Interesting facts about the Black Sea

The Black Sea, also known as the Euxine Sea, is a coastal body of water of the Atlantic Ocean, located between Eastern Europe and Western Asia.

 

Ancient sailors considered the Black Sea a dangerous body of water because of the barbaric tribes that lived along its shores.

 

Additionally, the anoxic nature of the Black Sea water , which slows decomposition in the lower layers, has also led to some scary rumors, making the sea famous.

However, over time, the image of the Black Sea - one of the most difficult and harshest bodies of water to navigate - has changed. Home to rich and beautiful flora and fauna and more than a dozen small islands, the Black Sea has now become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

 

Where is the Black Sea?

The Black Sea, with an area of ​​436,400 km², is located in Eurasia and is surrounded by Europe, the Caucasus, and Anatolia. Countries that share borders with the Black Sea include Romania, Türkiye, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia.

The sea is also bounded by the Pontic, Caucasus and Crimean Mountains to the south, east and north respectively. The Strandzha Mountains also limit it to the southwest and the Dobrogea Plateau to the northwest.

With a maximum depth of 2,212 m, this inland sea is the confluence of several rivers, including the Danube, Southern Bug, Dnieper, Rioni and Dniester.

The Black Sea is connected to the Mediterranean Sea via the Bosporus Strait, the Sea of ​​Marmara, and the Dardanelles Strait. It also connects to the Aegean Sea and the Sea of ​​Crete before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea.

 

Home to some of the world's most beautiful bays

Some of the largest bays in the Black Sea include Karkinit Bay, Dnieprovski and Dniestrovski Bays of Ukraine, Sinop Bay and Samson Bay of Türkiye, and Burgas Bay of Bulgaria.

About 25 major rivers flow into the Black Sea.

Rivers such as the Danube, Mius, Veleka, Kalmius, Rioni, Snieper, Southern Bug, Rezevo, Yeya, etc., flow into the Black Sea.

The rivers and their tributaries cover two million square kilometers of the Black Sea basin, spanning 24 countries, including Austria, Italy, Albania, Poland, Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Croatia, etc.

How did the name Black Sea come about?

There are various theories about the origin of the Black Sea's special name. Theories suggest that before it was called the Black Sea, the body of water was known as the " Unfriendly Sea ", mainly due to the presence of barbarian tribes on its shores.

After the Greeks occupied the coast, the name was changed to " friendly ". There are documents that this sea has been called " Sea " for a long time.

However, many people have given this sea many different names over the centuries. However, the Black Sea is the most famous, believed to have been given by the Turks in the Middle Ages.

Historical documents suggest that during the Ottoman Empire, the Black Sea was known as Bahr-e Siyah or Karadeniz, which means "Black Sea" in Ottoman Turkish.

Several other theories have been put forward as to why the Black Sea got its name. According to one theory, winter storms turned the Black Sea water black, leading sailors to call it the Black Sea.

 

Another theory suggests that objects submerged in water eventually form a layer of black sludge. The discovery of such objects at sea may have been the reason for its name.

Oxygen-poor water, is there life in the Black Sea?

One of the most interesting facts about the Black Sea is its anoxic zone. It is the largest body of water that has a stratified basin. This creates a significant temperature difference between the layers, leaving the lower layers completely oxygen-free and inactive.

At the same time, the Black Sea receives fresh water from rivers and rainfall. However, it receives water only from the Mediterranean Sea.

Due to the water transfer taking place in the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, the inflow of dense water from the Mediterranean Sea occurs at the bottom of the basin. In contrast, the outflow of surface water from the Black Sea occurs near the surface of the basin.

Marine life cannot survive in an oxygen-depleted zone. Only the oxygen-rich surface waters of the Black Sea support marine life.