Sea of Azov

Sea of Azov (Russian Azovskoye More), inland sea, southern European Russia, connected with the Black Sea by the Strait of Kerch. The Sea of Azov is entirely shallow, about 1 to 16 m (about 3 to 52 ft) in depth. The water is almost fresh, although the salinity level has increased over the past few decades due to the diversion of water from the rivers that flow into the sea for irrigation and other uses. Because the sea once had an abundance of fish, the Turks called it Baluk Deniz (“Fish Sea”), but increased salinity and chemical pollution have since caused a decline in the fish population. The sea is roughly triangular in shape, narrowing at the northeastern extremity to form the Gulf of Taganrog. The three chief ports on the Azov are Taganrog in Russia, and Mariupol’ (Zhdanov, 1948-89) and Berdyans’k in Ukraine. Another large port, Rostov-na-Donu, Russia, is 45 km (28 mi) from the mouth of the Don River, the most important affluent of the Sea of Azov. Many rivers, including the Kuban’, flow into the Sea of Azov. The area is 37,600 sq km (14,500 sq mi).