The Caspian Sea, known for its vastness, has intrigued many people throughout history due to its curious name. Despite its name, this “sea” is, for all intents and purposes, a gigantic lake.
However, the reason behind this apparent contradiction is more complex than it appears at first glance. To understand why they call it “sea”, it is necessary to explore both its geography and geology and its historical context and cultural. Not to mention the environmental challenges it faces.
Geographic origins and designations
The Caspian Sea, with an area of more than 371,000 square kilometers, is larger than some seas in terms of surface area. Its name derives from the ancient Caspian peoplea tribe that inhabited the southwest region of the lake.
The Caspian occupies the western part of the Ural-Caspian depression, which is part of the largest endorheic basin on Earthwith a surface of 28 meters below sea level. It is a remnant of the Tethys Ocean from the Mesozoic era and is currently the largest inland body of water in the world, covering an area larger than that of Germany or Japan.
It extends from north to south about 1210 km and between 210 and 436 km from west to east. Furthermore, tat an average depth of around 170 mbut the deepest areas located in the southern part of this imposing extension are more than 1000 m deep.
Why has it been considered a sea since ancient times?
Historically, the term “sea” has been used to describe large bodies of salt water, and although the Caspian Sea is less salty than the oceans, its breadth justifies this nomenclature in the context of Antiquity.
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Since Greek and Roman times, the Caspian Sea has been a center of trade and culture. Strabo and other classical geographers referred to it as a sea due to its important trade routes and imposing size.
Who was Strabo?This famous Greek geographer, historian and philosopher lived during the Hellenistic period, approximately between 64 BC and 24 AD. He is best known for his work “Geography” (also known as “Geographica”), an extensive work in which he described and analyzed the known world of your time.
Furthermore, the nomenclature also reflects a strategy of ancient communities and kingdoms to highlight the importance of this waterway in regional geopolitics. Geographically, it is a colossal inland lake, the largest on the planet..
Scientific and environmental implications
From a scientific point of view, the classification of the Caspian Sea as a lake has significant implicationsespecially in terms of international legislation and environmental protection.
Lakes and seas are governed by different regulations that affect natural resource management, habitat conservation and the regulation of industrial emissions. The uniqueness of the Caspian Sea lies in its unique ecosystem, which is home to endemic species such as the beluga sturgeonfamous for its prized caviar eggs.
The serious problems it faces
The Caspian Sea currently faces several serious environmental challenges, namely decreasing water levels and pollution. These problems not only threaten the lake’s biodiversity, but also affect the local communities that depend on it for their livelihoods.
Recognition of the importance of the Caspian Sea as a “sea” in terms of conservation can help give greater visibility to these issues at an international levelpromoting coordinated action towards its resolution.
