Are There Sharks in the Caspian Sea?

Are there sharks in the Caspian Sea? The answer is a resounding yes! While it is not a freshwater body of water, it is an endorheic basin, rich in biodiversity. While it may not be as clear-cut as the Mediterranean or the Black Sea, sharks have been seen in the region. The Caspian Sea is home to an unusually large number of shark species.

It is a myth that there are no sharks in the Caspian Sea. History documents tell of eyewitnesses seeing eerie fish swimming in the waters of this body of water. In reality, sharks are probably lurking in the water column, rising only at night or not at all. Perhaps these animals prefer to feed on the flesh of low-calorie humans. Perhaps the only sharks in the Caspian Sea are a few dozen.

It is not fresh water

The Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water on Earth, spanning 143,000 square miles. Although the Caspian Sea is one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world, the water is about a third as salty as that of seawater. The biggest freshwater bodies on Earth are Lake Superior and Lake Baikal, so the salinity of the Caspian is not surprising. The salt content in the Caspian Sea is a result of the sea’s formation.

It is an endorheic basin

An endorheic basin is a drainage basin where water does not flow into rivers but rather drains into marshy lakes or swamps. These types of basins have geological boundaries and are therefore far inland. They are particularly prone to contamination as they tend to accumulate large amounts of dried minerals. Interestingly, endorheic basins can vary between continents. Australia, for example, has the highest concentration, with 21 percent, while North America has the lowest. Typically, up to 18 percent of earth’s land drains to endorheic seas and lakes.

It is rich in biodiversity

The Caspian Sea has the highest diversity of organisms per area than any other lake on earth. The ratio of organisms per area to the total area of a lake is a reliable indicator of its biodiversity. The amount of diversity depends on several parameters, including age, biotope diversity, and energy and biotic conditions. There are several factors that contribute to the diversity of organisms within the Caspian Sea.

It is isolated from the oceans

A fictional planet located in the deep oceans is known as R’Lyeh. H. P. Lovecraft chose the South Pacific as its oceanic pole of inaccessibility. Although the ocean is a large part of the planet, a few regions are isolated from the oceans. However, the majority of oceanic land microbes are present in the oceans. Thus, the oceans are a vast source of these organisms.

It is considered a zoogeographical region

The Caspian Sea is the largest saltwater lake in the world, with 3.5 times the volume of the Great Lakes combined. Most of the water comes from the Volga and Ural rivers, which contribute to about 80% of the inflow. Because of this, the sea level history of the Caspian is unique, with no natural outflow. In addition, the Caspian Sea is a closed basin, and its history of sea levels is independent of the eustatic ocean.

It is not a lake

There is no consensus on the Caspian Sea’s classification, but there is one common misconception: it is not a lake. Though the sea is essentially landlocked, its size and salinity are similar to lakes. Caspian water is 1.2 percent saltier than seawater, which makes it a “salt lake.”