Which ocean does the Sea of ​​Azov flow into? Sea of ​​Azov - physical geography

What is it like to vacation on the Sea of ​​Azov? We tell you where it is better to relax, what prices are in the summer of 2019, what infrastructure is at the resorts and who they are suitable for. Resorts map Sea of ​​Azov.

The Sea of ​​Azov is shallow, its waters warm up well at the beginning of summer, and children simply adore the sandy and shell beaches. The second undoubted advantage of a holiday on the Azov Sea is its budget. IN summer period local residents willingly rent out housing to tourists, and you can rent a house or a room in a guest house for a very modest amount.

Last minute tours at sea at the best prices you should look for services and - they compare offers from all popular tour operators. Find out also!

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Map of Azov Sea resorts

Prices and infrastructure

Holiday prices are one of the main criteria for choosing a resort, especially if you are traveling with a large family. Judging by the reviews of tourists, relatively inexpensive holiday on the Sea of ​​Azov in 2019 can be found in the villages of Kuchugury, Peresyp, Ilyich. These are small villages with good sandy beaches and poorly developed infrastructure, where accommodation can be found mainly in the private sector and guest houses.

Holidays in Yeisk and the village of Golubitskaya will cost more. Yeisk is already Big city, there are reputable hotels, cafes, an embankment with a park where you can stroll in the evenings. The village of Golubitskaya is more modest, but has a well-developed infrastructure, there are water attractions, a night club and restaurants with Caucasian and local cuisine, many mini-hotels, recreation centers and rental offers.

In 2019, you can rent a turnkey house in the village of Ilyich from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles per day, in Peresyp and Taman from 1,500 to 2,500 rubles, in Golubitskaya - from 2,500 to 6,000 rubles. Prices in the private sector (per day): in Kuchugury and Peresyp from 250 to 550 rubles per person, in Golubitskaya from 300 to 800 rubles per person. You can rent in Yeysk nice apartment for 1500-2500 rubles per day.

(Photo © Ekaterina Sotova / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Secluded holiday on the Sea of ​​Azov

There are not many urban resorts on the coast; most often these are small villages, so finding a place for a secluded holiday on the Sea of ​​Azov is not difficult. According to tourists' reviews, in 2019 it is better to relax on the Sea of ​​Azov on the Taman Peninsula: these are the villages of Priazovsky and Ilyich, the area of ​​the Chushka Spit and Cape Pekla - there are the most deserted places there. In general, you can go anywhere with tents! There are also wild beaches on the outskirts of the village of Golubitskaya; you can get there on foot through the entire village or by driving around the estuary by car. From Taman to the Tuzla Spit there are many deserted places, but there are steep banks.

Active recreation on the Sea of ​​Azov: where is better

Where is the best place to relax on the Sea of ​​Azov in the summer of 2019 if you want to spend time actively?

Stanitsa Dolzhanskaya is popular among outdoor enthusiasts. There are special ones here natural conditions- the wind almost always blows. And if on one side the braids water surface perfectly smooth, then a good wave rises on the other side, and you can windsurf and kite. On coastline Special bases for surfers have been opened.

In Yeysk extreme sports fans gather in the Youth Beach area. There are also clubs, a rental point for catamarans and jet skis, a yacht club and a pirate town. For beginners, there is a school for beginner athletes.

In the village of Golubitskaya There is a paragliding center. You can also go windsurfing, fishing and horse riding.

Primorsko-Akhtarsk It is especially loved by fishermen; these places simply abound with fish. You can fish from the seashore or from a boat in bays and estuaries, and rent a boat.

Cultural and excursion holidays

The resorts of the Azov Sea are mainly small villages that offer water activities and are more suitable for a quiet family holiday. Here's what you can visit and see while vacationing on the Sea of ​​Azov in 2019.

IN Golubitskaya there is a crocodile and ostrich farm, and as an excursion you can visit the Museum of the History of the Cossacks in the neighboring village of Starotitarovskaya, the Fanagoria and Abrau-Durso wineries, the Abinsky terrarium, the Tizdar and Hephaestus volcanoes.

IN Yeisk There are several city parks, and tourists also take boat trips along the coast and to nearby uninhabited islands. The city has well-preserved ancient architecture, and the historical center of the city is popularly called merchant Yeisk. Not far from the city in the village of Morskoy there is an ethnographic museum dedicated to the history and life of the Kuban Cossacks. Near the museum there is a stable and a home farm, and picnic areas are provided for those wishing to relax.

In the Cossack village Taman a living ethnographic museum was organized under open air"Ataman", where holidays are often held and a fairy-tale corner is opened especially for children. In Taman there is an archaeological museum where finds from ancient settlements are located, on the site of which the modern village stands. Archaeological excavations are underway at a distance of a kilometer from the museum. In addition, every year in early August the village hosts the Taman Vine and Wines of Kuban wine festivals.

Downtown Temryuk There is an open-air museum "Military Hill", the exhibits of which can be seen and touched.

Interesting excursions in Taganrog- in Chekhov's places (house-museum of A.P. Chekhov, Literary Museum, museum-shop and drama theater named after A.P. Chekhov), Palace of Alexander I, Alferaki Palace and others.

Where is the best place to relax on the Azov Sea with children?

With kids preschool age on the Sea of ​​Azov it is better to relax in small villages, where the beaches are cleaner and there are fewer people. With older children, you can already go to places where the entire entertainment infrastructure is developed.

In the village Dolzhanskaya there is little entertainment, but it has its own unique microclimate, pine forest and clear sea with a depth more suitable for adults. Also on Dolzhanka, seafood lovers will be able to enjoy freshly caught fish, which is prepared in coastal cafes.

In the village Ilyich Almost 10 m from the shore - continuous shallow water. This place is suitable for have a relaxing holiday, there are few vacationers here. IN Kuchugury- a small amusement park for children, and 3 kilometers from the village there is a mud volcano, access to it is free. Not far from the village there is a beautiful lotus valley and lake.

In general, you can relax with children on the Sea of ​​Azov in the summer of 2019 anywhere, nature itself has taken care of this. It’s harder to find in the Azov region appropriate place for relaxation for adults than for children. And it’s better to come in June: the water is already very warm, and there are not many tourists yet. In addition, in the middle of summer, the Azov Sea begins to bloom, the remains of algae cling, and swimming becomes not very pleasant.

(Photo © Klad-rnd / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The best resorts for young people

If you need a drive - discos, nightclubs, festivals, then similar entertainment can be found in Taganrog and Yeysk. In Yeysk, on summer evenings the open-air disco "Atmsofera" is open, bars and cafes are open on the beach. The most popular nightclubs in the city are Tornado, Paradise, The First and Babylon.

People doing extreme species sports, prefer the villages of Dolzhanskaya and Golubitskaya. Golubitskaya has several bars and cafes; in August, bikers and rock performers come here annually for the Taman - Freedom Peninsula festival. The annual festival of electronic music and extreme sports A-ZOV takes place on the beach in Dolzhanskaya.

Resorts for seniors

Holidays on the Sea of ​​Azov are ideal not only for children, but also for older people - they go to the coast to improve their health. You can be treated with mud at many resorts. There are sanatoriums with a medical profile in Taganrog, Yeisk, Golubitskaya, Peresyp, Kuchugury.

The main mud bath in Taman is Temryuk. There are many sanatoriums concentrated in the Temryuk zone, the mud has been well studied and is used for treatment nervous system and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. From Golubitskaya, Peresyp and Kuchugur, Temryuk is easily accessible by public transport.

Sulfide mud of Golubitsky and Salt lakes treats skin diseases, diseases of the joints and spine, accelerate metabolism and blood flow in peripheral vessels. Between the villages of Yasenskaya and Kopanskaya there is Khanskoe Lake with healing mud, along the shores of which cormorants and pelicans live.

Introductory image source: © Vokcel / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

washes the coast Krasnodar region, Rostov, Zaporozhye and Donetsk regions, as well as the coast of the Crimean Peninsula and belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. It is connected to the Black Sea via the Kerch Strait, through which a bridge is being built to Crimea and rivers such as the Kuban and Don flow into it.

Maximum depth of the Sea of ​​Azov does not exceed 14 meters (approximately the height of a five-story building), and the average depth is only 7.5 - 8 meters, and it is rightfully considered the shallowest sea in the world and the smallest in Russia - an area of ​​39,000 square kilometers. If we compare it in area with the smallest sea in the world - the Sea of ​​Marmara, then the Sea of ​​Azov is larger by 28,000 square kilometers (3.5 times). But the depth of the Sea of ​​Marmara is 1350 meters.

The sea received its current name thanks to the city of Azov. And because of its shallow waters and predisposition to flowering, in ancient times the Greek tribes called the Sea of ​​Azov the Meotian Lake (Mayotis Estuary), the Romans called the Meotian Swamp, and the ancient inhabitants gave it the name “Temerinda,” which means “Mother of the Seas.” In Ancient Rus' it was called the Blue Sea, and after the formation of the Tmutarakan principality it received the name “Russian Sea”.

The bottom of the Sea of ​​Azov is very simple, and the depth gradually increases with distance from land and forms a maximum in the center of the sea. The coastline is wide and mainly consists of small shell rock (beach in the village). On the Taman Peninsula and in Crimea there are hills of volcanic origin, mud volcanoes (including near the central beach), turning into steep mountains. Currents very often change their directions due to constantly changing winds, and the main one is considered to be circular counterclockwise.

The transparency of the water of the Azov Sea is very low, and in different months it ranges from 50 centimeters to 9 meters. This is explained by the large supply of water from rivers, the silt bottom, which quickly becomes cloudy when agitated, and a huge amount of plankton. In summer, transparency increases, but in some places, due to the rapid development of algae and living organisms, it almost completely decreases and the water acquires a greenish color. At this time the sea “blooms”.

As noted at the very beginning, the Sea of ​​Azov is very shallow, so the water in it is completely mixed and contains a large amount of oxygen. However, in hot summer windless weather during the “blooming”, oxygen deficiency appears, and “freezing” or “pestilence” occurs (many die).

Winter on the Sea of ​​Azov is very cold, but not long. Summers are very hot and dry. The average annual temperature is about ten degrees. Maximum temperature in July it reaches plus 45 degrees, and in winter sometimes the thermometer can drop to minus 30.

By the beginning of June, the water temperature of the Azov Sea warms up to 23-24 degrees, which is several degrees warmer than the Black Sea. Local residents often open the swimming season on the May holidays, since at this time the weather is comfortable, and the water near the shore is very warm during the daytime. Tourists from all over Russia begin to travel en masse only from mid-June. On the hottest days of July and August, temperatures can rise above 30 degrees. In winter at the most
On cold days the Sea of ​​Azov freezes.

The height of the waves in the Sea of ​​Azov is relatively small, because the wind speed and duration are low, as well as small sizes and the depth of the reservoir do not allow giant waves to develop. The maximum wave height is three meters and the length is 25 meters. In the open ocean, they reach a height of 14 meters and a length of 450. However, there are exceptions. For example, in October 1969, a very strong southeast wind blew for some time (the locals call it “nizovka”), the sea near the coast from Primorsko-Akhtarsk to the Kerch Strait receded, and the water level in these places dropped by almost a hundred centimeters. And the opposite north-west wind blew sharply (the locals call it “maystra”) up to 45 meters per second, and millions of tons of water rushed towards the Kuban coast. A large number of people died, thousands were left homeless.

Salinity of the Azov Sea depends on the influx of river water and connection with the Black Sea. Near the Kerch Strait it is 17.5 ppm. The central part is very homogeneous and amounts to 11-12 ppm. And closer to the mouth of the Don, salinity drops to 1.5 ppm.

Bays and estuaries connecting to the sea from Russia: Taganrog, Temryuk, Sivash, Kazantip, Arabat bays; Miussky, Yeisk, Yasensky, Beisugsky, Akhtarsky, Akhtanizovsky estuaries.Spit, capes of the Sea of ​​Azov in Russia: Arabatskaya Strelka, Chushka, Beglitskaya, Petrushina, Glafirovskaya, Dolgaya, Kamyshevatskaya, Yasenskaya, Achuevskaya, Yeiskaya, Sazalnikskaya spits; ; Taganrog, Chumbursky, Achuevsky, Kamenny, Khroni, Zyuk, Chagany capes and Kazantip cape.Rivers flowing into the Sea of ​​Azov: Mokry Elanchik, Mius, Sambek, Don, Kagalnik, Mokraya Chuburka, Eya, Protoka, .
Regions and areas washed by the Sea of ​​Azov: Rostov region (Neklinovsky, Azov districts, Taganrog), Krasnodar region(Shcherbinovsky, Yeysky, Primorsko-Akhtarsky, Kanevsky, Slavyansky, Temryuk districts), Republic of Crimea (Kerch, Leninsky district).

In the eastern part of Europe in the temperate continental zone (steppe and forest-steppe zone) between southern Ukraine, western Russia and the northern part of the Crimean Peninsula is the Sea of ​​Azov. The coast, or rather its parts, belong to all of the countries described above. Because of this location, it is called the “closed” sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean. Its waters are slightly salty and very warm. This factor is decisive for tourists. It is here that many vacationers come, especially with children, since the sea is quite calm and shallow near the coastline. An interesting fact is that there are beaches on the coast where you need to walk several meters until you reach a depth of 0.5 m.

Short description

The Sea of ​​Azov is considered the smallest body of water compared to all others located in the Russian Federation. The coastline is only 1,472 kilometers long. As for the depth, the average is 8 m, but there are also areas where the bottom level drops to 14 m.

The Sea of ​​Azov belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. However, his path is quite interesting. First, its waters pass through the Bosphorus Strait and the Mediterranean. And only after that they end up in the Atlantic Ocean.

Features of the Sea of ​​Azov

Unsalted, shallow, warm - these words perfectly characterize the Sea of ​​Azov. The coast is covered with shell rock and fine sand. contains a huge number of chemical elements, so it can be used in medicinal purposes. Since the waves of the sea wash the sand of the shore, it also has unique properties. Probably, many have noticed that it is enough just to lie near the water for several hours, and the unpleasant sensations in the back and muscles go away on their own. The conclusion suggests itself: everything here acts on the human body as a medicinal and especially useful agent.

Territorial division

Ukraine and Russia territorially divide the Sea of ​​Azov into several parts. The coast of each state and the area surrounding it are a closed zone where ships of other countries cannot enter.

Throughout the existence of the independent states of Russia and Ukraine, they have been on friendly terms. That is why clear boundaries of ownership expanses of water the seas were not established. However, since 2014, everything has changed radically. Now these states are at enmity with each other, so they are trying to consolidate their positions as much as possible.

Flora and fauna

Steep limestone landslides, rocky slopes - this is how the Sea of ​​Azov looks at first glance. The coast of Ukraine, however, as well as on the part of the Russian Federation, is not distinguished by dense thickets of plants. Here you can find single bushes of elderberry, thorn, fern, and arum. Closer to the water, vegetation is represented only by salt-tolerant species. This can be explained quite simply: the waves, hitting the stones, pour salt water over them. These are like this herbaceous plants, like beskilnitsa and kermeka. And it is in the water that you can see algae of red and green colors, aquatic flowers.

The fauna is also not particularly rich: geese, ducks, steppe waders, lapwings, red geese, mute swans, curlews, black-headed gulls and laughing gulls. You can occasionally spot turtles, frogs and even crayfish on the beach.

The underwater world of the Azov Sea contains about 80 species of fish. The most common are stellate sturgeon, garfish, beluga, herring, large flounder, Rybinets, mullet, sprat, anchovy and sea mole.

Climate

Average annual precipitation in millimeters: from 250 to 500. Since southern Ukraine is dry, it negatively affects the coast of the Azov Sea. The average temperature in July is from +23 to +30 0 C; temperature in winter (in January) is from -2 to +7 0 C.

The Azov coast has cold but short winters and warm summers. The air temperature is distributed evenly. Spring and autumn are characterized by pleasant weather; during these months, thermometers show from +9 to +13 0 C, and high humidity is felt in the air. The transition from summer to winter is blurred.

Infrastructure

One of the most popular holiday destinations is the Sea of ​​Azov. The coast of Russia and Ukraine is occupied by numerous boarding houses. The list of them is truly huge. These are towns for tourists, recreation centers, hotels, cottage houses, etc. There are also cafes and restaurants so that vacationers can eat or just have fun. If we are talking about holidays with children, then the most important thing is open modern swimming pools with slides of various sizes, dolphinariums, amusement parks, and circuses.

Ecology

The main problem of the Azov coast is that almost the entire territory is polluted with waste from various enterprises. And a large number of steamships, boats and other equipment led to pollution of the sea itself. The presence of numerous recreation centers on the coastline leads to the fact that it is gradually turning into a landfill, especially in areas of public beaches. Enclosed areas look much better. However, you will have to pay a considerable amount of money for a vacation on them.

Holidays on the Azov Sea

For those who have never been to these places, below is a map of the Azov Sea coast, where you can see all the cities and towns that offer cultural recreation. And it is worth noting that it is quite well developed here.

Beautiful scenery and warm water attract numerous tourists. The range of services is varied: hiking, therapeutic mud baths, etc. And a large number of swimming pools with giant slides attract all young people (and not only): from five-year-old children to fifty-year-old people. Everyone, young and old, tries to visit this “attraction” at least once in their life and get an unforgettable experience.

The Sea of ​​Azov (Ukrainian: Azov Sea, ancient Greek: Μαιῶτις λίμνη, Latin: Palus Maeotis) is a semi-enclosed sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean in eastern Europe. The shallowest sea in the world: the depth does not exceed 13.5 meters, the average depth is about 7.4 m (according to various estimates from 6.8 to 8 m).

The Sea of ​​Azov connects with Atlantic Ocean a long chain of straits and seas (Kerch Strait - Black Sea - Bosphorus Strait - Sea of ​​Marmara - Dardanelles Strait - Aegean Sea - Mediterranean Sea - strait of Gibraltar- Atlantic Ocean).

Two largest rivers flow into the sea - the Kuban River.

SHORE OF THE SEA OF AZOV AND RIVER DELTA

The coast of the Azov Sea is less picturesque and diverse than the Black Sea. But it also has its own, unique beauty. The steppes come close to the sea, and in some places there are floodplains overgrown with reeds. The shores are treeless, sometimes low and flat, with a sandy and shell beach, sometimes low but steep, composed of yellow loess-like loams. The coastline of the sea forms fairly smooth curves, and only long sand spits give it some ruggedness. A large number of braids is one of characteristic features shores of the Azov Sea.

West Coast.
The western coast of the Sea of ​​Azov is represented by a long spit - the Arabat Spit. It stretches along the sea coast for 112 km, separating the shallow Sivash Bay from it. The width of this flat sand-shell spit ranges from 270 m in its southern and middle parts to 7 km in the northern, where there are several small hills.
The Arabat Spit is a huge natural beach. A series of long shallows stretched parallel to it. They are clearly visible from the walls of the old Genoese fortress, located near the village of Arabat, or directly from the elevated indigenous shore. In calm sunny weather, greenish-blue waves of the sea with a slight noise gently run onto the sandy and shell beach and the foam of the light surf borders it like a narrow white lace Heeling on the wing, white-winged gulls glide low over the water. In the distance, on the spit, the salt extracted from Sivash shines dazzlingly under the rays of the hot sun. The sea is beautiful even in a storm. When a fierce northeast blows, it darkens and becomes harsh.
With an angry noise, boiling with white foam, steep waves crash onto the shores. You can spend hours admiring the foamy expanse of the sea, the rapid running and stormy surf of the waves.

Any person who has visited the Sea of ​​Azov will forever have memories of its discreet but soul-stirring beauty.
Hot mineral waters have been discovered on the Arabatskaya Strelka, which in their chemical composition and medicinal properties are superior to those from Matsesta. On the basis of these healing waters it is planned to create a new resort - Azov Matsesta.

South coast.
It is represented by the territory of the Kerch and Taman peninsulas, between which is the Kerch Strait, connecting the Azov and Black Sea. The Kerch Peninsula is the eastern tip of Crimea. Its area is about 3 thousand square meters. kilometers. In the depths of the peninsula, large deposits of iron ore have been discovered, feeding the metallurgy of the Azov region, oil and natural gas.
The northern and northeastern parts of the Kerch Peninsula are composed of marls, clays, and limestones; Sandstones of Tertiary age are found in places.
The western part of the Kerch Peninsula is flat, the eastern part is hilly. Within the peninsula, the southern shore of the Sea of ​​Azov for the most part it drops steeply into the sea, leaving only a narrow strip of beach. In some places, the steep shores are composed of bryozoan limestones, which steadfastly resist the onslaught of sea waves. Such, for example, is Cape Kazantip, at the base of which lies a bryozoan reef - an atoll. To the west of this cape is the Arabat Bay, to the east is the Kazantip Bay. To the east of Cape Kazantip there is a low-lying alluvial section of the coast. The shores of both bays are composed of soft clayey rocks. South of Cape Kazantip - Aktashskoe salt Lake. This is a relict lake. It is a remnant of the Kazantip Bay, which once extended far into the land.
In the middle of the Kerch Peninsula, the low Parpach ridge stretches from west to east. Between this ridge and the shore of the Azov Sea. there is a wide longitudinal valley. In its lower parts there are salt lakes, and in particular, famous for their healing properties Chokrak Lake, as well as a number of mud volcanoes.
To the east of the Kazantip Bay, near the Kerch Strait, the coast of the Azov Sea is calmer, but here it is characterized by capes composed of hard bryozoan limestones, for example, capes Zyuk, Tarkhan and others.

The Kerch Strait, connecting the Black and Azov Seas, is shallow and relatively narrow. Its width ranges from 4 to 15 km. The length of the strait is 41 km. The depth is about 4 m.
In ancient times, the Kerch Strait was called the Cimmerian Bosporus. The name itself contains a hint of the shallowness of the strait, since “Bospor” translated into Russian means “bull ford”.
The Crimean shore of the strait is steep in places. In its northern part lies the port city of Kerch.

The Caucasian coast of the Kerch Strait is low, sandy, with dunes in places. The channel of the strait is cluttered with reefs, sand bars and coastal shoals, which previously made navigation difficult. Now a canal has been dug in the strait for the passage of ships with deep draft.
Communication across the strait between Crimea and the Caucasus was previously carried out by ordinary steamships carrying cargo and passengers. In the spring of 1955, a railway crossing was opened. On the Crimean coast, northeast of Kerch, the Crimea railway station was built, and on the Caucasian coast, on the Chushka spit, the Kavkaz railway station was built.

Large diesel-electric ferries transport trains easily and quickly across the Kerch Strait. The railway route between Crimea and the Caucasus is thereby significantly shortened.
The Taman Peninsula, which is part of the Krasnodar Territory, covers an area of ​​approximately 1900 square meters. km. Of this, land accounts for a little more than 900 square meters. km, and the rest of the territory is estuaries and floodplains.
Its nature is peculiar. From a geological point of view, this is a young peninsula, as it was formed in the Quaternary period. Back in the 1st century AD. e. in its place there were about five islands, the transformation of which into a peninsula occurred, apparently, in the 5th century AD. e. under the influence of the accumulative activity of the Kuban River, mud volcanoes and tectonic uplifts. The formation of the Taman Peninsula continues.

The surface of the peninsula is a hilly plain with low dome-shaped hills, stretched in the form of interrupted ridges from southwest to northeast. Mud volcanoes and ancient burial mounds are scattered almost everywhere. .The landscape is enlivened by numerous estuaries. Floodplains overgrown with reeds and sedges are also widespread.

The Taman Peninsula contains in its depths such natural resources as oil, flammable gases, iron ores, salt, building materials in the form of limestone, clay and gravel.
The climate of the peninsula is moderately warm. The sun generously supplies it with the warmth of its rays, but there is little precipitation here - only 436 mm per year - and therefore there is a lack of moisture.
On the peninsula there are fertile chernozem-like and chestnut soils, covered with drought-resistant steppe soils, and along the Kuban River valley - with floodplain vegetation.
It is now famous for its vineyards.
The shores of the Taman Peninsula are quite diverse, but two types of shores predominate: high, steep - abrasive, that is, formed as a result of the destructive work of sea waves, and low, flat - accumulative. The latter were formed from sandy-clayey deposits as a result of the activity of sea waves and currents.

The shore of the Taman Bay, from Cape Tuzla to the village of Taman, is elevated and steep. On average, its height here ranges from 15 to 30 m. To the east of the village of Taman, the coast decreases and remains low along the entire southern and eastern coast of the bay. Only in places there are steep cliffs, and then often due to the cultural layer of ancient Phanagoria.
The northern shore of the bay is also elevated and in some places drops steeply to the sea.
"Accumulation" translated from Latin means "accumulation". This term in geology refers to the process of deposition of loose material of various origins.

The Chushka Spit, composed largely of quartz sand and broken shells, has low banks.
Further to the east, the coast of the Taman Peninsula is high (up to 50-60 m above the level of the Sea of ​​Azov) and often has a stepped landslide character. It is composed mainly of loess-like clay and is bordered by a strip of beach consisting of sandy-clayey sediments, in places mixed with shells, pebbles and rubble.
Then, right up to the village of Golubitskaya, the coast of the Azov Sea either decreases or rises again, but starting from this village it becomes low, and in the area of ​​the Kuban River delta it acquires a swampy character.

It is interesting to note that in the area of ​​​​the village of Kuchugury on the low shore of the Sea of ​​​​Azov, aeolian relief forms are observed in the form of low (1-3 m) sandy mounds - dunes, formed under the influence of northern winds.

The attraction of the Taman Peninsula are mud volcanoes (salzas), of which there are up to 25. Many of them look like low cones with truncated tops. Some salsas are temporarily inactive. The rest emit dirt and gases such as methane and nitrogen. carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen.
Eruptions of mud volcanoes are usually calm and quiet, but sometimes they resemble eruptions of real volcanoes, as they are accompanied by an explosion, and the products of volcanic activity are then scattered hundreds of meters from the crater, and liquid mud forms large flows.
A very interesting phenomenon is represented by mud volcanoes at the bottom of the Sea of ​​Azov near the shores of the Taman Peninsula. Thus, intense mud volcanic activity was observed near the village of Golubitskaya. One of the eruptions was noted on September 6, 1799. An underground rumble was heard, then a deafening crash was heard and a pillar of fire and black smoke rose above the sea, 300 meters from the shore. The eruption continued for about two hours, leading to the formation of an island of mud with a diameter of over 100 m and a height of up to 2 m. A few months later it disappeared, washed away by the waves of the sea.
Similar eruptions were repeated later - in 1862, 1906, 1924, 1950 and 1952. In 1952, to the west of the village of Golubitskaya, 5 km from the coast, also as a result of mud volcanic activity, a mud island was formed, then washed away by sea waves.

Eastern shore of the Sea of ​​Azov
The eastern coast of the Sea of ​​Azov, from Temryuk to Primorsko-Akhtarsk, for about 100 km, is a low-lying delta of the Kuban River with numerous estuaries, channels, extensive floodplains overgrown with reeds and sedges. The Kuban River, originating from the glaciers of Mount Elbrus, is one of the largest and most abundant rivers in the North Caucasus. Its length is 870 km. The drainage basin area is 57900 sq. km. Its delta was formed on the site of a bay of the Sea of ​​Azov, which jutted deep into the land. Tens of thousands of years ago this bay extended to the place where Krasnodar is now located. The huge lagoon was separated from the sea by a embankment and then gradually filled with river sediments. The activity of mud volcanoes (sals) of the Taman Peninsula, which at that time still had the appearance of an archipelago of small islands, also played a well-known role in the formation of the southwestern part of the delta. The products of mud volcano eruptions carried channels between the islands and, along with river nayaos, gradually filled the lagoon.
The formation of the delta continues in our time, and it experiences subsidence amounting to 5-6 mm per year in Achuev, and 3 mm per year in other places of the delta.
The Kuban River annually carries an average of 11.4 billion cubic meters into the Sea of ​​Azov. meters of water containing a total of over 3 million tons of dissolved substances and a lot of turbidity. The water in the river is muddy all year round, but it carries especially a lot of sediment during floods, of which an average of 6-7 are observed in the Kuban per year. The total amount carried out by the river solids(the so-called solid runoff) is 8.7 million tons per year. To transport such cargo would require over 52,000 freight cars. Due to these sediments, the Kuban delta is growing. Now the Kuban delta, covering an area of ​​4300 square meters. km, begins at the so-called Razder, near the city of Slavyansk, where the Protoka branch separates from the Kuban to the right (to the north). The latter carries about 40-50% of the Kuban water and flows into the Sea of ​​Azov near Achuev.
Below the Protoka, not far from the mouth, the Kuban is still divided into a number of branches, of which the largest are the Petrushin sleeve and the Cossack Erik. The Petrushin branch, which here represents the main navigable channel of the Kuban River, goes past Temryuk and flows into the Sea of ​​Azov.

The Cossack Erik is the left bank branch of the Kuban; it carries its waters to the large Akhtanizovsky estuary, which has a connection with the Sea of ​​Azov through the Peresyp branch.
The modern delta of the Kuban River is a whole labyrinth of shallow lakes or estuaries, connected by channels, or, locally, eriks, which form bizarre loops between low-lying areas of swampy land.
In the Kuban delta, huge areas are occupied by floodplains that stretch for tens of kilometers. The floodplains of the Kuban delta adjacent to the Sea of ​​Azov are called Priazovsky. They are divided by the Protoka River into two massifs: the Azov plavni proper in the western part and the Angelino-Cheburgolskie in the eastern part.
The Azov floodplains are bizarre labyrinths of swamps and estuaries various sizes, with fresh, semi-saline and salt water, overgrown with above-water and underwater vegetation. Among the first, reeds, reeds, sedges, cattails and burrs predominate. The underwater or “soft” vegetation of the estuaries is chara algae, pondweed, hornwort, water lilies, etc.

In the Azov estuaries there are thickets wonderful plant- lotus. During the flowering period, above the spreading emerald leaves, large pink flowers of amazing beauty rise on the stems, spreading strong aroma. This tropical newcomer, brought to us from Africa, is a useful medicinal and food plant.
The estuaries of the Kuban delta are rich in fish. More than 70 species are found here, including ram, bream, pike perch, pike perch, sprat, carp weighing up to 15 kg, and catfish weighing up to 100 kg.
The floodplains and estuaries of the delta are home to a lot of birds, especially waterfowl: wild geese, ducks There are entire colonies of cormorants and pelicans. Swans, herons, and many birds of prey live here. Among the mammals, foxes are numerous, wild cats are found, and wild boars are found in the remote floodplains. The muskrat has been acclimatized and produces beautiful brown fur.

The depths of the delta are rich in minerals - natural gas, oil, and mineral waters.
Most of the Kuban River delta has not yet been developed agriculturally, although the soils here are very fertile.
But gradually the Azov region is changing the landscape. In the floodplains, instead of dense reeds and rotten estuaries, blue squares of rice paddies already stretch for many kilometers. In 1952, the Kuban irrigation system with an area of ​​23 thousand hectares was put into operation. In 1967, 62 thousand hectares of land reclaimed by land reclamation workers from floodplains were occupied by rice. When the Krasnodar reservoir on the Kuban River comes into operation, the rice fields will expand to 250-300 thousand hectares and will annually provide our Motherland with up to 700 thousand tons of high-quality rice.

North of Primorsko-Akhtarsk, up to , floodplains are found only at the mouths of the Azov steppe rivers - Beisug and Chelbas.
The shores of the Sea of ​​Azov in this area are represented by low and gently sloping sand spits, but for the most part the coast here is steep or steeply descending to the sea. It is composed, like the coastal plain, of loess and loess-like loams and clays of the late glacial period. Loess is a rock that is easily washed away by waves, and therefore the seashore here is quickly destroyed. average speed destruction along the entire coast is 3 m per year. The maximum is up to 18 m. The soils of this part of the Azov region are represented by carbonate Western Cis-Caucasian fertile chernozems. Previously, this entire area was a feather grass-forb steppe, on which herds of wild horses—tarpans—and herds of fleet-footed saigas grazed. There were even moose. Nowadays these lands are plowed, and in the summer here [an immense yellow-green sea of ​​grain sways, fields of corn and sunflowers spread out.
In addition to the Kuban River, such steppe rivers (counting from south to north) as Kirpili flow into the Sea of ​​Azov from the east, pouring their waters into the Kirpilsky estuary; Beisug, flowing into the Beisugsky estuary; Chelbas, flowing into the Sladky Estuary; Eya, carrying water to the large Yeisk estuary, and, finally, the small rivers Mokraya Chuburka and Kagalnik, flowing directly into the Sea of ​​Azov.
A characteristic feature of the landscape of the eastern coast of the Sea of ​​Azov, as noted above, is the presence of numerous estuaries.

Don Delta.
In its northeastern part, the Sea of ​​Azov forms the vast, highly elongated Taganrog Bay, into which one of the largest rivers in the European part of the USSR, the Don, flows. Its length is 1870 km, and its drainage area is 422,000 square meters. km. The Don annually carries an average of about 28.6 cubic meters into the sea. km of water. Significant masses of river water greatly desalinize the Taganrog Bay, and sediment carried by the river shallows it and leads to it, which occupies an area of ​​340 square meters. km. The modern Don delta begins 6 km below Rostov-on-Don, where the non-navigable Dead Donets branch separates from the river to the right.
There is always a lot of activity on the Don River; Various and numerous ships sail up and down the stream. Passenger ships, cargo ships and fishing boats cut through the calm surface of the mighty river.
Below the village of Elizavetinskaya, the Don begins to wind strongly along a wide low-lying valley, splitting into numerous branches and channels, which, locally, are called eriks. These branches and eriks become more and more numerous as you approach the Sea of ​​Azov.
The landscape here is unique. Everywhere you can see islands slightly rising above the water with intricately indented shores, covered with dense thickets of reeds. The islands close to the sea are constantly flooded with sea water, and the vegetation on them is sparse or completely absent. With strong westerly winds, the waters of the Azov Sea rush to the mouth of the Don, back up the river waters, the Don overflows its banks, flooding not only the delta, but also the land 100 km upstream.
Eastern winds blowing downstream of the Don have the opposite effect. There is a surge of water, sometimes so strong that not only the branches of the river become shallow, but also the Taganrog Bay, which disrupts normal navigation. The amplitude of surge phenomena is +3. -2 m.

The Don carries an average of about 14 million tons of river sediment and about 9.5 million tons of dissolved minerals into the sea. Due to sediments, the Don Delta is growing, gradually moving further and further into the sea at a speed of approximately 1 km per century.

North coast
The northern coast of the Sea of ​​Azov stretches from the mouth of the Don to the city of Genichesk. In this area, a number of small rivers flow into the Sea of ​​Azov. Originating in the spurs of the Donetsk Ridge, the rivers Mius and Kalmius carry their waters to the sea. Originating on the low Azov upland, the rivers Berdya, Obitochnaya, Korsak and a number of other small rivers that dry up in summer flow into the Sea of ​​Azov. The northern coast is characterized by the presence of a number of sand spits, extending mainly from the north and northeast to the south and southwest, Moreover, the braids bend their ends to the west, for example, Krivaya, Belosarayskaya (south of the city of Zhdanov), Berdyansk (near the city of Berdyansk).

Between the spits and the main shore, bays and estuaries are formed, for example Berdyansky and Obitochny. If we exclude the alluvial spits, then the entire rest of the northern coast of the Sea of ​​Azov is a flat steppe, mostly sloping down steeply to the sea. The spits and narrow coastal strip are composed mainly of Quaternary marine sediments. To the north, the plain is composed of loess, loess-like loams and clays of the late glacial period. Fertile black soils developed on these rocks. Even in the last century, vast feather-grass-forb grasslands stretched here, and in the western half - feather-grass-fescue steppes. Tarpans, wild camels grazed in them, and even earlier there were red deer and elk. There were beavers in the rivers. During the flowering period, these steppes, in the words of N.V. Gogol, represented a green-golden ocean, over which millions of flowers splashed out. However, such steppes have long disappeared; they are almost completely plowed. They were replaced by endless fields of wheat, corn, sunflowers, orchards and vineyards.

NATURE OF THE AZOV SEA
The Sea of ​​Azov is a unique and remarkable body of water in many respects. It is the smallest of all the seas of the Soviet Union, but in terms of its importance in the national economy it is not in last place. Its area, limited by parallels 45°16" N and 47°17" N. latitude and meridians 33°36"E and 39°21"E. d. is only 37,800 sq. m. km (without Sivash and estuaries). The greatest depth does not exceed 14 m, and the average depth is about 8 m. At the same time, depths up to 5 m occupy more than half of the volume of the Sea of ​​​​Azov. Its volume is also small and equal to 320 cubic meters. km. For comparison, let’s say that the Aral Sea is almost 2 times larger in area than the Azov Sea. The Black Sea is almost 11 times larger in area than the Azov Sea, and 1678 times larger in volume. And yet the Sea of ​​Azov is not so small; it could easily accommodate two European states such as the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Its greatest length is 380 km, and its greatest width is 200 km. The total length of the sea coastline is 2686 km.
The underwater relief of the Sea of ​​Azov is very simple, the depths generally increase slowly and smoothly with distance from the coast, and the greatest depths are in the center of the sea. Its bottom is almost flat. The Sea of ​​Azov forms several bays, of which the largest are Taganrog, Temryuk and the strongly isolated Sivash, which is more accurately considered an estuary. There are no large islands in this sea. There are a number of shallows, partially filled with water and located near the shores. Such are, for example, the islands of Biryuchiy, Turtle and others.

HISTORY OF THE SEA OF AZOV
Meotida
In ancient times, the Sea of ​​Azov did not exist, and the Don flowed into the Black Sea in the area of ​​​​the modern Kerch Strait. The Black Sea flood theory suggests that the filling of the Sea of ​​Azov occurred around 5600 BC. e.
In antiquity, the Sea of ​​Azov was called the Meotian Lake by the Greeks (ancient Greek Μαιῶτις), by the Romans Palus Maeotis (“Meotian Swamp”), by the Scythians Kargaluk, by the Meotians Temerinda (which means “mother of the sea”), by the Arabs - Bahr al - Azuf, among the Turks - Bahr el-Assak or Bahr-y Assak (Dark Blue Sea; modern Tur. Azak Denizi) and also - Balisira, among the Genoese and Venetians - Mare delle Zabacche.
The sea was renamed many times (Samakush, Salakar, Mayutis, etc.). At the beginning of the 13th century. The name Saksi Sea is approved. The Tatar-Mongol conquerors added to the collection of names of Azov: Balyk-dengiz (fish sea) and Chabak-dengiz (chabach, bream sea). According to some data, Chabak-dengiz as a result of the transformation: chabak - dzybakh - zabak - azak - azov - the modern name of the sea came about (which is doubtful). According to other sources, azak is a Turkic adjective meaning low, low-lying; according to other sources, azak (Turkic mouth of the river), which was transformed into Azau, and then into Russian Azov. In the interval of the above names, the sea also received the following: Barel-Azov (Dark Blue River); Frankish Sea (the Franks meant the Genoese and Venetians); Surozh Sea (Surozh was the name of the modern city of Sudak in Crimea); Caffa Sea (Caffa is an Italian colony on the site of the modern city of Feodosia in Crimea); Cimmerian Sea (from the Cimmerians); Akdeniz (Turkish meaning White Sea). It is most reliable that the modern name of the sea comes from the city of Azov.

There are a number of hypotheses regarding the etymology of the word “Azov”: by the name of the Polovtsian prince Azum (Azuf), who was killed during the capture of the city in 1067; by the name of the Osov tribe (Assy), which in turn supposedly came from Avestan, meaning “fast”; The name is compared with the Turkic word azan - “lower”, and the Circassian uzev - “neck”. The Turkic name of the city of Azov is Auzak. But back in the 1st century. n. e. Pliny, listing the Scythian tribes in his writings, mentions the Asoki tribe, similar to the word Azov. It is generally accepted that the modern name of the Sea of ​​Azov came into Russian toponymy in early XVII century, thanks to the chronicle of Pimen. Moreover, at first it was assigned only to part of it (the Taganrog Bay, which before the appearance of the city of Taganrog was called the Don Estuary). Only in the second half of the 18th century the name “Sea of ​​Azov” was assigned to the entire body of water. The sea gave its name to the villages of Azovskaya and Priazovskaya, and to the cities of Azov (in the lower reaches of the Don River, Rostov region) and Novoazovsk, the village of Priazovskoye and other settlements.

There are three stages in the history of the study of the Sea of ​​Azov:
Ancient (geographical) - from the time of Herodotus to early XIX Art.
Geological-geographical - XIX century. — 40s of XX century.
Complex - mid-20th century. - Today.
The first map of Pontus Euxine and Maeotis was compiled by Claudius Ptolemy, who also determined geographical coordinates for cities, river mouths, capes and bays of the Azov Sea coast.
In 1068, the Russian prince Gleb Svyatoslavich, who ruled at that time in Tmutarakan, measured the distance between Kerch and Taman along the ice. As evidenced by the inscription on the Tmutarakan stone, the distance from Tmutarakan to Korchev (the ancient name of Kerch) was approximately 20 km (over 939 years this distance increased by 3 km.) From the 12th to the 14th centuries. The Genoese and Venetians began to compile portolans (pilots and sea maps) of the Black and Azov Seas.

GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA OF AZOV
The extreme points of the Sea of ​​Azov lie between 45°12′30″ and 47°17′30″ north. latitude and between 33°38′ (Lake Sivash) and 39°18′ east. longitude Its greatest length is 380 km, its greatest width is 200 km; coastline length 2686 km; surface area - 37,800 km² (this area does not include islands and spits, which occupy 107.9 km²).
According to its morphological characteristics, it belongs to the flat seas and is a shallow body of water with low coastal slopes. In terms of distance from the ocean, the Sea of ​​Azov is the most continental sea on the planet.
In winter, partial or complete freezing is possible, with ice being carried into the Black Sea through the Kerch Strait. As a rule, ice formation is typical for January, but in cold years it can occur a month earlier.

Map of the depths of the Sea of ​​Azov

The underwater relief of the sea is relatively simple. As you move away from the coast, the depths slowly and smoothly increase, reaching 13 m in the central part of the sea. The main area of ​​the bottom is characterized by depths of 5-13 m. The area of ​​greatest depths is in the center of the sea. The location of the isobaths, close to symmetrical, is disrupted by their slight elongation in the northeast towards the Taganrog Bay. The 5 m isobath is located approximately 2 km from the coast, moving away from it near the Taganrog Bay and in the bay itself near the mouth of the Don. In the Taganrog Bay, the depths increase from the mouth of the Don (2-3 m) towards the open part of the sea, reaching 8-9 m at the border of the bay with the sea. In the topography of the bottom of the Sea of ​​Azov, systems of underwater hills are noted, stretched along the eastern (Zhelezinskaya Bank) and western (Morskaya and Arabatskaya banks) coasts, the depths above which decrease from 8-9 to 3-5 m. The underwater coastal slope of the northern coast is characterized by wide shallow water (20-30 km) with depths of 6-7 m, while the southern coast is steep underwater slope to depths of 11–13 m.
The drainage area of ​​the Azov Sea Basin is 586,000 km².
The seashores are mostly flat and sandy, only on the southern coast there are hills of volcanic origin, which in some places turn into steep mountains.
Sea currents are dependent on the very strong north-eastern and south-western winds blowing here and therefore change direction very often. The main current is a circular current along the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov in a counterclockwise direction.

Salinity
Changes in the salinity of the Azov Sea in the 20th century
The hydrochemical features of the Sea of ​​Azov are formed primarily under the influence of the abundant influx of river water (up to 12% of the water volume) and difficult water exchange with the Black Sea.
The salinity of the sea before the regulation of the Don was three times less than the average salinity of the ocean. Its value on the surface varied from 1 ppm at the mouth of the Don to 10.5 ppm in the central part of the sea and 11.5 ppm near the Kerch Strait. After the creation of the Tsimlyansky hydroelectric complex, the salinity of the sea began to increase. By 1977, the average salinity of the sea increased to 13.8 ppm, and in the Taganrog Bay - to 11.2. In a larger area of ​​the sea, the water became salinized to 14-14.5 ‰. During the period of relatively high humidity (1979-1982), there was a rapid decrease in salinity to 10.9 ‰, but by 2000 its value increased again and stabilized at 11 ‰. Average seasonal fluctuations in salinity rarely reach 1-2 percent.
In the northern part of the Sea of ​​Azov, the water contains very little salt. For this reason, the sea freezes easily, and therefore, before the advent of icebreakers, it was unnavigable from December to mid-April. South part The sea does not freeze and remains at a moderate temperature.
During the 20th century, almost everything more or less large rivers flowing into the Sea of ​​Azov were blocked by dams to create reservoirs. This has led to a significant reduction in discharge fresh water and mud in the sea.
The main ionic composition of the water of the open sea differs from the salt composition of the ocean in the relative poverty of chlorine and sodium ions and increased content The predominant components of land waters are calcium, carbonates and sulfates.

Transparency and color of water
The transparency of the waters of the Azov Sea is low. It varies in different areas and at different times of the year and ranges from 0.5 to 8 m. The influx of large amounts of turbid river water, the rapid stirring of bottom silts during sea waves and the presence of significant masses of plankton in the Azov water determine its low transparency. The lowest transparency is observed in the Taganrog Bay (0.5-0.9 m, occasionally up to 2 m). The color of the water here varies from greenish-yellow to brownish-yellow. In the eastern and western regions of the sea, transparency is much higher - on average 1.5-2 m, but can reach 3-4 m. In the central region of the Sea of ​​Azov, due to large depths and the influence of Black Sea waters, transparency ranges from 1.5-2. 5 to 8 m. The water here is greenish-blue. In summer, transparency increases almost everywhere, but in some parts of the sea, due to the rapid development of the smallest plant and animal organisms in the upper layers of water, it drops to zero and the water acquires a bright green color. This phenomenon is called sea bloom.

Flora and fauna
Phytoplankton and benthos are developed. Phytoplankton consists (in%) of: diatoms - 55, peridinia - 41.2, and blue-green algae - 2.2. Among the benthos biomass, mollusks occupy a dominant position. Their skeletal remains, represented by calcium carbonate, have significant specific gravity in the formation of modern bottom sediments and accumulative surface bodies.
The ichthyofauna of the Azov Sea currently includes 103 species and subspecies of fish belonging to 76 genera, and is represented by anadromous, semi-anadromous, marine and freshwater species.
Migratory fish species feed in the sea until they reach sexual maturity, and enter the river only to spawn. The breeding period in rivers and or on borrowed lands usually does not exceed 1-2 months. Among the Azov migratory fish there are the most valuable commercial species, such as beluga, sturgeon, herring, vimba and shemaya.
Semi-anadromous species come from the sea to rivers to reproduce. However, they can stay in rivers for a longer time than migratory ones (up to a year). As for the juveniles, they migrate from spawning grounds very slowly and often remain in the river for the winter. Semi-anadromous fish include common species such as pike perch, bream, ram, sabrefish and some others.
Marine species breed and feed in salty waters. Among them are the species that permanently inhabit the Sea of ​​Azov - pelengas, Black Sea kalkan, glossa flounder, sprat, perkarina, three-spined stickleback, long-snouted needlefish and all types of gobies. And finally there is large group sea ​​fish, entering the Sea of ​​Azov from the Black Sea, including those making regular migrations: Azov and Black Sea anchovy, Black Sea herring, red mullet, singil, sharpnose, mullet, Black Sea kalkan, horse mackerel, mackerel, etc.
Freshwater species usually live permanently in one area of ​​a body of water and do not make large migrations. These species usually inhabit desalinated sea areas. Here you can find fish such as sterlet, silver carp, pike, ide, bleak, etc.

Marine mammals in the Sea of ​​Azov are represented by one species - the porpoise (other names are Azov dolphin, Azov dolphin, pyhtun, chushka). The porpoise leads a herd lifestyle. Groups include from two to ten individuals. The population size has always been small; modern data are lacking. The Azovka is the smallest animal from the group of cetaceans. And representatives of the local Azov-Black Sea population are smaller than dolphins from other parts of their range. Females are slightly larger than males: 90-150 cm. Known maximum dimensions males reached 167 cm, and females - 180 cm. Average weight azovok is 30.2 kg. Life expectancy is 25-30 years.
The Sea of ​​Azov has no equal in the world in terms of the number of plant and animal organisms. In terms of fish productivity, that is, the number of fish per unit area, the Azov Sea is 6.5 times higher than the Caspian Sea, 40 times higher than the Black Sea and 160 times higher than the Mediterranean Sea.

Azov Sea, Yeysk city

Geographical objects of the Sea of ​​Azov
Major ones or those of special interest are listed geographical features in the order they follow clockwise along the coast starting from the Strait of Genichesk.

Bays and estuaries:
On the territory of Ukraine:
in the north-west: Utlyuk Estuary, Molochny Estuary, Obitochny Bay, Berdyansk Bay.
On Russian territory:
in the northeast: Taganrog Bay, Miussky Estuary, Yeisk Estuary;
in the east: Yasensky Bay, Beisugsky Estuary, Akhtarsky Estuary;
in the southeast: Temryuk Bay;
in the southwest: Kazantip Bay, Arabat Bay;
in the west: Sivash Bay (since April 1, 2014, it is de facto a section of the Russian-Ukrainian state border).

Spit, cape, largest islands:

Main article: Spit of the Sea of ​​Azov
On the territory of Ukraine:
in the north-west: Fedotova Spit and Biryuchy Island Spit (Utlyuksky Estuary), Obitochnaya Spit (Obitochnaya Bay), Berdyansk Spit (Berdyansk Bay);
in the northeast: Belosarayskaya spit, Krivaya spit.
On Russian territory:
in the northeast: Beglitskaya Spit, Petrushina Spit, Taganrog Cape;
in the east: Cape Chumbursky, Glafirovskaya Spit, Long Spit, Kamyshevatskaya Spit, Yasenskaya Spit (Beisugsky Estuary), Achuevskaya Spit (Akhtarsky Estuary), Yeisk Spit, Sazalnikskaya Spit;
in the southeast: Cape Achuevsky and Cape Kamenny (Temryuk Bay);
in the Kerch Strait: Chushka Spit, Tuzlinskaya Spit, Tuzla Island;
in the southwest: Cape Khroni, Cape Zyuk, Cape Chagany and Cape Kazantip;
in the west: the Arabatskaya Strelka spit.

Rivers flowing into the sea:
On the territory of Ukraine:
in the north-west: Maly Utlyuk, Molochnaya, Korsak, Lozovatka, Obitochnaya, Berda, Kalmius, Gruzsky Elanchik;
On Russian territory:
in the northeast: Mokry Elanchik, Mius, Sambek, Don, Kagalnik, Mokraya Chuburka, Eya;
in the southeast: Protoka, Kuban.

Legal status
The international legal status of the sea is determined by a number of sources of law, the most relevant of which is the Treaty between Russian Federation and Ukraine on cooperation in the use of the Sea of ​​Azov and the Kerch Strait (ratified by both parties in 2004). In this document, Azov is classified as inland waters of Russia and Ukraine.

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SOURCE OF PHOTO AND MATERIAL:
Team Nomads
Sea of ​​Azov // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional ones). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
Neznamov P.A. Map of the Sea of ​​Azov in 1699 // Proceedings of the State. ist. museum. - 1941. - Issue. 14. - pp. 73-81, repr. cards.
Velokurova N.I. Hydrometeorological characteristics of the Azov Sea / N.I. Velokurova, D.K. Starov. - Moscow-Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat, 1947.
Tushin Yu. P. Russian navigation on the Azov, Caspian and Black Seas (XVII century) / Yu. P. Tushin; Auto. preface V. V. Mavrodin; Artist D. Stankevich; Leningrad Order of Lenin State University named after A.A. Zhdanova. - M.: Science (Chief editor of eastern literature), 1978. - 184 p. — 10,000 copies. (region)
Encyclopedia of Taganrog. - Rostov-on-Don: Rostizdat, 2003. - 512 p. — ISBN 5-7509-0662-0.
Brodyanoy A.V. Names of the Azov Sea. - Vradievka: Publishing House Kovalenko A.G., 2008. - 48 p. — ISBN 978-966-2035-01-8.
http://club.foto.ru/
Wikipedia website

In ancient times, the Sea of ​​Azov was called the Meotian Lake by the Greeks (Greek Μαιῶτις), by the Romans Palus Maeotis, by the Scythians Kargaluk, by the Meotians Temerinda (known as the mother of the sea); then among the Arabs Nitschlach or Baral-Azov, among the Turks Baryal-Assak or Bahr-Assak (Dark Blue Sea; in modern Turkish Azakdenizi), among the Genoese and Venetians Mare delle Zabacche (Mare Tane). The extreme points of the Sea of ​​Azov lie between 45°12′30″ and 47°17′30″ north. latitude and between 33°38′ (Sivash) and 39°18′ east. longitude Its greatest length is 343 km, its greatest width is 231 km; coastline length 1472 km; surface area - 37605 km². (this area does not include islands and spits, which occupy 107.9 sq. km).

According to its morphological characteristics, it belongs to the flat seas and is a shallow body of water with low coastal slopes.

In terms of distance from the ocean to the mainland, the Sea of ​​Azov is the most continental sea on the planet. The underwater relief of the sea is relatively simple. As you move away from the coast, the depths slowly and smoothly increase, reaching 14.4 m in the central part of the sea. The main area of ​​the bottom is characterized by depths of 5-13 m. The area of ​​greatest depths is in the center of the sea. The location of the isobaths, close to symmetrical, is disrupted by their slight elongation in the northeast towards the Taganrog Bay. The 5 m isobath is located approximately 2 km from the coast, moving away from it near the Taganrog Bay and in the bay itself near the mouth of the Don. In the Taganrog Bay, the depths increase from the mouth of the Don (2-3 m) towards the open part of the sea, reaching 8-9 m at the border of the bay with the sea. In the topography of the bottom of the Sea of ​​Azov, systems of underwater hills are noted, stretched along the eastern (Zhelezinskaya Bank) and western (Morskaya and Arabatskaya banks) coasts, the depths above which decrease from 8-9 to 3-5 m. The underwater coastal slope of the northern coast is characterized by wide shallow water (20-30 km) with depths of 6-7 m, while the southern coast is steep underwater slope to depths of 11-12 m.

The drainage area of ​​the Azov Sea Basin is 586,000 km². The seashores are mostly flat and sandy, only on the southern coast there are hills of volcanic origin, which in some places turn into steep mountains.

Sea currents are dependent on the very strong north-eastern and south-western winds blowing here and therefore change direction very often. The main current is a circular current along the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov in a counterclockwise direction. In terms of biological productivity, the Sea of ​​Azov ranks first in the world. The most developed are phytoplankton and benthos. Phytoplankton consists (in%) of: diatoms - 55, peridinia - 41.2, and blue-green algae - 2.2. Among the benthos biomass, mollusks occupy a dominant position. Their skeletal remains, represented by calcium carbonate, have a significant share in the formation of modern bottom sediments and accumulative surface bodies.

The hydrochemical features of the Sea of ​​Azov are formed primarily under the influence of the abundant influx of river water (up to 12% of the water volume) and difficult water exchange with the Black Sea.

The salinity of the sea before the regulation of the Don was three times less than the average salinity of the ocean. Its value on the surface varied from 1 ppm at the mouth of the Don to 10.5 ppm in the central part of the sea and 11.5 ppm near the Kerch Strait. After the creation of the Tsimlyansky hydroelectric complex, the salinity of the sea began to increase (up to 13 ppm in the central part). Average seasonal fluctuations in salinity values ​​rarely reach 1%. Water contains very little salt. For this reason, the sea freezes easily, and therefore, before the advent of icebreakers, it was unnavigable from December to mid-April.

During the 20th century, almost all more or less large rivers flowing into the Sea of ​​Azov were blocked by dams to create reservoirs. This has led to a significant reduction in the discharge of fresh water and silt into the sea.