Black Sea Map.
|
The Black Sea map.
Source: http://wikipedia.org/
There a few hypotheses of the Black Sea origin. According to one of them, the Black, Caspian, Azov, and Aral Seas are the remnants of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Their basins were formed as a result of the geological processes which uplifted the mountain ranges and separated the Ocean into the few enclosed basins.
According to another hypothesis, the Caspian and the Black Seas used to be the vast freshwater lakes. At that period of time they didn't communicate with the Mediterranean Sea, but their water surface was 155 meters below the sea level. About 7,500 years the Mediterranean spilled over the rockies which separated the Seas and created the Bosporus Strait. This way a present day Black Sea map was formed.
The recent expeditions in the Black Sea led by the famous oceanographer Robert Ballard have found the well preserved remains of the 7,500 year-old building. They were located more than 100 m below the sea level. It was considered as a strong evidence of natural disaster similar to the Great Flood described in the Bible.
One way or another Mother Nature has created unique ecological system. What makes it unique? Let's take a look at the Black Sea map again. The three major European rivers - the Danube, Dnieper, and Don fall into the Black Sea, while Bosporus Strait is its the only connection to the world’s oceans. Here is how the Black Sea water balance looks like:
- Freshwater supply by rivers and atmospheric precipitation - 593 km3
- Seawater inflow from Marmara Sea - 176 km3
- Black Sea water outflow via Bosporus 340 km3
- Evaporation - 395 km3
- Volume of the Black Sea- 550 000 km3
A high river discharge dilute Black Sea water. Its surface layer salinity is 17 gram of salt per 1 liter of water which is two times less than that of the Ocean. Due to the reduced salinity most marine animals and plants can't survive in the Black. That's why there are no sharks, corals, sea stars and stinging jellyfish in the Black Sea. Despite this fact, the marine life of Black Sea brings surprises to scientists from time to time. They still manage to discover new species.
The Black Sea shells.
Source: http://blacksea.orlyonok.ru
The Black Sea maximal depth point is 2210 m. It is located near the Turkey's coastline. The Black Sea water body has well determined stratification. Each strata has its unique chemical and physical characteristics, different temperature, salinity, and species of marine inhabitants. For example, there is no oxygen in Black Sea water deeper than 200 meters. It means that all marine life can be found in the upper strata of the Black Sea only.
If you would like to know more about features of the Black Sea, its unique ecosystem, books about the Black Sea in English, marine animals you can meet there or sea shells you can bring home, check very well presented and full of interesting information the BlackSea.orlyonok site.
A detail Black Sea map where Black Sea Main Rim Current, bottom relief, distribution of the sea depth can be found there also.
Return from Black Sea Map page back to Home
