دریای کاسپین /دریای مازندران /دریای خزر
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Speaking of lakes, one may recognize the unique designation of Caspian Sea. From the looks of it, it is essentially a lake, but no, it is a full-fledged sea. So what's the largest lake in the world in terms of area? According to a scholarly source (take a look at their Editorial Board here), it is Caspian Sea; besides, is there a real contradiction between a lake and a sea? It's the largest inland body of water on Earth, and it's salty with salinity levels ranging from 1.0 to 13.5 parts per thousand (north to south region salinity levels; sea facts found here).
Another interesting thing about Caspian Sea is that it is surrounded by five countries: Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan; therefore, one may wonder if ever there are some sort of demarcation issues in the body of water like that of the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea. In fact, there is; given that it is known to be rich in hydrocarbon resources, it must have been difficult to settle the issue. As far as I have known, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan already made some agreements when it comes to their sectors. Turkmenistan, on the other hand, seems passive; and I think Iran is pushing for equal division of the sea among the five countries although the extent of the coast line of each country varies considerably. There is a disputed region between Azerbaijan and Iran, and this is one of the major concerns in the area. Setting the issue aside, there are many amazing small things and big things in Caspian Sea; and it is charming in many perspectives. The sea itself seems peaceful.
I did some little research, and I have some small things featuring some big and small things from Caspian Sea. Not just things, but also the life in there.
Turkmenistan:
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| Peretz Partensky Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan |
Shown in the picture above is a port in Turkmenistan, which is considered to be the only sea link to the West (which refers to West Asia and Europe). The city is situated in a region that contains petroleum and gas reserves, and in fact it contains the largest oil refinery in Turkmenistan.
Kazakhstan:
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| Mouser Williams A view from Aktau, Kazakhstan |
Azerbaijan:
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| David Davidson Baku, Azerbaijan |
Russia:
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| Bolshakov View of the sea from Dagestan | Ekaterina Didkovskaya Derbent, Russia (in Dagestan) |
Iran:
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| Mohammad Emdadi Caspian Sea view from Iran |
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| Ninara A boat in Mazandaran province in Iran |
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| Mohammad Emdadi Fereydūn Kenār, Iran (in Mazandaran) |
Looking at the images, I think Caspian Sea can be a place not just for oil explorations and fishing, but for photography as well. Onward for a peaceful Caspian Sea.
