Caspian

Caspian refers most commonly to the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest enclosed inland body of water, located between Europe and Asia. It is bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. The term is also used to describe the Caspian region and its diverse cultures, histories, and peoples.

The Caspian Sea covers about 371,000 square kilometers and contains depths that reach over 1,000 meters in places. It is endorheic, with no natural outflow; its level and salinity are influenced by river inflows, rainfall, evaporation, and human activity. The Volga is the principal inflow, supplemented by other rivers such as the Ural and Kura. The sea supports a unique ecosystem that includes sturgeon species, which historically provided most of the world’s caviar, and the Caspian seal.

Economically, the Caspian region is rich in hydrocarbon resources, with extensive oil and natural gas fields in both offshore and onshore settings. Major industry activities, shipping, and fisheries contribute to the littoral states’ economies, while environmental concerns—pollution, overfishing, and habitat alteration—have prompted regional cooperation and management efforts.

Politically, the Caspian Sea’s status has been the subject of long-standing negotiations among its five littoral states. In 2018, they signed a treaty establishing a framework for the sea’s legal status, boundaries, and the exploitation of its resources, while recognizing national and shared interests.

In popular culture, the name Caspian is used as a given name, notably for Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia series.