand (compared to 30 to 40 for the oceans) across the sea and with season.
The Strait of Kerch links the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea (below).
Tags: Black Sea Don River Gulf of Taganrog Russia Sea of Azov Strait of Kerch Taganrog Bay | Comments |
The Sea of Azov and the Crimean Peninsula – April 13th, 2009
April 13th, 2009 Category: Image of the day
Sea of Azov and Crimea - April 5th, 2009
The Sea of Azov is the world’s shallowest sea, linked by the Strait of Kerch to the Black Sea to the south. It is bounded on the north by Ukraine, on the east by Russia and on the west by the Crimean peninsula.
The sea is 340 kilometres (210 mi) long and 135 kilometres (84 mi) wide and has an area of 37,555 square kilometres (14,500 sq mi).
The main rivers flowing into it are the Don and Kuban; they ensure that the waters of the sea have comparatively low salinity and are almost fresh in places, and also bring in huge volumes of silt. Here, such silt appears greenish yellow and is particularly intense along the northern shores.
To the west also lie the 110 kilometres (68 mi) long Arabat Spit and the highly saline marshy inlets of the Sivash Sea on the border of the Crimean Peninsula.
The Sea of Azov is the shallowest sea in the world with an average depth of 13 metres (43 ft) and maximum depth of 15.3 metres (50 ft); where silt has built up, such as the Gulf of Taganrog, the average depth is less than 1 metre (3 ft).
Tags: Arabat Spit Black Sea Crimean Peninsula Don River Gulf of Taganrog Kuban River Russia Sea of Azov Sediments Sivash Sea Strait of Kerch Ukraine | Comments (1) |
Green Sediments by the Kerch Strait, Ukraine and Russia – May 23rd, 2010
May 23rd, 2010 Category: Image of the day, Sediments
Black Sea - April 28th, 2010
The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating the Kerch Peninsula in the west from the Taman Peninsula in the east. The strait is 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) to 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) wide and up to 18 metres (59 ft) deep.
The most important harbor is the Crimean city of Kerch (Ukraine) which gives its name to the strait, formerly known as the Cimmerian Bosporus.
The Russian side of the strait contains the Taman Bay encircled by the Tuzla Spit to the south and Chushka Spit to the north. The most important settlement on the Russian side is Taman where an important cargo port is under construction.
Tags: Asia Chushka Spit Cimmerian Bosporus Crimea Europe Kerch Peninsula Kerch Strait Russia Sea of Azov Strait of Kerch Taman Taman Bay Taman Peninsula Tuzla Spit Ukraine | Comments |