When you look at the map of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, two massive bodies of water immediately grab your attention: the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. In this article, we will compare these two bodies of water. Let’s read.
Black Sea vs Caspian Sea: Which is larger?
The Black Sea is larger than the Caspian Sea in both surface area and total water volume. While the Caspian Sea is the world’s largest lake, the Black Sea is a true sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Mediterranean Sea.
The Black Sea covers approximately 436,400 sq km (168,500 sq miles), making it about 17% larger in surface area than the Caspian Sea, which covers around 371,000 sq km (143,244 sq miles). The Black Sea is also significantly deeper than the Caspian Sea and therefore holds much more water. The maximum depth of the Black Sea is about 2,212 meters (7,257 feet), whereas the Caspian Sea reaches a maximum depth of about 1,025 meters (3,360 feet).
Black Sea vs Caspian Sea: Which is more saline?
Water flows out of the Black Sea through the Bosporus Strait into the Sea of Marmara, then through the Dardanelles Strait into the Aegean Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean. The Black Sea exchanges saltwater with the Mediterranean, keeping its average salinity higher than the Caspian’s.
The Caspian Sea, on the other hand, is an endorheic lake, meaning it has no natural outlet to the world’s oceans. Major rivers such as the Volga flow into it, but water leaves mainly through evaporation. Since it is isolated from the global ocean system and receives large amounts of freshwater inflow, the Caspian Sea is generally less saline than the Black Sea.
Comparison table
| Black Sea | Caspian Sea | |
|---|---|---|
| Countries | Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine | Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan |
| Water type | Brackish | Brackish |
| Surface area | approximately 436,400 sq km (168,500 sq miles) | approximately 371,000 sq km (143,244 sq miles) |
| Water volume | approximately 547,000 km³ | approximately 78,200 km³ |
| Salinity | 17–18 g/L | 12–13 g/L |
| Maximum depth | 2,212 meters (7,257 feet) | 1,025 meters (3,360 feet) |
| Average depth | approximately 1,253 meters (4,111 feet) | approximately 210 meters (690 feet) |
Read more