Caspian Sea: The Large Lake

Location: The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water. It stretches along the border between Europe and Asia and is bounded on the west by Russia and Azerbaijan, on the north by Kazakhistan and Russia, on the east by Kazakhistan.

Size: 144,000 sq mi. It reaches its maximum depth, c.3,200 ft , in the south; the shallow northern half averages only about 17 ft .


Interesting Information:

1) The Caspian receives the Volga (which supplies more than 75% of its inflow), Ural, Emba, Kura, and Terek rivers, but has no outlet.

2) Volga river is the largest pouring into the Caspian and contributes about 3/4 of Caspian's water.

3) The world's finest and most delicate kaviar is produced in the Caspian Sea region.

Bibliography:

1) http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/02385.html, Encyclopedia.com , Sept. 20, 01

2) http://www.persianoutpost.com/htdocs/caspsea1.html, Caspian Sea, Sept. 20, 01