Sea of Azov
| Sea of Azov | |
|---|---|
Sea of Azov shoreline at Yalta, Donetsk Oblast | |
Sea of Azov, upper right | |
| Coordinates | 46°N 37°E / 46°N 37°E |
| Type | Sea |
| Primary inflows | Don and Kuban |
| Basin countries | Russia, Ukraine |
| Max. length | 360 km (220 mi) |
| Max. width | 180 km (110 mi) |
| Surface area | 39,000 km2 (15,000 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 7 metres (23 ft) |
| Max. depth | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Water volume | 290 km3 (240×106 acre⋅ft) |
The Sea of Azov is an inland shelf sea in Eastern Europe connected to the Black Sea by the narrow (about 4 km (2.5 mi)) Strait of Kerch, and sometimes regarded as a northern extension of the Black Sea. The sea is bounded by Russia on the east, and by Ukraine on the northwest and southwest (the parts of Ukraine bordering the sea are currently under Russian occupation). It is an important access route for Central Asia, from the Caspian Sea via the Volga–Don Canal.
The sea is largely affected by the inflow of the Don, Kuban, and other rivers, which bring sand, silt, and shells, which in turn form numerous bays, limans, and narrow spits. Because of these deposits, the sea bottom is relatively smooth and flat, with the depth gradually increasing toward the middle. Because of the river inflow, water in the sea has low salinity and a high amount of biomass (such as green algae) that affects the water colour. Abundant plankton result in unusually high fish productivity. The sea shores and spits are low; they are rich in vegetation and bird colonies. The Sea of Azov is the shallowest sea in the world, with the depth varying between 0.9 and 14 metres (3 and 46 ft). There is a constant outflow of water from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.