The Atlantic Ocean is the saltiest ocean. Which sea is the most salty in the world? The most salty sea in the world

The fact that the water in the sea is salty - everyone knows firsthand. But most people will most likely find it difficult to answer the question of which sea is the most salty on the planet. However, it is unlikely that a person thought about why the sea is salty and whether there is life in the saltiest sea in the world.

The oceans are a single whole natural organism. On the planet, they occupy two-thirds of the entire terrestrial space. Well, sea water, which fills the world's oceans, is considered the most common substance on the surface of the Earth. It has a bitter-salty taste; sea water differs from fresh water in transparency and color, specific gravity and aggressive effect on materials. And this is explained simply - in sea water there are more than 50 different components.

The most salty seas in the world

Which seas are more salty, which are less - scientists know for sure. The liquid in the seas has already been studied and literally decomposed into components. And it turned out that the salty seas in Russia occupy the highest lines in the salinity rating. So, the main contender for the status of the most salty is the Barents Sea. This is because during the year the salinity of the surface layers fluctuates around 34.7-35 percent, however, if you deviate to the north and east, the percentage will decrease.

The White Sea is also characterized by high salinity. In the surface layers, the indicator stopped at 26 percent, but at depth it rises to 31 percent. In the Kara Sea, the salinity is about 34 percent, however, it is not uniform, and at the mouths of the inflowing rivers, the water becomes almost fresh. Another of the most salty seas in the world can be called the Laptev Sea. At the surface, salinity is fixed at 28 percent. The figure is even higher - 31-33 percent - in the Chukchi Sea. But this is in winter, in summer the salinity drops.

Which sea is saltier

By the way, everyone's favorite Mediterranean Sea can also compete for the status of the saltiest in the world. Salinity in it ranges from 36 to 39.5 percent. In particular, because of this, a weak quantitative development of phyto and zooplankton is noted in the sea. However, despite this, a large number of representatives of the fauna live in the sea. Here you can meet seals, sea turtles, 550 species of fish, about 70 endemic fish, crayfish, as well as octopuses, crabs, lobsters, squids.

Certainly not saltier than the Mediterranean is another famous sea - the Caspian Sea. The Caspian boasts a rich wildlife - 1809 species. Most of the world's sturgeon stocks live in the sea, as well as freshwater fish (perch, carp and vobla). The flora is also very rich - there are 728 species of plants in the Caspian Sea, but, of course, algae predominate. An interesting fact is that in Karakalpakstan there is a unique natural object - the Aral Sea. And its distinctive feature is that it can be called the second Dead Sea. Half a century ago, the Aral Sea had a standard salinity. However, as soon as water was taken from the sea for irrigation, salinity began to rise, and by 2010 it had increased 10 times. The Dead Sea is called not only in terms of salinity, but also due to the fact that many inhabitants of the Aral Sea died out as a protest against the increase in salinity.

Why are the seas salty

Why the seas are salty - this question has been of interest to people since ancient times. For example, according to a Norwegian legend, at the bottom of the seas there is an unusual mill that constantly grinds salt. Similar stories exist in the tales of the inhabitants of Japan, the Philippines and Karelia. But according to the Crimean legend, the Black Sea is salty due to the fact that the girls who fell into the net of Neptune are forced to weave white lace for the waves at the bottom for centuries and constantly cry about their native land. Tears made the water salty.

But according to the scientific hypothesis, salt water has become a different path. All water in the seas and oceans is taken from rivers. However, fresh water flows in the latter. And on average, 35 grams of salts are dissolved in one liter of the World Ocean. According to scientists, every grain of salt is washed out of the soil by river waters and sent to the sea. Over the centuries and millennia, more and more salt has been washed into the oceans. And she can't go anywhere.

There is a version that the water in the oceans and seas was originally salty. The first body of water on the planet was allegedly filled with acid rain, which fell to the ground as a result of a major volcanic eruption at the beginning of the planet's life. Acids, according to scientists, corroded rocks, entered into chemical compounds with them. As a result of chemical reactions, salt water appeared, which now fills the oceans.

The most salty sea in the world

The most salty sea in the world is called the Red Sea. One liter of its water contains 41 grams of salts. The sea has only one source of water - the Gulf of Aden. In a year, through the Bab-El Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea receives a thousand cubic kilometers of water more than it is taken out of the sea. Therefore, according to researchers, it takes about 15 years for the waters of the Red Sea to be completely renewed.

The salty Red Sea is very well and evenly mixed. In winter, surface waters cool down, sinking down, raising warm waters from the depths of the sea. In summer, water evaporates from the surface, the remaining becomes salty and heavy, and therefore sinks down. Not so salty water rises up. Thus, the water is mixed. The sea is the same in salinity and temperature everywhere, except for the depressions.

By the way, the discovery of depressions in the Red Sea with hot brine in the 60s of the last century was a real discovery for scientists. The brine in such depressions has a temperature of 30 to 60 degrees Celsius, and it rises by a maximum of 0.7 degrees per year. It turns out that the water is heated from the inside by "earthly" heat. And scientists say that the brine does not mix with sea water and differs from it in chemical parameters.

In the Red Sea, there is no coastal runoff (rivers and rain streams). As a result, there is no dirt from the land, but there is crystal clear water. All year round the temperature is kept at the level of 20-25 degrees. This led to the wealth, as well as the uniqueness of marine life in the sea.

Why is the Red Sea the saltiest? Some say that the most salty is the Dead Sea. Its salinity is 40 times higher than the salinity of the Baltic Sea and 8 times higher than the Atlantic Ocean. However, it is impossible to call the Dead Sea the most salty, but it is considered the warmest.

The Dead Sea is located on the territory of Jordan and Israel in Western Asia. Its area is more than 605 square kilometers with a maximum depth of 306 meters. The only river that flows into this famous sea is the Jordan. There is no exit from the sea, therefore, according to science, it is more correct to call it a lake.
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1st place.

The Dead Sea. In fact, this body of water can be called a lake, because it does not communicate with any other seas or with the ocean. Nevertheless, everyone is accustomed to calling it the sea. Well, so be it. The Dead Sea has an incredible salinity of 33.7%. That is, every 100 g of water contains 33.7 g of salt.

Thanks to this incredible ratio, it is impossible to drown in this sea, because the body always strives to rise to the surface. The Jordan River and several small streams flow into it, but this inflow of water is clearly not enough to maintain the level of the reservoir. By the way, every year its level falls by 100 cm, which in the future is fraught with an environmental disaster.

2nd place.

Red sea. The percentage of salt in water is about 8 times less than that of the leader - 4.3%. It is noteworthy that rivers do not flow into this reservoir, therefore, silt and sand do not enter the sea from the outside, which means that its water is clean and transparent. Why is salinity increased? Because there is little rainfall in this area, and clean water comes only from the Gulf of Aden.

Plus, incredible evaporation. The Red Sea daily loses up to 1 cm of its level, and the amount of salt does not seriously change, on the contrary, its concentration increases slightly. Poor water exchange is the true cause of high salinity.

3rd place.

Mediterranean Sea.
Washes the shores of Africa, Asia and Europe. Therefore, he was called that. It has a salinity of 3.9%. Several large rivers flow into the sea. Water circulation occurs under the influence of wind and due to the transfer of water by the Canary Current. The salinity of the reservoir regularly increases due to strong evaporation, and the density of the water varies significantly, depending on the season.

4th place.

Caribbean sea. In addition to being the most “pirate” sea, it also ranks fourth in the “salinity hit parade”. This figure is 3.5%. And in terms of its hydrological composition, this reservoir is quite homogeneous. That is, there are no sharp fluctuations in temperature indicators and in the degree of salinity of its individual sections.

Several large rivers flow into the Caribbean Sea. The tropical climate makes this sea basin attractive for tourists. It should only be taken into account that hurricanes rage very often in the northern part of the reservoir, causing a lot of inconvenience to residents of coastal settlements.

5th place.

Barents Sea. Located on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. It has a salinity of 3.5%. In ancient times, it had many names, because each nation called this reservoir in its own way. Only in 1853 the sea received its final name - the Barents Sea, in honor of the navigator from Holland V. Barents.

Naturally, in the middle of the sea, its salinity is higher than at the outskirts. This is explained by the fact that it is washed by slightly saline seas: Norwegian, White and Kara. And in the north, the icy ocean pretty much dilutes the concentration of sea water, because it does not shine with special salinity in itself, which is explained by the regular melting of ice.

6th place.

North Sea. Its salinity has different values, on average, this value is 35%. The fact is that the North Sea in the east borders on the slightly salty Baltic, and the rivers Thames, Elbe, Rhine and others also have an impact on this indicator. It washes the shores of many European countries, where the largest ports are located - London, Hamburg, Amsterdam, etc.

7th place.

Japanese Sea. The salinity index is 3.4%. In the northern and western parts of the reservoir it is much colder than in the southeast. The Sea of ​​Japan is not touristic. It is rather of industrial importance for some countries. He loves to scare sailors with typhoons, especially in autumn.

8th place.

Sea of ​​Okhotsk. It has a salinity of 3.2%. In winter, it freezes in the northern part, despite the increased salinity of the water, which, by the way, is much lower in coastal areas.

9th place.

Black Sea. The salinity of this reservoir varies greatly. For example, in the lower layer this figure is 2.3%, and in the upper layer, where there is increased water circulation, the salinity is 1.8%. It is noteworthy that at a depth of 150 m there is no longer any life. This is due to the high content of hydrogen sulfide in the water.

10th place.

Sea of ​​Azov. The average salinity of the sea is 1.1%. In the 20th century, many rivers that feed this reservoir with water were blocked by dams, therefore, the flow of water and its circulation decreased significantly. It is noteworthy that this is the shallowest sea in the world, its maximum depth does not reach up to 14 m. It has a tendency to freeze in its northern part.

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

Everyone has heard about the healing properties of the Dead Sea. These qualities are explained, first of all, by the properties of water. That is why, touching on the question of which sea is the most on the planet, the Dead Sea is first on the list of names.

It is located in a depression near two ancient states - Israel and Jordan. The concentration of salt in it reaches three hundred and forty grams of a substance per liter of water, while the salinity reaches 33.7%, which is 8.6 times more than in the entire world ocean. It is the presence of such a concentration of salt that makes the water in this place so dense that it is simply impossible to drown in the sea.

Sea or lake?

The Dead Sea is also called a lake, since it does not have access to the ocean. The reservoir is fed only by the Jordan River, as well as several drying streams.

Due to the high concentration of salt in this lake, there are no marine organisms - fish and plants, but different types of bacteria and fungi live in it.

Oomycetes are a group of mycelial organisms.

In addition, about seventy species of oomycetes have been found here that can tolerate the salinity of the water to the maximum. More than thirty types of minerals are also common in this sea, which include potassium, sulfur, magnesium, iodine and bromine. Such a harmony of chemical elements spills over into very interesting salt formations, which, unfortunately, are not durable.

Red sea

Continuing this theme, it should be noted that the first position, along with the Dead, is shared by Red, which is also distinguished by a high salt content in the water.

It is widely believed that the waters of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea do not mix at the junction, and also differ strikingly in their color.

It is located between Asia and Africa in a tectonic depression, where the depth reaches three hundred meters. Rains in this region are extremely rare, only about a hundred millimeters a year, but evaporation from the sea surface is already two thousand millimeters. This imbalance is the cause of increased salt formation. So, the salt concentration per liter of water is as much as forty-one grams.

It is worth noting that the concentration of salts in this place is constantly growing, since there is not a single body of water in the sea, and the lack of water mass is compensated by the Gulf of Aden.

The uniqueness of these two seas has been known since ancient times and these territories are still very popular among the inhabitants of the planet. After all, the water in these lakes is healing.

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 at 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.

The sea is salty. This simple truth is known to everyone who has bathed in it at least once in their life. And those who have not yet experienced such joy, just guess.

After all, everyone knows that although there is really a lot of water on our planet, only a hundredth of it can be drunk. The rest will cause severe indigestion and many pleasant hours on the toilet. And since you can’t drink it, then you can at least swim in it, which is what numerous tourists do with success.

But people love to go to extremes. After swimming in the Black Sea, they want to know what is the saltiest sea in order to be able to compare. And to satisfy your curiosity, we have written this article.

The most salty seas in the world

Before talking about the salinity of various seas, it is necessary to determine what we will start from - that is, the average level, the World Ocean.

The world ocean is not something frozen, it is a huge dynamic system in which liquid constantly mixes, flows from one part to another, and then comes back, evaporates, condenses and falls out as rain. In short, the water cycle is in action. Therefore, the salt content at different points is not the same. But still, there is a certain average level, which is estimated at 32-37 ppm (yes, they do not only measure blood alcohol content).

But at different points of the World Ocean, it can differ significantly, for example, in the bays of the Baltic Sea it reaches a level of 5 ppm. But we are interested in something completely different, which seas are the most salty.

And here comes the crucial moment: what to call the sea. For example, everyone is used to saying "Dead Sea". Meanwhile, it is not correct to call it a sea; in fact, it is a lake. Although it is really very salty, so we will talk about it, but below.

In fact, Red is the saltiest, and it is worth dwelling on it in more detail.

Red sea

The inland sea, which belongs to the Indian Ocean, has an area of ​​450 square kilometers ... Although who is interested in retelling a textbook on geography? Another thing is more important: this is the most salty sea in the world, there are about 41 ppm of minerals in it. To assess the degree of salinity, mix an incomplete teaspoon of salt in a liter of water. Delicious? But swimming in it is very interesting.

And first of all, because such a composition of water appealed to a huge number of living beings. Sharks, dolphins, moray eels, rays and an unprecedented amount of smaller animals, such as fish, clams and corals, attract tourists from all over the world. And also warm water, beautiful views, clean well-groomed beaches ... The Red Sea is a riot of life that you can enjoy endlessly.

A completely different picture meets us at the Dead Sea (we will not listen to experts in geography and will continue to call it the sea). Alien landscapes, without the usual greenery, healing mud and water, in which, with all the desire, it is impossible to drown - this is his portrait.

This miracle of nature is located between Israel, Jordan and Palestine. Water flows into it, but there is nowhere for it to go, only to evaporate. As a result, the water then evaporates, and the salts remain. Over millions of years, water has accumulated such a percentage of mineral salts that you can stay afloat in it without making any effort, the water itself will push the body.

This sea is conditionally called the Dead Sea, a couple of species of algae still found shelter in it, but you won’t be able to admire the fish. But it will turn out to be treated, because such water, and also healing mud, which is even more near the sea, is a natural wealth that neighboring countries have long and successfully used.

The only problem is that the Jordan River, the only source of filling this sea, has noticeably decreased in recent years. And now more water evaporates from it than enters. As a result, every year the Dead Sea becomes a little smaller. At this rate, in 100 years it will no longer be possible to swim in it, only walk on the surface. Of course, plans are being developed to save it, but it’s better not to risk it and go to the resort while you can still swim in it.

Domestic record holders

Of course, the most salty sea in Russia is clearly behind the Dead Sea, it has only about 32 ppm. Yes, and swimming is not at all so pleasant, although there are such lovers. This is the Sea of ​​Japan.

Resorts and hotels are not built on it, but this sea is of great economic importance. There is an active fishing industry, various sea delicacies are grown and caught. And along the coast there are more than a dozen ports, both domestic and Japanese.

Another lake-sea

Our neighbors, in Kazakhstan, have an interesting and even unique natural object - the Aral Sea. Although, like the Dead, it can be called a sea rather conditionally, according to the scientific classification, it is classified as a mineral lake. But since the name "sea" has taken root among the people, we will not argue with it.

If it weren’t for active human activity, the Big Aral would never have made it to this list, because half a century ago the lake had a salinity that was normal for its type, about 10 ppm. But then the water from it began to be used for irrigation of nearby lands. As a result, by 2010 its salinity increased 10 times. A little more, and the Kazakhs will have their own Dead Sea. Dead - in the truest sense of the word, because many of its inhabitants did not agree with such changes and died out as a protest.

There are several projects for its restoration, but so far only the search for the investments necessary for this is underway.

Now you know the saltiest seas and you can choose where to go next time. And if you don’t go, then at least learn more about our planet, its amazing corners and real wonders.

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 most salty 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

Its second name is the Asphalt Sea. Located in Israel. The water level here is 428 meters below sea level, and it is constantly decreasing, on average by a meter per year. The maximum depth is 306 meters. The waters of the Dead Sea are rich in useful trace elements, in particular, bromine and potassium salts, but this composition led to the almost complete absence of any inhabitants here.

It is worth noting that officially the Dead Sea (Sea of ​​Sodom) is considered an endorheic salt lake, the saltiest in the world.

When schoolchildren ask the question which sea is the saltiest, many adults answer without hesitation: “Red”. The answer, unfortunately, is not entirely correct.

The Red Sea is really very salty. located in a tectonic

In the depression between Africa and the reservoir washes the shores of several countries at once: Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and several others. Not a single river flows into it, almost no precipitation falls over it (100 mm annually can be ignored). But evaporation exceeds 2000 mm per year. This imbalance causes increased formation in the Red Sea, which is considered the most salty in the entire world ocean. There are 41 milligrams of salt in every liter of water. The water is so salty that ships that sank many years ago still lie at the bottom, indestructible: salt does not allow harmful microorganisms to develop. Science officially confirms: the Red Sea is the saltiest sea in the world.

But, some will argue, the water in the Dead Sea is much saltier. It is known that the amount of salt in each liter of this reservoir ranges from 200 to 275 milligrams per liter of water. It turns out that it is the Dead Sea - the most salty sea on the planet. After all, everyone knows: the water in it is so “thick” that it is even impossible to dive. And because of the salinity of the water, bathing is allowed only where there is a flow (showers): salt that gets into the eyes can cause burns of the mucous membrane and blindness.

This is also correct.

But... officially the Dead Sea... not a sea at all! This is a large, very salty, incredibly beautiful lake with powerful healing powers! Its length is less than 70 km, and its width does not exceed 18 km at all.

Only the Jordan River flows into the lake, which is called the Dead Sea. Gradually evaporating, the water recedes farther and farther from the line of the original coast. If this continues, scientists believe, in a few centuries only salt deposits will remain from this reservoir.

So let's sum it up. The most salty sea on Earth is the Red Sea. This official information is registered in all scientific reference books. The Dead Sea, despite the fact that its waters contain much more salt, is not even the saltiest lake on the planet. It is ahead of Lake Assal, located in Djibouti. Its salinity is 35%, while its "rival" has only 27%.

The most salty sea in the territory of the Russian Federation is the Sea of ​​Japan. Salinity is unevenly distributed in it. Thus, in Peter the Great Bay it reaches 32%, while in other places it decreases somewhat.

There is in Russia and the most This lake Baskunchak. The salinity of its water is 37% (and in some places - 90%).

In fact, the lake is a large depression at the very top of the salt mountain, which goes several hundred meters underground with “roots”. Lake Baskunchak also has resorts, but it is known to others: it is the world's largest mining site for the purest salt.

The lion's share of the lake's surface is a salt crust on which you can walk. It is difficult to swim here: the “thick” water does not allow you to dive into it, leaving a noticeable salt mark on your skin. However, it is believed that dosed bathing in the lake is as beneficial as in the Dead Sea.