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Explore the Caspian Sea in Russia
The Caspian Sea is the largest landlocked body of water in the world. It possesses characteristics of both seas and lakes and is therefore often called the world's largest lake, though it is a saltwater lake. It is bordered by Russia, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. On the north and east it ends at the foot of the central Asian steppes. The eastern Turkmen shore has a large bay-like area called the Kara Bogaz Gol. The two closest major Russian cities are Astrakhan and Derbent.
The Caspian Sea has been around since antiquity. In ancient literature, it was often called the Hyrcanian Ocean, the Khazar Sea, the Khvalissian Sea and the Mazandaran Sea, which it is still sometimes called today. The Caspian has a lot of oil and gas which has been discovered, but as of yet these resources are not being fully exploited.
There is quite a lot of wildlife in the Caspian, as you can well imagine. The most well known is perhaps the sturgeon, whose eggs are processed into caviar. Sturgeon fishing has become well monitored in recent times, as the species survival in the lake was threatened by over-fishing. Caspian Seals (Phoca caspica) are a unique species of seal which are widespread in the Caspian. They are one of the few seal species that can be found inland.
One notable feature of the Caspian Sea is that though it is fed by more than one river, it has no natural outflow. It has its own level history and is completely independent of the world's oceans. Besides enjoying the sea for its natural splendor, marine and animal life and tranquility, you may be able to board a boat and spend some time viewing it from the waters of the lake. A visit to the Caspian Sea is a worthwhile endeavor.