Seas in which the salinity of the water is above 35. The most salty sea in the world. Bright representatives of the depths that amaze the imagination

There are about 80 seas all over our planet. All of them enter the waters of the oceans. As everyone knows, from the school bench, 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, the salinity of which is ‰.

One of the smallest seas on the planet, it is also one of the saltiest. It covers only 90,000 square kilometers. The water in it warms up in summer to 15 degrees above zero, and in winter it drops to 1 degree Celsius. About 50 species of fish live in the White Sea.

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Chukchi Sea with a salinity of 33‰.

In winter, the salinity of this sea rises to 33‰, while in the summer, the salinity slightly decreases. 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 - 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 most salty of all located on the territory of the Russian Federation. It is adjacent to, but almost 16 times larger than it in area. The waters are full of different types of fish due to the fact that the water temperature in summer is about 12 degrees Celsius. And this attracts a lot of marine organisms, which, in turn, lure predatory fish.

The Sea of ​​Japan, with a salinity of 35‰, is ranked 6th in our rating.

This sea is located between the continent of Eurasia and the Japanese islands. Also, its waters 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 exceeds the salinity of our previous record holder by 3‰.

This is the most dense and salty Greek sea. Its waters allow poor 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 rating. Its waters with a high concentration of sodium can irritate the human skin. Therefore, after swimming in it, you should take a fresh shower. In summer, the water warms up to 24 degrees Celsius. Its waters wash the coast 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. The year-round warm waters provide favorable conditions for many fish and other marine life. The Red Sea, in addition to salinity and warmth, boasts. Many tourists love to relax on its shore.

The Dead Sea has a record salinity of 270‰.

Israel has the most salty on our planet. Its salinity of 270‰ makes it the densest on Earth. Saturation with minerals helps people treat all sorts of ailments, but you should not be in the water for too long - this can adversely affect the human skin.

Mikhail Ilyin

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Salinity rating of the seas

There are about 80 seas on our planet. Of course, the Dead Sea would take the first place in the ranking, as its waters are famous for their salinity. The Dead Sea is one of the most saline 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. The Red Sea with a salinity of 42‰.

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

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 boasts of its warm waters - in summer they warm up to 25 degrees above zero.

3. The 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 coast of the Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor and the island of Crete.

four . Ionian Sea with a salinity of 38 ‰.

This is the most dense and salty Greek sea. Its waters allow poor 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. 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 the Japanese islands. Also, its waters wash the island of Sakhalin. The water temperature depends on the geographical location: in the north - 0 - +12 degrees, in the south - 17-26 degrees. The area of ​​the Sea of ​​Japan is more than 1 million square kilometers.

6. Barents Sea with a salinity of 34.7-35 ‰

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

7. The Laptev Sea with a salinity of 34‰.

The area 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.

8. Chukchi Sea with a salinity of 33‰.

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

9. White Sea also has a high salinity. In the surface layers, the indicator stopped at 26 percent, but at depth it rises to 31 percent.

10. Laptev Sea. Salinity is recorded at the surface 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 near the surface in the northwestern part of the sea in winter is 34 ‰ (ppm), in the southern part - up to 20-25 ‰, in summer decreasing to 30-32 ‰ and 5-10 ‰, respectively. The salinity of surface waters is strongly influenced by the melting of ice and the runoff of Siberian rivers.

Sometimes this question is answered: "Dead Sea". This is the wrong answer. Although this body of water is called the sea, the Dead Sea does not actually have a drain and is thus a lake. And argues for the palm in the competition of the most salty lakes peace.

And the saltiest sea is the Red Sea. It is located in a tectonic depression up to 3 km deep between the Arabian Peninsula and the African continent, being the inland sea of ​​the Indian Ocean. The climate here is very hot and arid, therefore, on the one hand, precipitation is very rare (no more than 100 mm per year), and evaporation from the sea surface is strong (2000 mm per year). Not a single river flows into the Red Sea, and the water shortage is replenished from the Gulf of Aden (in the south). As a result, the salt content in 1 liter of Red Sea water reaches 41 g (41‰). For comparison: in the Mediterranean Sea, with which the Red Sea is connected through the Suez Canal, the concentration of salts is 25 g/l.


Geographical position of the Red Sea
(physical map)

Due to the fact that rivers do not flow into the Red Sea, the water in it is crystal clear and transparent, because the rivers carry silt and sand with them. Due to the hot climate off the coast of Egypt and the heating of the sea "from below" by the warmth of the planet's core, the water temperature does not drop below + 20 ° C even in winter, and in summer it reaches + 27 ° C. Therefore, the flora and fauna in this region is distinguished by rare diversity and beauty, making the Red Sea one of the most picturesque places on the planet. The special attraction of the Red Sea is given by extensive coral "gardens" that can be seen without even sailing far from the coast. Corals make an additional contribution to the process of cleansing the crystal clear water of the sea, constantly filtering it. In total, there are more than a thousand species of fish, and about 30% of them are endemic (that is, they are found only in local waters).



Underwater world of the Red Sea

The reason for this phenomenon is in the geological processes in the Red Sea area. Many years ago, it was connected to the Mediterranean Sea by a narrow channel. Then, when the continents formed and moved, this channel closed, and the Red Sea was completely isolated by land from other waters. The inhabitants of the sea, cut off from their relatives, began to adapt to the new living conditions. Later, in the south of the Red Sea, a narrow strait was formed into the Indian Ocean - Bab El Mandeb. This is the narrowest and shallowest place in the Red Sea and today remains a barrier to the movement of marine animals from sea to ocean and back.

The water in the Red Sea is very well and evenly mixed. In winter, surface waters cool down, become denser and sink down, while warm waters rise from the depths. In summer, water evaporates from the surface of the sea, and the remaining water becomes saltier, heavier and sinks. Less salty water rises in its place. Thus, the water in the sea is intensively mixed throughout the year, and in all its volume (except for the depressions) the sea is the same in temperature and salinity.



Eilat resort on the Red Sea coast (Israel)

In the 60s of the 20th century, depressions with hot brines were discovered in the Red Sea. Currently, more than 20 such depressions are known. The brine temperature in them is in the range of 30-60°C and rises by 0.3-0.7°C per year. This means that the depressions are heated from below by the internal heat of the Earth. Observers who dived into the depressions on submersibles say that the brines do not merge with the surrounding water, but are clearly distinguished from it and look like muddy ground covered with ripples, or like swirling fog. Chemical analyzes have shown that the content of many metals in brines, including precious ones, is hundreds and thousands of times higher than in ordinary sea water.

Several seas are honored to be called "the most salty". The Dead and Red Seas are undoubted leaders. Only Red is a part of the World Ocean (MO, Ocean), connected with it by the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. The Dead Sea Lake is a remnant of an ancient basin. This reservoir of the Eurasian continent has no direct connection with the ocean. Let's find out which sea is the most salty, without delving into the geographical "subordination". Let's compare the mineralization of the planet's water bodies, find out what this indicator depends on. We will focus on the word "sea" in the name of geographical objects.

What property of water is called "salinity"?

A simple experience convinces: there are impurities even in fresh lakes, rivers, springs. If you pour some water from the tap into a saucer, leave it in the sun, the liquid will evaporate. A white coating will remain at the bottom - these are salts. We weigh and get a value close to 2 g / l, in terms of 100 g of water - 0.2%. There are no impurities only in distilled water, but its use harms the human body. The World Ocean contains an average of 35 g of salts per 1 liter. By 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 salty sea. A photo of the reservoir, taken from a good angle, and even taste sensations help to 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 connect the salinity index with the mass fraction in percent. Promile - a tenth of a percent, denoted by "‰".

Sea water is a multi-component 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. Experts in chemistry will object that in the form of simple substances, the above sodium and potassium ignite, while sulfur, carbon and other substances are insoluble. In fact, in the calculations, the mass fractions of the elements are obtained, and they are in the 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 is the solute content different?

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

  • distance from the equator and the amount of solar radiation associated with it;
  • climate and weather;
  • the amount of precipitation;
  • surface and underground drains;
  • types and strength of rocks that make up the bottom and coast;
  • life 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 an ice cover forms, it increases.

Which sea is the most salty in the oceans?

From school, many remember that the salinity of water depends on evaporation. The higher it is, the more salts accumulate. In subpolar latitudes, this regularity is violated in winter. When ice forms, water salinity increases, reaching record levels in the Greenland Sea for the northern part of the Moscow Region. Closer to temperate latitudes, the desalination effect of rivers and a large amount of precipitation affect. Salinity reaches a maximum south of 45°N. sh. and north of 10°S. sh. In this area are the most salty seas in the world:

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

A significant amount of precipitation and the flow of great rivers lower salinity in equatorial latitudes.

Bab el Mandeb is the saltiest part of MO

Comparing all the factors, we make the final conclusion that the Red Sea is the most salty. The reservoir mentioned in the Old Testament is located between the northeast of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. According to biblical tradition, the Red Sea parted before the Israelites who fled from Egypt, and a wide passage appeared. Scientists have created a computer model that proves 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 a maximum value in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. There is practically no river flow in this region, much less precipitation falls than water evaporates. The temperature is consistently high throughout the year. The factors turned out to be favorable for the rich organic world of the Red Sea, the development of tourism on its shores.

Salt seas of Russia

Knowing the main patterns that affect the content of dissolved substances, it is easier to establish which sea is the most salty in Russia. In the north - Barents, in the east - Japanese. The salinity of the water beyond 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 to the east. The most salty sea in Russia is the Sea of ​​Japan, the salinity of its water is 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. A combination of factors proved to be favorable for the accumulation of salts in a lake on Israel's border with Jordan. The most salty water is in the sea-lake, which is called the Dead. The water is so dense that a person can easily float on its surface.

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

Mineralogical composition of the Dead Sea

In total, the water of the lake contains dozens of mineral and organic components. We give 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, a concentrated salt solution should be washed off so that it does not corrode the skin. Elevated concentrations in mud are noted for such biologically important substances: iodine, bromine, hormone-like molecules. There are few sulfates in the water of the Dead Sea-lake, but there are a lot of 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 the level of the Ocean and annually falls by about 1 m. According to researchers, in 40 years catastrophic changes may occur, similar to those that occurred with the Aral Sea. Since ancient times, reservoirs have been constantly mentioned in answers to the question “which sea is the most salty?”. Dead Lake continues to conscientiously work out a very binding name. Salt water kills bacteria and prevents algae from growing.

The French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote poetic lines about fresh water in Peru. He wrote about a liquid without color, taste and smell: “You cannot be described, you are enjoyed without knowing what you are”, “You are life itself”. It is a pity that the writer did not have such poetic comparisons at the sight of sea water. After all, the liquid environment of the animal body contains the same salts that were in the ancient ocean, which became the cradle of all life on Earth.

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 a variety of their flora and fauna. But all the seas have a common feature - they are salty. The content of alkalis in each of them is different, and today we will talk about what they are - the saltiest seas in the world.

10

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 of the Russian Federation and belongs to the Arctic Ocean. The sea is cold, you don’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 as the 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 and is 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 the low water temperature (-1.8 degrees in winter), the fauna of the Chukchi Sea is striking in its diversity. In addition to many species of fish, walruses and seals live here, polar bears live on ice floes, and lively bird colonies are observed in summer. Differences in depth range from 50 to 1256 meters.

8

The area of ​​the reservoir, spread between the islands of Severnaya Zemlya and Novosibirsk, is 662 thousand square kilometers. The water temperature here is one of the lowest on the planet - it never rises above 0 degrees. The waters are covered with ice for most of the year, and there are several types of fish at the bottom.

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

7

The 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 1424 thousand square kilometers, the maximum depth is 600 meters.

The sea plays a key role in fishing and transport communications, it has two major ports - the Russian Murmansk and the Norwegian Vardø.

There are often storms here, and the underwater world is rich in different types of fish and plankton. Mammals are also found here - a seal, a seal, a polar bear, a white 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 salt-rich seas on the planet and the most salty in Russia. The northern part of the reservoir freezes in the cold season, the climate here is moderate, in summer the air above the sea warms up to 25 degrees Celsius. The animal world is rich and varied. Many species of fish and mammals are found here, crabs, scallops, and algae are fished.

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 near 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, the minimum water temperature in winter is 14 degrees Celsius.

4

There are so many salts in the waters of the Aegean Sea that doctors advise washing under running fresh water after swimming here in order to avoid skin irritation. The water temperature ranges from 14 (in winter) to 24 degrees (in summer). This is one of the most ancient reservoirs on the planet, the age of the Aegean Sea is more than 20 thousand years. Recently, the ecological situation here leaves much to be desired, the underwater world is depleted due to the death of plankton, which is necessary for the nutrition of fish, although earlier fish and octopuses were caught on an industrial scale in these places.

3

This sea stretches between Europe and Africa, in addition to being one of the most saline 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 in the sea depths does not fall below 12 degrees. The flora and fauna here is more than diverse, some species of fish that live in the Mediterranean Sea are listed in the Red Book. Its area is 2500 thousand square kilometers, and the maximum depth is 5121 meters.

2

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

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

1

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