The Crimean Peninsula is one of the favorite vacation spots for Russians and a popular tourist destination for fans of architectural and natural attractions. When answering the question, which seas are in the Crimea, many forget that, in addition to the Black Peninsula, it is also washed by the Sea of Azov, and therefore it is possible to choose a resort according to mood and needs.
Azov - sea or lake?
The small area and shallow depth of the Azov Sea of the Crimea may be puzzling: why not call it a lake? And yet, scientists believe that the term "sea" is the only correct one, although it is difficult to name the maximum depth of 13 meters.
The Sea of Azov belongs to the Atlantic basin and is connected with it by a complex system of natural reservoirs. It connects with the Black Sea through the Kerch Strait, then its waters mix with the Sea of Marmara through the Bosphorus and with the Aegean through the Dardanelles. Once in the waters of the Mediterranean, the Azov waters through the Strait of Gibraltar enter the Atlantic Ocean.
The Azov Sea has a number of interesting features:
- It belongs to flat seas and, due to its remoteness from the Atlantic, is considered the most continental on Earth.
- The Sea of Azov often freezes, and in cold winters - almost completely. The southern areas remain ice-free due to the higher salinity compared to other regions.
- The water temperature in the summer months reaches +25 degrees, and in winter, due to the shallowness and low salt content, it can drop to freezing values.
What sea washes Crimea?
And yet, the main sea of Crimea, without a doubt, is the Black Sea. It is on its coast that the main resorts and health resorts, sanatoriums and rest houses are located. The Black Sea washes most of the coastline of the Crimean peninsula and forms bays - Feodosia, Karkinitsky and Kalamitsky.
Three major resort regions stand out on the territory of Crimea, known as the South Coast with its center in Yalta, the West Coast with the Evpatoria resort and the South-East with Sudak and Feodosia at the head.
The Black Sea is important for the formation of the climate of the peninsula. On the southern part of the coast, the climate is characterized as subtropical, the water here warms up to +26 degrees in the summer months, and comfortable weather is observed even in late autumn and winter. The rest of the peninsula is characterized by a temperate continental climate, and the weather here is largely shaped by the proximity of the Black Sea.
