Black Sea

The Black Sea, also known as the Euxine Sea is an inland sea of the Atlantic Ocean. The Black sea covers approximately 436,400 square kilometers with its deepest point measuring about 2, 212 meters.

True to its rather inhospitable name, the sea has a few unpleasant attributes. For instance, it is challenging to navigate the sea. The initial sailors attributed the difficulty in navigating to the savage tribes who have occupied the seashores.

In its formation stages, the Black Sea was a freshwater sea. This was until the salt water coming from the Mediterranean Sea entered the Black Sea. The resultant effect was that the saltwater destroyed the freshwater fauna and replaced it with the Mediterranean saltwater fauna.

Black Sea Facts for Kids

It was once a Freshwater sea before later becoming a saltwater sea.
The feedings rivers, however, feed it with fresh and semi-fresh water.
It has largest water body with the largest meromictic basin.
It is home to about ten small islands.
Its islands are in different countries.
The objects tend to float on the surface due to its high-levels of minerals and salt.
It contains remains of humans, ships and other materials such as wood and rope.
Is the only natural boundary of Ukraine.
It consists of a coastline that is quite even.
Its climate is majorly continental.
Contrary to its early year’s infamous attributes, the Black sea has slowly transformed into the beautiful and serene scenery. The sea is the home to a wide range of flora and fauna.
It is surrounded by the Pontic Mountains to the south, the Caucasus to the East and the Crimean Mountains to its North. The sea is notably a meeting point to many rivers that include the Danube river, the Southern Bug, Dioni and Dnieper rivers. Danube River is the largest among the rivers that feed the Black Sea.
An aerial view of the Black sea shows a oval shape.
What makes the Black sea even more captivating is that it hosts about ten small islands. Key among these islands is the Dzharylgach island, the Snake Island, and the St. Anastarcia island.
Interestingly, these islands are located in different countries. For instance, St. Anastarcia island is located in Bulgaria while Dzharylgach in Ukraine.

Life in the Black sea

A study has shown that aquatic life at the Black sea is inactive. This fact is caused by the significant absence of oxygen in the water. Essentially, the Black Sea is said to be the most massive water body with a meromictic basin. This means that there is little water movement in the upper and lower layers of the sea. Without sufficient movement of waters between these two layers, the supply of oxygen is significantly reduced. Notably, the quantity of oxygen dramatically reduces as one goes dipper into the sea.

Despite the reduced oxygen levels, swimming in the sea is said to be a particularly safe adventure. This is due to the notable absence of high or low tides. More so, the water levels at sea remain almost the same because the sea is quiet and calm.

Questions

1. What is the location of the Black Sea?
2. Name the six countries that share a border with the Black Sea?
3. What has led to the vast presence of ships and human remains in the sea?
4. How would you describe water movements in the sea?

Answers

1. Located between South-Eastern Europe and Asia Mino
2. Bulgaria to the West, Turkey to the south, Russia, Georgia and Ukraine to the North and East.
3. The argument put forth is that the process of decomposition of the remains is significantly slow due to the sea’s low oxygen volumes.
4. They are unusually quiet and calm.