The Black Sea, also known as the Yushin Sea, is one of the world’s largest bodies of water. And a world-famous inland sea. This rim of the Atlantic Ocean, located between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, has long been legendary. It is popular not only for its name. Which refers to its inhospitable nature but also for some surprisingly unusual features. For a long time, this sea was called the Inhospitable Sea. Its lack of hospitality was attributed to the difficulty of navigation. In addition, there are many interesting facts that make the Black Sea attractive for sea lovers.

Here Are Eight Facts About The Black Sea That Will Captivate You

1. Geography And the Location: Where Is The Black Sea?

The Black Sea covers an area of ​​436,400 km2 and is located in Eurasia. Surrounded by Europe, the Caucasus, and Anatolia. Countries that border it include Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia. This body of water is also bounded to the south, east and north by the Pontus Mountains. The Caucasus Mountains and the Crimean Mountains. It is also bordered by the Strandzha Mountains to the southwest and the Dobrogea Plateau northwest. With the maximum depth of 2,212 m, this inland sea is the confluence of many rivers. Including the Danube, Sazanbug, Dnieper, Lionni, and Dniester. In, the Black Sea was connected to the Mediterranean Sea via the Bosphorus, the Sea of ​​Marmara, and the Dardanelles. It joins the Aegean Sea and the Cretan Sea before meeting the Mediterranean Sea.

2. Name: Why Is it Called The Black Sea?

One of the least well-known parts of the Black Sea region, the origin of its name remains unclear. There are various theories about the origin of this sea’s name. According to the theory, before this body of water was named the Black Sea, it was called the “inhospitable sea” because of the presence of barbarian tribes, mainly on the coast. When the Greeks conquered the coast, its name was changed to “Hospitable”. There is evidence that the sea was called “sea” for a long time. But over the centuries, different people have given this sea many names. Nevertheless, this particular name is the most famous and is believed to have been given by the Turks in the Middle Ages. 

Historical documents show that during the Ottoman Empire, the Black Sea was given names such as Bahar-e-Siya and Karadeniz, which mean “Black Sea” in Ottoman Turkish. Further hypotheses suggest several reasons for the origin of the name of the Black Sea. According to one theory, sailors called the Black Sea because winter storms made the water appear black. Another theory is that objects drowned in water acquire a layer of black mud after a while. The discovery of such an object across the ocean may be the reason for its name.

3. Anoxic Water: Is There Life In The Sea?

One of the most interesting facts about the Black Sea is that it is oxygen-free. More specifically, there is a significant lack of oxygen in the water. The Black Sea is the largest body of water with meromictic basins. In other words, the movement of water between the lower and also upper layers of the ocean is a rare phenomenon that can be observed anywhere in the world. This creates a large temperature difference between these layers, causing the lower layer to completely lose oxygen and become inert. 

At the same time, the Black Sea receives fresh water from rivers and precipitation. However, the Black Sea only exchanges water with the Mediterranean Sea. Infection occurs in the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, so a dense water influx from the Mediterranean occurs at the bottom of the basin. In contrast, surface water runoff in the Black Sea occurs close to the surface of the basin. Because the Black Sea’s two water layers mix at a shallow depth, marine life cannot survive in the anoxic zone. Only the oxygen-rich surface waters of the Black Sea support marine life.

4. History Of Navigation: Where Did Noah’s Ark Land?

According to many marine geologists, the Black Sea was a freshwater lake about 7,000 years ago, before the rising waters of the Mediterranean Sea introduced salt water into the big lake. In line with this theory, many argue that the so-called Flood represents the devastating flood in the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark. The story goes that after the flood ended, Noah’s Ark came to rest on the very slopes of Mount Ararat in Turkey. Marine archaeologists have sometimes made arguments for or against these claims. However, this particular history of the Black Sea remains controversial due to maybe the lack of reliable scientific evidence.

5. Constant Water Level: What Is It Like To Swim In The Dead Sea?

The water level in the Black Sea always remains the same because there are no tides. As a result, the sea level does not fluctuate, leaving a calm and calm sea on the surface. Interestingly, all these unusual properties of the waters of the Black Sea make many wonder whether it is possible to swim in the sea or not. Swimming in the Black Sea is possible on clean freshwater surfaces, but the experience is different from other bodies of water. Objects usually tend to float in water due to strange properties such as high mineral or salt content. Error! File name not specified.

6. Exotic Small Islands: The Terrifying Snake Island?

There are approximately ten small islands in the Black Sea, offering an amazing richness of flora and fauna that makes this sea even more unique. Most of these islands belong to countries such as Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey, and Romania, and also include Snake Island, located near the Danube Delta. The Bulgarian island of St. Thomas is also known for the presence of fish-eating gray snakes in the island’s waters. Other famous islands in the Black Sea include St. Anastasia (Bulgaria), Berezan and also Giresun (Turkey), St. Kilix (Bulgaria), and Zalilgach (Ukraine). Most importantly, these very islands in the Black Sea have become significant tourist attractions, also playing an essential role in their countries’ economies.

7. Creepy Rumor: Is The Dead Man Underwater?

What seems like a fascinating and almost frightening fact is the assumption that there are still deaths in the waters of the Black Sea. Ship and human remains, as well as other decomposable materials such as rope and wood, can be found on the ocean floor hundreds of years after entering the waters of the Black Sea. This fact may sound exciting, but scientifically speaking, the lower water layers of this ocean are anoxic, so the decomposition process is negligibly slow. Therefore, the remains of the dead continue to remain in seawater. Unfortunately, this phenomenon gave rise to many rumors about the Black Sea.

8. Attractions: Do You Have A Favorite Cruise Destination?

Despite all the mysteries surrounding the Black Sea, the fact remains that this inland body of water is a popular holiday destination all year round. With their high mountains and beautiful coastlines, the countries bordering the Black Sea are home to people who love the sea and travel.