Besides the springs, over 400 small salty lakes are scattered throughout its territory. The island is famous for its mineral springs and sandy beaches. It covers an area of approximately 56 km 2 and is 42 km long. The largest island in the Black Sea is Dzharylhach Island in Ukraine. Ukraine has the highest number of Islands in the Black Sea, including the sea’s largest island. The islands are administered by the various countries bordering the sea, including Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, and Ukraine. There are numerous islands of varying sizes in the Black Sea. June, October, and December are the wettest months Islands In The Black Sea Aerial view of the eastern edge of the Dzharylhach island of Ukraine, the largest island in the Black Sea. The northwest portion experiences the lowest temperature, falling below -22 degrees Fahrenheit in winter. In spring, the air temperature rises to 61 degrees Fahrenheit and 74 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. The average air temperature over the sea’s central portion in January is 46 degrees Fahrenheit and decreases westwards. The coastal areas along with the Black Sea experience marine climate, characterized by warmer days between May and October. The relative strength of the North Atlantic oscillation reduces the amount of cold air reaching the northern portion during winter. This weather phenomena result from the interaction between the mid-latitude air mass and the North Atlantic Ocean. The Black Sea region experiences climatic variation due to the North Atlantic Oscillation phenomena over the North Atlantic Ocean. Thus, the Black Sea was referred to as the “Northern Sea.” The Climate Of The Black Sea Sunrise on the Black Sea in Odessa Black represents north, green or light blue represents east, red represents the south, and white is for the west. Another theory is that the name “Black” was given to the sea by sailors, who observed that the sea turned black during severe storms in winter.Īccording to color symbolism, different colors represent the four cardinal directions. Due to high hydrogen sulfide concentration, black sludge forms on these objects and dead bodies, giving the water its black color. This dark color forms when dead animal and plant matter and wrecked ship stay underwater for a long time. There are numerous hypotheses as to why the sea was eventually named “The Black Sea.” One hypothesis is the dark color of the seawater. However, after the Pontus region was colonized by the Milesians and including it in Greek civilization, the sea was renamed “Hospitable Sea.” In antiquity, the Black Sea was simply referred to as “the sea.” However, just before the Greek colonization, the Ancient Greeks named it the “Inhospitable Sea” because its shores were inhabited by hostile tribes, and the sea was also difficult to navigate.

However, in Greece, the sea has historically been referred to as the “Euxine Sea.” But, the name “Black Sea” is the sea’s official name even in a country where alternative names are used. In almost all the countries bordering the sea, the name given to the inland water body is an equivalent of the Black Sea. Russia has the longest coastline on the sea (2,300 km), followed by Turkey (1,329 km) and Ukraine (1,282 km) Relief map of Black Sea coastline Origin Of The Name The Black Sea has a coastline of approximately 5,800 kilometers, including the Sea of Azov. The Black Sea basin covers an area of approximately 2 million square kilometers and drains 25 countries. Romania also has an opening to the Black Sea. The sea is bordered to the north by Russia and Ukraine, Turkey to the south, Bulgaria to the west, and Georgia to the east. The black Sea drainage basin drains several countries, including the six countries that share its coast. It is bound to the west by the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe, to the east by the Caucasus, north by East European Plains, and south by Anatolia of Western Asia. The Black Sea lies between the continents of Asia and Europe. It covers a surface area of 436,402 km 2, and has a volume of 547,000 km 3. The Black Sea is one of the marginal seas of the Atlantic and the ocean’s 13th largest sea. The Atlantic Ocean has several marginal and enclosed seas.

Black sea port map