Sea of Azov

The Sea of Azov is an inland shelf sea in Eastern Europe, connected to the Black Sea by the narrow Strait of Kerch, and is sometimes considered a northern extension of the Black Sea. It is bounded by Russia to the east and by Ukraine to the northwest and southwest, though the Ukrainian coastal areas have been under Russian occupation. The sea serves as a vital access route for Central Asia, linking to the Caspian Sea via the Volga–Don Canal. Its character is largely shaped by the inflow of major rivers such as the Don and Kuban, which deposit sand, silt, and shells, forming numerous bays, limans, and narrow spits. These deposits create a smooth, flat seabed that gradually deepens toward the center. The river inflow results in low salinity and high biomass, including green algae, which influences the water’s color. Abundant plankton support unusually high fish productivity. The low shores and spits are rich in vegetation and host large bird colonies. The Sea of Azov is the shallowest sea in the world, with depth varying across its expanse, and it experiences a constant outflow of water into the Black Sea. Historically, it was known in antiquity as the Maeotis Swamp, named for the marshlands to its northeast and possibly for the Maeotian people. Other ancient names included the Cimmerian or Maeotian Sea. The medieval Russians called it after the city of Sudak, while the Ottoman Turks referred to it as Balük-Denis, or “Fish Sea,” due to its productivity. The sea has been a frequent site of military conflict, notably during Russian campaigns to capture the fortress of Azov from Turkey in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.