What is black sea?

The Black Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia. It is surrounded by the Pontic Mountains to the south, the Caucasus Mountains to the east, the broad plains of Eastern Europe to the north, and the Balkan Peninsula to the west.

It is connected to the Sea of Azov through the narrow Kerch Strait. The Bosporus Strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and then via the Dardanelles to the Aegean Sea which is part of the Mediterranean Sea.

A notable feature of the Black Sea is its anoxic zone below 50-100 meters, which means that deeper waters lack oxygen and therefore cannot support most forms of marine life. This is due to the stratification of the water column, where freshwater from rivers flows on top of the denser, saltier water from the Mediterranean, creating a barrier that prevents oxygen from mixing down.

The Black Sea has significant geopolitical and economic importance, serving as a crucial transportation route for goods and resources. Bordering countries include Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia.