Which sea is salty, black or Aegean? The Dead Sea lake is a natural phenomenon. The famous salt sea lakes are disappearing

Sea water, billions of years ago, dissolved a mass of chemical compounds, was transformed into a solution containing many unique microcomponents. One of the main characteristics sea ​​water- its salinity. The Mediterranean Sea is the saltiest on the planet after the Red Sea.

A little history

The Mediterranean Sea, according to scientists, was once part of the Tethys, an ancient ocean that stretched from America to Asia.

Five million years ago, due to a severe drought, the sea consisted of many lakes and began to flood only after the end of the drought, many years later. This was facilitated by a gigantic waterfall, which cut the barrier that served as a barrier between the sea and Atlantic Ocean. Gradually, as the sea filled with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, this obstacle disappeared, and the Strait of Gibraltar was formed.

Characteristic

The Mediterranean Sea is located between Africa and Europe, and its outlines are constantly changing. To date:

• its area is 2.5 million km 2;
• water volume - 3.6 million km 3;
• average depth - 1541 m;
• maximum depth reaches 5121 m;
• water transparency 50-60 m;
• salinity Mediterranean Sea in percentage places it reaches 3.95%;
• total annual 430 km 3 .

This is one of the warmest and saltiest areas of the World Ocean.

The Mediterranean Sea received its name from its location among the lands that made up the entire world known to the ancients. The sea in the middle of the Earth - that’s what the ancient Greeks called it, the Romans called it Inland Sea, or Ours . Big green water - this is how the ancient Egyptians dubbed the reservoir.

Water composition

Sea water is not just H 2 O, but a solution of a myriad of substances, where many are combined in various formulas chemical elements. Of these, the most a large number of are chlorides (88.7%), among which NaCl is the leader - regular salt cookery Sulfuric acid salts - 10.8%, and only 0.5% of the rest of the water composition is formed by other substances. These proportions determine the salinity of the Mediterranean Sea. The indicator is 38‰. This allows you to receive table salt from sea water by evaporating it.

Over the course of many years of development of life on Earth, sea water became a supplier of salt, transforming into salt layers. Some of the largest in Europe are located in Sicily - the largest

Salt deposits can form at different depths, which sometimes reach 1 km, and in some cases it is salt lakes at the level of the Earth's surface - the Uyuni salt marsh, a dry salt lake.

Oceanographers have found that the World Ocean contains 48 quadrillion tons of salt, and even with its constant extraction, the composition of sea water will not change.

Salinity concept

When determining the salinity of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as other bodies of water, the mass of salts in grams contained in one kilogram of sea water is taken into account.

It is calculated in ppm and is due to the fact that a large volume of water enters the seas. river waters or melted continental glaciers. Low salinity equatorial zone due to tropical rains, which desalinate water.

Salinity changes with increasing depth. Beyond 1500 meters there is practically no water.

To take a sample and measure it, special samplers are used, which allow you to take samples from different depths and from different water layers.

Where does so much salt come from in sea water?

For some time, scientists were of the opinion that the salt was brought by rivers, but this hypothesis was not confirmed. The only assumption that is now held is that the ocean became salty during the process of its birth and transformation, since ancient animals could not live in fresh or slightly salty water. At the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, near the Greek city of Zakynthos, organized structures were found that were more than three million years old, but what the salinity of the Mediterranean Sea water was in those distant times in percentage is unknown.

Academician V.I. Vernadsky believed that sea ​​inhabitants- animals and plants - extracted from deep sea silicon salts and carbon dioxide, which were brought by rivers to form their shells, skeletons and shells. And as they died, these same compounds settled on the seabed in the form of organic sediments. Thus, marine life has maintained the salt composition of sea water unchanged for centuries.

What causes salinity?

All seas are part of the ocean. But there are seas that break deep into the land and are connected to the ocean only by a narrow strait. These seas include:

• Mediterranean;
• Black;
• Azovskoe;
• Baltic;
• Red.

All of them can be either very salty, because they are influenced by hot air, or almost fresh due to the rivers flowing into them, which dilute them with their water.

The salinity of the Black and Mediterranean Seas is greatly influenced by the hot climate.

Despite the fact that the Black Sea is located in the Mediterranean basin and is connected to it by the shallow Bosporus, it has a lower salinity. The indicator is lower not only as a result of difficult water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean, but also due to a significant amount of precipitation and the influx of continental waters. In the open part of the sea this indicator varies from 17.5‰ to 18‰, and in the coastal zone Northwestern region- it is below 9‰.

The salinity of the seas is different from the salinity ocean waters, which is due to the free exchange of water between the seas and the ocean, water flow and the influence of climate. On the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, water salinity increases from the Strait of Gibraltar to the coasts of Egypt and Syria, and near Gibraltar it reaches 36‰.

Climate

Due to the location of the Mediterranean Sea in the subtropical zone, the Mediterranean climate prevails here: hot summers and mild winters. The January air temperature on the northern coasts of the sea is around +8...+10 °C, and on the southern coast it is +14...+16 °C. The hottest month is August, when Maximum temperature at east coast reaches +28...+30 °С. Winds blow over the sea all year round, and in winter cyclones from the Atlantic invade, generating storms.

The sirocco, a sultry wind that carries a lot of dust, breaks through from the African deserts and the temperature often reaches +40°C and above. All these factors affect the salinity of the Mediterranean Sea, increasing its percentage due to water evaporation.

Fauna

The fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by great species diversity. This is due to the favorable environment and centuries-old history. More than 550 species of fish live here, 70 of which live in a limited range.

Huge schools concentrate here during winter, and in other seasons the individuals stay scattered, especially during spawning or fattening. For this numerous species fish migrate to the Black Sea.

The southeastern region of the Mediterranean Sea, influenced by the flow of the Nile River, is one of the most fruitful. The waters of the Nile generously supplied sea water big amount nutrients and suspended minerals, which affected the salinity of the Mediterranean Sea.

But in the early sixties it was built Aswan hydroelectric power station, resulting in a sharp reduction in river flow and water redistribution throughout the year. This significantly worsened the living conditions of marine species, and their numbers decreased. As the desalination zone decreased, useful salts began to flow into the sea in smaller volumes. This led to a significant reduction in the amount of zoo- and phytoplankton; accordingly, the number of fish (sardines, mackerel, horse mackerel, etc.) decreased and fishing was reduced.

Unfortunately, pollution of the Mediterranean Sea is increasing in direct proportion to the development of technological progress, and the environmental situation is causing concern among scientists. Let's hope that all caring people will unite and save wealth sea ​​world for posterity.

Rating of seas by salinity

There are about 80 seas on our planet. Of course, the Dead Sea would take first place in the ranking, since its waters are famous for their salinity. The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth, salinity is 300-310 ‰, in some years up to 350 ‰. But scientists call this body of water a lake.

1. Red Sea with a salinity of 42‰.

The Red Sea is located between the shores of Africa and Asia. The Red Sea, in addition to its salinity and warmth, boasts its transparency. Many tourists love to relax on its shores.

2. The Mediterranean Sea has a salinity of 39.5‰.

The Mediterranean Sea washes the shores of Europe and Africa. In addition to salinity, it can also boast of its warm waters - in summer they warm up to 25 degrees above zero.

3. Aegean Sea with a salinity of 38.5‰.

The waters of this sea with a high concentration of sodium can cause skin irritation. Therefore, after swimming it is better to take a fresh shower. In summer, the water warms up to 24 degrees Celsius. Its waters wash the shore Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor and the island of Crete.

4 . Ionian Sea with a salinity of 38 ‰.

This is the densest and saltiest Greek sea. Its waters allow slow swimmers to hone this skill, as the high density will help keep the body afloat. The area of ​​the Ionian Sea is 169 thousand square kilometers. It washes the shores of Southern Italy, Albania and Greece.

5 . The Sea of ​​Japan, whose salinity is 35‰

The sea is located between the continent of Eurasia and Japanese islands. Its waters also wash the island of Sakhalin. Water temperature depends on geographical location: in the north – 0 -+12 degrees, in the south – 17-26 degrees. Square Sea of ​​Japan more than 1 million square kilometers.

6. Barents Sea with salinity 34.7-35 ‰

This is the marginal sea of ​​the North Arctic Ocean. It washes the shores of Russia and Norway.

7. Laptev Sea with a salinity of 34‰.

Area - 662 thousand square kilometers. It is located between the New Siberian Islands and Severnaya Zemlya. Average annual temperature water - 0 degrees Celsius.

8. Chukchi Sea with a salinity of 33‰.

In winter, the salinity of this sea rises to 33‰, while in summer the salinity decreases slightly. The Chukchi Sea has an area of ​​589.6 thousand km². average temperature in summer - 12 degrees Celsius, and in winter - almost 2 degrees Celsius.

9. White Sea also different high salinity. In the surface layers the figure stopped at 26 percent, but at depth it increases to 31 percent.

10. Laptev Sea. Salinity at the surface is recorded at 28 percent

The sea has a harsh climate with temperatures below 0°C for more than nine months of the year, sparse flora and fauna, and low population along the coast. Most of the time, with the exception of August and September, it is under ice. The salinity of sea water at the surface in the northwestern part of the sea in winter is 34 ‰ (ppm), in the southern part - up to 20-25 ‰, decreasing in summer to 30-32 ‰ and 5-10 ‰, respectively. Strong influence for salinity surface waters are influenced by melting ice and runoff of Siberian rivers.

There are about 80 seas on our planet, and each of them is unique in its own way. Some are part of the World Ocean, some attract tourists with picturesque views or the diversity of their flora and fauna. But all seas have common feature- they are salty. The alkali content in each of them is different, and today we will talk about what they are - the saltiest seas in the world.

10

In the last position in the ranking of the saltiest seas in the world is the White Sea with an area of ​​only 90 thousand square meters. It is located in the north of the European part Russian Federation and refers to the Arctic Ocean. The sea is cold, you can’t really swim in it, because in summer the water warms up to no more than 15 degrees Celsius, while in winter its temperature is -1 degree. The White Sea is fed by the waters of such large rivers, How Northern Dvina, Onega, Kem, Ponoi, as well as many small reservoirs, and the depth of its bottom ranges from 50-340 meters.

9 Chukchi Sea

It is located between Alaska and Chukotka, characterized by a high concentration of salts - at the level of 33%. The cold waters of this reservoir, even in the warm season, do not warm up to more than +12 degrees. Despite low temperature water (in winter -1.8 degrees), the fauna of the Chukchi Sea amazes with its diversity. In addition to many species of fish, walruses and seals live here, polar bears live on the ice floes, and in the summer there are lively bird markets. Depth differences range from 50 to 1256 meters.

8

The area of ​​the reservoir, located between the islands of Severnaya Zemlya and Novosibirsk, is 662 thousand square km. The water temperature here is one of the lowest on the planet - it never rises above 0 degrees. Most of the year the waters are covered with ice, and several species of fish live at the bottom.

There are a couple of dozen islands in the sea where remains of mammoths are found even today.

7

A salty sea on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, it washes the shores of two countries at once - Russia and Norway. The area of ​​the reservoir is 1,424 thousand square kilometers, the maximum depth is 600 meters.

The sea is playing key role in fisheries and transport communication, there are two on it major ports– Russian Murmansk and Norwegian Vardø.

There are often storms here, and undersea world rich different types fish and plankton. Mammals are also found here - seal, seal, polar bear, beluga whale.

6

The area of ​​the Sea of ​​Japan is 1062 thousand square kilometers, and the maximum depth is 3741 meters. The highest recorded salt content is 35 percent. The Sea of ​​Japan is one of the most saturated with salt seas on the planet and the saltiest in Russia. Northern part The reservoir freezes in the cold season, the climate here is moderate, in the summer the air above the sea warms up to 25 degrees Celsius. Animal world rich and varied. There are many species of fish and mammals here, and fishing for crabs, scallops, and algae is carried out.

The saltiest lake in Russia is Baskunchak. The salt content in it reaches 37%

5

Thanks to the high salt content in the Ionian Sea, it is easy to learn to swim - the water literally keeps the swimmer on the surface. The area of ​​the reservoir is 169 thousand square kilometers, and the greatest depth is 5121 meters. The bottom off the coast is covered with sand or shell rock; the climate here is very favorable, which contributes to the development of tourism. The waters of the Ionian Sea warm up to 25.5 degrees in summer, minimum temperature water in winter - 14 degrees Celsius.

4

Salts in the waters Aegean Sea so much so that doctors advise washing under the running water after swimming here fresh water to avoid skin irritation. The water temperature ranges from 14 (in winter) to 24 degrees (in summer). This is one of the most ancient bodies of water on the planet; the age of the Aegean Sea is more than 20 thousand years. IN Lately the ecological situation here leaves much to be desired, the underwater world is becoming impoverished due to the death of plankton, which is necessary for feeding fish, although previously in these places in industrial scale caught fish and octopuses.

3

This sea stretches between Europe and Africa; in addition to the fact that it is one of the saltiest bodies of water on the planet, it is also rightfully considered the warmest. In summer the waters warm up to 25 degrees, and in winter the temperature is sea ​​depths does not fall below 12 degrees. The flora and fauna here are more than diverse; some species of fish living in the Mediterranean Sea are listed in the Red Book. Its area is 2,500 thousand square kilometers, and its maximum depth is 5,121 meters.

2

Despite the high alkali content, sharks, dolphins and stingrays live in the waters of the Red Sea. A unique feature of the sea is that the average water temperature varies little throughout the year, its maximum is 25 degrees.

The area of ​​the reservoir is 450 thousand square kilometers, most of is in tropical zone with appropriate climatic conditions.

1

Its second name is the Asphalt Sea. Located in Israel. The water level here is 428 meters below sea level, and it is constantly decreasing, on average by a meter per year. Maximum depth is 306 meters. Water Dead Sea rich in useful microelements, in particular bromine and potassium salts, but this composition has led to the almost complete absence of any inhabitants here.

It is worth noting that officially the Dead Sea (Sea of ​​Sodom) is considered drainless salt lake, the saltiest in the world.

Several seas have the honor of being called “the saltiest”. The Dead and Red Seas are the undoubted leaders. Only Red is part of the World Ocean (MO, Ocean), connected to it by the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. The Dead Sea lake is a remnant of an ancient pool. This body of water on the Eurasian continent does not have a direct connection with the ocean. Let's find out which sea is the saltiest without delving into geographic “subordination.” Let’s compare the mineralization of the planet’s water bodies and find out what this indicator depends on. We will focus on the word “sea” in the names of geographical objects.

What property of water is called “salinity”?

Simple experience convinces us: there are impurities even in fresh lakes, rivers, and springs. If you pour some tap water into a saucer and leave it in the sun, the liquid will evaporate. It will remain at the bottom white coating- these are salts. We weigh it and get a value close to 2 g/l, calculated per 100 g of water - 0.2%. Only distilled water has no impurities, but its consumption is harmful to the human body. The World Ocean contains an average of 35 g of salts per liter. Based on the color and transparency of the water, it is more difficult to recognize what is in front of us: a large fresh lake or a salt sea. A photo of a reservoir taken from a good angle, and even taste sensations help resolve this dilemma.

“Salinity” refers to the content of dissolved substances, this indicator is measured in ppm. The unit was specially introduced to study the composition of water; it was included in school and university geography textbooks. Let's simplify the explanation and relate the salinity indicator to the mass fraction as a percentage. Promile is a tenth of a percent, designated “‰”.

Sea water is a multicomponent solution

Mass (g) of common chemical elements in 1 liter of sea water:

• chlorine - 19.5;
• sodium - 10.8;
• magnesium - 1.3;
• sulfur - 0.9.

Less than 1 g is contained in the water of the seas of calcium, potassium, bromine, carbon, strontium, boron, fluorine, silicon. Chemistry experts will object that in the form of simple substances, the above-mentioned sodium and potassium are flammable, while sulfur, carbon and other substances are insoluble. In fact, during calculations, the mass fractions of elements are obtained, and they are in water in the form of ions: Na +, K +, Mg +, Ca +, Cl -, B -, S 2-, Br -, HCO 3-, SO 4 2- and other cations and anions.

Why are the solute levels different?

In the debate about which sea is the saltiest, several elementary truths are forgotten. Heraclitus, Plato and other ancient thinkers said that everything moves, you cannot enter the same water twice. The composition and amount of impurities in seas, rivers and lakes is constantly changing. The following factors influence the indicators:

• distance from the equator and the associated amount of solar radiation;
• climate and weather;
• amount of precipitation;
• surface and underground runoff;
• types and strength rocks composing the bottom and shores;
• vital activity of organisms in water.

The salinity of the seas also depends on warm currents, because the solubility of most substances increases with increasing temperatures. Coastal waters in areas where there is significant surface runoff from the mainland are desalinated, for example, in the deltas of the Nile, La Plata and other large rivers. As ice melts, salinity decreases. When ice cover forms, it increases.

Which sea is the saltiest in the world's oceans?

Many people remember from school that the salinity of water depends on evaporation. The higher it is, the more salts accumulate. In the polar latitudes in winter this pattern is violated. When ice forms, the salinity of water increases, reaching record levels in the Greenland Sea for the northern part of the Moscow Region. Closer to temperate latitudes The desalinating influence of rivers and large amounts of precipitation have an effect. Salinity reaches a maximum south of 45° N. w. and north of 10° S. w. This area contains the saltiest seas in the world:

• Red - 41‰;
• Mediterranean - 39‰;
• Arabian - 36‰.

Significant amounts of precipitation and the flow of great rivers reduce salinity in equatorial latitudes.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is the saltiest part of the MO

Having compared all the factors, we come to the final conclusion that the Red Sea is the saltiest. The body of water mentioned in the Old Testament is located between northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. According to biblical legend, the Red Sea parted before the Israelites fleeing Egypt, and a wide passage appeared. Scientists have created a computer model proving that the legend does not contradict the laws of physics.

About 41 g of impurities are dissolved in 1 liter of Red Sea water. Salinity increases from north to south, reaching its maximum value in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. There is practically no river flow in this region; precipitation falls much less than water evaporates. Temperatures are consistently high throughout the year. Factors turned out to be favorable for the rich organic world the Red Sea, the development of tourism on its shores.

Salty seas of Russia

Knowing the basic patterns that affect the content of dissolved substances, it is easier to determine which sea is the saltiest in Russia. In the north - Barents, in the east - Japanese. The salinity of water above the Arctic Circle varies significantly throughout the year. In the west of the Barents Sea, this figure reaches 35.0‰, but decreases significantly when moving east. The saltiest sea in Russia is the Sea of ​​Japan; the salinity of its water remains stable at around 34‰.

Dead Sea Lake - a natural phenomenon

The greatest influence on the content of dissolved substances is exerted by evaporation and the amount of precipitation atmospheric precipitation. A combination of factors turned out to be favorable for the accumulation of salts in the lake on the Israeli-Jordanian border. The saltiest water is in the sea-lake, which is called Dead. The water is so dense that a person floats on its surface without effort.

Salinity levels are very high - from 300 to 370‰. The average content of dissolved substances is 33.7% (in 1 liter of water there are 337 g of salts). Not only the salty water, low location on land, but also the famous mud also made the lake famous. Highly mineralized sludge contains salts of about 300 g/kg.

Mineralogical composition of the Dead Sea

In total, the lake water contains dozens of mineral and organic components. We present data on the most common compounds indicating the mass fraction of the substance in the composition of all dissolved salts:

• magnesium chloride - 50.8%;
• calcium chloride - 14.4%;
• sodium chloride - 30.4%;
• potassium chloride - 4.4%.

After swimming in the waters of the Dead Sea, you should rinse off the concentrated salt solution so that it does not corrode the skin. Increased concentrations in mud were noted for the following biologically important substances: iodine, bromine, and hormone-like molecules. There are few sulfates in the water of the Dead Sea lake, but there are many bromides, which increases the healing effect of brine.

The famous salt sea lakes are disappearing

Media reports about the fate of the Dead and Aral Seas further fuel interest in the reservoirs. The surface of the Dead Sea is already 420 m below ocean level and is falling by about 1 m annually. According to researchers, in 40 years catastrophic changes similar to those that occurred with Aral Sea. For a long time, bodies of water have been constantly mentioned in answers to the question “which sea is the saltiest?” Dead Lake continues to conscientiously fulfill its obliging name. Salty water kills bacteria and prevents algae from developing.

Peru French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote poetic lines about fresh water. He wrote about a liquid without color, taste or smell: “It is impossible to describe you, they enjoy you without knowing what you are,” “You are life itself.” It is a pity that the writer did not make equally poetic comparisons when he saw sea water. After all, the liquid environment of the animal body contains the same salts that were in ancient ocean, which became the cradle of all life on Earth.

There are about 80 seas throughout our planet. All of them enter the waters of the World Ocean. As everyone knows from school, the seas are salty, but they all differ in the saturation of different compounds. Below is a ranking of the saltiest seas on Earth.

The White Sea, whose salinity is ‰.

One of the smallest seas on the planet is also one of the saltiest. Its area is only 90 thousand square kilometers. The water in it warms up to 15 degrees above zero in summer, and drops to 1 degree Celsius in winter. About 50 species of fish live in the White Sea.

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The Chukchi Sea with a salinity of 33‰.

In winter, the salinity of this sea increases to 33‰, while in summer the salinity decreases slightly. The Chukchi Sea has an area of ​​589.6 thousand square kilometers. The average temperature in the warm season is 12 degrees Celsius, in the cold season - almost 2 degrees Celsius.

The area of ​​this sea is 662 thousand square kilometers. It is located between the New Siberian Islands and Severnaya Zemlya. The average annual water temperature is 0 degrees Celsius.

The Barents Sea has a salinity of 35‰.

The Barents Sea is the saltiest of all located on the territory of the Russian Federation. It is adjacent to, but is almost 16 times larger in area. The waters are full of different types of fish due to the fact that the water temperature in summer is around 12 degrees Celsius. And this attracts many marine organisms, which, in turn, attract predatory fish.

The Sea of ​​Japan, whose salinity is 35‰, is in 6th place in our ranking.

This sea is located between the continent of Eurasia and the Japanese islands. Its waters also wash the island of Sakhalin. The Sea of ​​Japan is considered one of the saltiest seas in the world. The water temperature differs depending on the geographical location: in the north – 0 -+12 degrees, in the south – 17-26 degrees Celsius. The area of ​​the Sea of ​​Japan is more than 1 million square kilometers.

The Ionian Sea is 3‰ higher in salinity than our previous record holder.

This is the densest and saltiest Greek sea. Its waters allow slow swimmers to hone this skill, as the high density will help keep the body afloat. In summer, the water warms up to 26 degrees above zero. The area of ​​the Ionian Sea is 169 thousand square kilometers.

Aegean Sea with a salinity of 38.5‰.

This sea takes 4th place in our ranking. Its waters with a high concentration of sodium can cause irritation to human skin. Therefore, after bathing in it, you should take a fresh shower. In summer, the water warms up to 24 degrees Celsius. Its waters wash the shores of the Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor and the island of Crete. The Aegean Sea, more than 20 thousand years old, has an area of ​​179 thousand square kilometers.

The Mediterranean Sea has a salinity of 39.5‰.

The Red Sea with a salinity of 42‰.

It is located between the coasts of Africa and Asia. Year-round warm waters provide favorable conditions for many fish and other marine organisms. The Red Sea, in addition to salinity and warmth, boasts. Many tourists love to relax on its shores.

The Dead Sea has a record salinity of 270‰.

Israel has the saltiest water on our planet. Its salinity of 270% makes it the densest on Earth. The mineral content helps people heal all sorts of ailments, but you should not stay in the water for too long - this can have a detrimental effect on a person's skin.

Mikhail Ilyin

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