Caspian Sea

Introduction & Top Questions
Physical features
- Shoreline features
- Submarine features
- Geology
- Climate
- Hydrology
- Marine life
Economy
- Resources
- Transportation
Study and exploration

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Numerous oil derricks scattered across dry land near small pink-roofed buildings, with the Caspian Sea visible in the background outside Baku, Azerbaijan.

At a Glance

Caspian Sea summary

Quizzes

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms

Mt. Elbrusvolcano, Western Caucasus mountain range, Russia. (dormant Russia)

Natural Wonders

Tomb of Mohammed Bin Ali, Salalah, Oman.

A View of the Middle East

wave. ocean. Cresting ocean wave. Large sea waves. storm, hurricane, tropical cyclone

All About Oceans and Seas Quiz

Related Questions

How deep do Caspian seals usually dive for food?
How deep is the deepest part of the Caspian Sea?
How did the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline help transport Caspian oil to the Mediterranean Sea?
How did the decline in Caspian Sea water levels affect sturgeon spawning grounds?
How do summer and winter temperatures differ between the northern and southern Caspian Sea?
How do the Volga River delta and other river deltas shape the northern Caspian coast?
How do water currents move through the Caspian Sea?
How far below sea level is the surface of the Caspian Sea?
How has aquaculture been used to support Caspian sturgeon populations?
How have Volga River dams disrupted sturgeon migration and breeding?
How have dams and reservoirs on the Volga River affected the Caspian Sea?
How have glaciers caused the Caspian Sea to shrink and expand over time?
How high can storm waves become near the Abşeron Peninsula?
How is oil extracted from beneath the Caspian Sea?
How long is the Caspian Sea from north to south?
How many animal and plant species live in the Caspian Sea?
How much has the Caspian Sea water level changed since the 1st century BCE?
How salty is the Caspian Sea on average?
What conservation actions have been used to protect Caspian seals?
What other historical names have been used for the Caspian Sea?
What were the contributions of Fedor I. Soimonov to Caspian Sea exploration?
Where do Caspian seals spend the winter and summer?
Where is the Caspian Sea located between the Caucasus Mountains and Central Asia?
Which ancient people gave the Caspian Sea its name?
Which animals prey on Caspian seals?
Which animals were introduced into the Caspian Sea by ships or people?
Which environmental problems have researchers studied in the Caspian Sea region?
Which five countries border the Caspian Sea?
Which goods are commonly shipped across the Caspian Sea?
Which islands are the largest in the Caspian Sea?
Which major ports serve transportation across the Caspian Sea?
Which mineral is extracted from the Kara-Bogaz-Gol lagoon?
Which rivers supply most of the water flowing into the Caspian Sea?
Why are there no permanent streams along much of the eastern Caspian Sea coast?
Why did the Caspian Sea water level fall between 1929 and 1977?
Why did the Caspian Sea water level rise after 1978?
Why does Kara-Bogaz-Gol have extremely high salinity?
Why is the Caspian Sea important for sturgeon and caviar production?
Why is the northern Caspian Sea much shallower than the southern Caspian Sea?
Why is the water near the Volga River outlet less salty than other parts of the Caspian Sea?
How salty is the Caspian Sea?
What is Kurdistan?
Where is Kurdistan located?
Is Kurdistan a country?
Why is Kurdistan not a country?
Where does the Yenisey River begin and end?
What animals live in the Yenisey River?
Where does the water for the Yenisey River come from?
Why has the Aral Sea been shrinking?
How big was the Aral Sea originally?

Geography & Travel Physical Geography of Water Lakes

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External Websites

LiveScience - Caspian Sea: Largest Inland Body of Water
Encyclopaedia Iranica - Caspian Sea
NASA - Earth Observatory - Ice on the Caspian Sea

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Caspian Sea - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Caspian Sea - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Caspian Sea

sea, Eurasia

Also known as: Daryāye Khezer, Girkansk, Kaspiyskoye More, Khazarsk, Khvalynsk(Show More)

Written by

Oleg Konstantinovich Leontiev

Professor and Head, Department of Geomorphology, Moscow M.V. Lomonosov State University.

Oleg Konstantinovich LeontievAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 19, 2026 •History

Caspian Sea, world’s largest inland body of water. It lies to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the vast steppe of Central Asia. The sea’s name derives from the ancient Kaspi peoples, who once lived in Transcaucasia to the west. Among its other historical names, Khazarsk and Khvalynsk derive from former peoples of the region, while Girkansk stems from Girkanos, “Country of the Wolves.” The elongated sea sprawls for nearly...

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