Exploring Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea Access And Opportunities

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake. It is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia. Azerbaijan has an 813km coastline along the Caspian Sea, and its capital, Baku, is situated on the coastline. The country's economy benefits from the sea through fishing and maritime industries. The Caspian Sea is a source of contention among bordering countries due to its natural resources, including oil and natural gas reserves, which are estimated to contribute to around 10% of Azerbaijan's GDP and 40% of its exports.

Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, is on the Caspian Sea coast

Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, is located on the Caspian Sea coast. Baku is the largest port on the Caspian Sea, with moorings for large vessels such as oil tankers. The city's economy is largely derived from fishing and maritime industries.

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake, and is home to a wide range of species. It is famous for its caviar and oil industries. The sea is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia.

Baku's beaches are popular for water sports, romantic afternoons and lively evening parties. The Absheron Peninsula resorts and the water sports centre at Shuraabad are easily accessible from Baku. Baku beaches also offer windsurfing sessions for both professionals and amateurs. For those seeking a tranquil beach experience, there are less crowded beaches such as Bilgah, Mardakan, Pirshagi, Nardaran and Zagulba.

The Caspian Sea is neither a sea nor a lake in legal terms. It is a unique case because, while it fits the description of a lake, it also suits the descriptors of a sea.

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water

The Caspian Sea is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast. It stretches 1,200 km (750 mi) from north to south, with an average width of 320 km (200 mi). Its gross coverage is 386,400 km2 (149,200 sq mi) and the surface is about 27 m (89 ft) below sea level.

The Caspian Sea is home to a wide range of species and is famous for its caviar and oil industries. It is the world's largest salt lake, with a salinity of approximately 1.2% (12 g/L), about a third of the salinity of average seawater. It contains about 3.5 times as much water, by volume, as all five of North America's Great Lakes combined.

The Caspian Sea has three distinct regions: the Northern, Middle, and Southern Caspian. The Northern Caspian is very shallow, accounting for less than 1% of the total water volume with an average depth of only 5–6 m (16–20 ft). The Middle Caspian has an average depth of 190 m (620 ft), while the Southern Caspian is the deepest, with oceanic depths of over 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

The Caspian Sea is fed by over 130 rivers, the largest being the Volga River, which provides about 80% of the inflow. Other significant tributaries include the Ural River and the Kura River. The Caspian Sea has no natural outflow, so its water level is affected by factors such as rainfall in the regions of the rivers, human-constructed dams, tectonic movement, and climate change.

There are approximately 50 small islands in the Caspian Sea, most of them uninhabited and located in the north. The largest island, Ogurja Ada, is in the south.

The question of whether the Caspian Sea is a lake or a sea has political and economic ramifications. If it is considered a lake, then international law has no control over its waters. However, if it is considered a sea, international organizations can have input on its use, which is significant due to the Caspian Sea's rich oil and natural gas resources.

The sea is bordered by five countries

The Caspian Sea is bordered by five countries: Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. It is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake, and is situated about 500km east of the Black Sea, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The Caspian Sea is completely enclosed, with no connection to other oceans, and its surface is about 21-27m below sea level, making it the lowest natural point in Eurasia.

The Caspian Sea is an important source of beluga caviar, which comes from the critically endangered beluga sturgeon. It is also known for its abundance of energy resources, with all bordering countries exploiting oil and natural gas reserves in cooperation with international oil companies. However, conflicts between the bordering states over maritime borders and the division of energy resources have left much of the offshore oil and gas resources untapped.

The Caspian Sea's main feeder is the Volga River, which accounts for about 80% of its inflow. Other inflows include the Ural River, the Kura, and the Terek River. There is no discharge by any river, and water leaves the sea only through evaporation.

The Caspian Sea is of significant geostrategic importance. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it and its natural resources became a source of contention for the bordering countries. A key issue is whether the Caspian Sea is legally a sea or a lake, as this would determine the demarcation rules and access to mineral resources, fishing grounds, and international waters. While Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan have bilateral agreements based on median lines, Iran insists on a single, multilateral agreement among the five nations, aiming for a one-fifth share.

The sea is a source of contention for bordering countries

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake and sometimes referred to as a full-fledged sea. It is bounded by five countries: Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. The legal status of the Caspian Sea has been a source of contention for these bordering countries, with the dispute revolving around whether it should be considered a sea or a lake.

The issue of whether the Caspian Sea is a sea or a lake has significant implications. If it is considered a sea, it would be governed by international maritime law, specifically the United Nations Law of the Sea, which sets rules on how countries can utilise the world's oceans regarding natural resource management, territorial rights, and environmental protection. On the other hand, if it is defined as a lake, it would have to be divided equally among the five bordering countries.

The dispute over the legal status of the Caspian Sea has led to tensions and disagreements among the bordering countries. Iran, which has the smallest coastline, argued that it should be considered a lake, while the other four countries disagreed. This disagreement has also prevented the construction of a natural gas pipeline between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, which would allow Turkmen gas to bypass Russia on its way to Europe. Additionally, there have been disputes over access to oil fields in the Caspian Sea, with Iranian patrol boats firing at vessels sent by Azerbaijan for exploration in the disputed region.

In 2018, the five bordering countries signed the 'Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea', which granted each neighbouring country jurisdiction over 24 kilometres of territorial waters, with an additional 16 kilometres of exclusive fishing rights. However, the seabed boundaries are yet to be negotiated through bilateral agreements. While the convention provides a framework for resource division and prevents military presence from other powers, it does not address environmental concerns, which are significant due to pollution from oil extraction and other industries.

The sea is home to several unique species of marine fauna

The Caspian Sea is home to a wide range of species, including several unique species of marine fauna. The sea's basin, including its rivers, is home to 160 native species and subspecies of fish, with about 62% of these species being endemic.

The Caspian Sea's unique fauna include the Caspian seal, which is the only aquatic mammal endemic to the sea and one of the few seal species that live in inland waters. A century ago, the Caspian was home to over a million seals. Today, fewer than 10% remain.

The Caspian Sea is also home to several species of sturgeon, which are fished for their meat and caviar. Overfishing has, however, depleted the historic fisheries, and environmentalists now advocate for a complete ban on sturgeon fishing until the population recovers.

The sea's basin is also home to several species of birds, including the Caspian gull and the Caspian tern, which are named after the sea. The Caspian is an important region for migratory birds, such as the grey goose, ferruginous duck, whistling teal, grey duck, and red-wing.

The Caspian Sea's unique marine fauna also include several species of crustaceans, such as the zebra mussel, which is native to the Caspian and Black Sea basins but has become an invasive species in other parts of the world.

The biodiversity of the Caspian Sea is about 2.5 times poorer than that of the Black Sea and five times poorer than that of the Barents Sea. The variable salinity of the Caspian Sea is thought to be the main reason for this disparity. The salinity levels are too high for freshwater fauna and flora, and too low for marine species. Thus, the modern Caspian Sea is only suitable for species adapted to slightly saline waters.

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