The Caspian states: borders, map. Which countries are washed by the Caspian Sea?

There are still disputes over the status of the Caspian Sea. The fact is that, despite its generally accepted name, it is still the world's largest drainless lake. The sea was named because of the features that have a bottom structure. It is formed by the oceanic crust. In addition, the water in the Caspian is salty. Like the sea, storms and strong winds that raise high waves are often observed here.

Geography

The Caspian Sea is located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. In its form it resembles one of the letters of the Latin alphabet - S. From the south to the north the sea stretches for 1200 km, and from the east to the west - from 195 to 435 km.

The territory of the Caspian Sea is not homogeneous in its physical and geographical conditions. In this regard, it is conditionally divided into 3 parts. These include the Northern and Middle, as well as the Southern Caspian.

Coastal countries

Which countries are washed by the Caspian Sea? There are only five:

1. Russia, located in the north-west and west. The length of the coastline of this state along the Caspian Sea is 695 km. Here Kalmykia, Dagestan and Astrakhan Oblast are part of Russia.
2. Kazakhstan. It is a country on the shores of the Caspian Sea, located in the east and northeast. The length of its coastline is 2320 km.
3. Turkmenistan. The map of the Caspian states indicates that this country is in the southeast of the water basin. The length of the line along the coast is 1200 km.
4. Azerbaijan. This state, stretching along the Caspian Sea for 955 km, is washed by its shores in the south-west.
5. Iran. The map of the Caspian states indicates that this country is located near the southern shores of a drainless lake. The length of its maritime borders is 724 km.

The Caspian Sea?

Until now, a dispute has not been resolved about how to name this unique body of water. And to give an answer to this question is important. The fact is that all the countries on the Caspian Sea have their own interests in this region. However, the question of how to divide this huge body of water, the governments of the five states can not solve for a long time. The most important dispute has developed around the name. The Caspian Sea is still a sea or a lake? And the answer to this question is not of interest to geographers. First of all, politicians need it. This is due to the application of international law.

Such Caspian states, like Kazakhstan and Russia, believe that their borders in this region are washed by the sea. In this regard, representatives of the two countries insist on the application of the United Nations Convention, adopted in 1982. Concerning the law of the sea. The provisions of this document state that coastal states are assigned a 12-mile water zone along its state borders. In addition, the country is entitled to economic maritime territory. It is located at a distance of two hundred miles. There is a law of the coastal state on the continental shelf. However, even the widest part of the Caspian Sea is narrower than the distance stipulated in the international document. In this case, the principle of the midline can be applied. At the same time, the Caspian states, which have the longest coastline, will receive a large marine area.

Iran has a different opinion on this matter. Its representatives believe that the Caspian should be divided in fairness. In this case, all countries will get twenty percent of the sea territory. The position of official Tehran can be understood. With this solution of the question, the state will manage a larger zone than when dividing the sea along the middle line.

However, the Caspian Sea significantly changes its water level from year to year. This does not allow us to determine its middle line and divide the territory between states. Such countries of the Caspian Sea as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia signed an agreement defining the zones of the bottom on which the parties will exercise their economic rights. Thus, a certain legal truce has been achieved in the northern territories of the sea. The southern countries of the Caspian Sea have not yet reached a single decision. However, they do not recognize the agreements reached by the northern neighbors.

The Caspian is a lake?

Adherents of this point of view proceed from the fact that the reservoir located at the junction of Asia and Europe is closed. In this case, it is impossible to apply to it a document on the norms of international maritime law. Supporters of this theory are convinced of their rightness, referring to the fact that the Caspian does not have a natural connection with the waters of the World Ocean. But here there is one more difficulty. If the lake is the Caspian Sea, the boundaries of states by what international norms should be defined on its water expanses? Unfortunately, such documents have not been developed yet. The fact is that the issues of the international lake have never been discussed by anyone.

The Caspian Sea is a unique reservoir?

In addition to those listed above, there is another, third point of view on the belonging of this amazing reservoir. Its supporters hold the view that the Caspian should be recognized as an international water basin that belongs equally to all countries bordering it. In their opinion, the resources of the region are subject to joint exploitation by the countries bordering the reservoir.

Solving security problems

The Caspian states are doing everything possible to eliminate all existing differences. And in this issue, we can note positive developments. One of the steps to solve the problems related to the Caspian region was the agreement signed on 18.11.2010 between all five countries. It concerns issues of cooperation in the field of security. In this document, the countries agreed on joint activities to eliminate terrorism, drug trafficking, smuggling, poaching, laundering of illegal incomes in the region, and so on.

Protection of the environment

Particular attention is paid to solving environmental issues. The territory on which the Caspian states and Eurasia are located is a region that is under the threat of industrial pollution. Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are dumping into the waters of the Caspian Sea waste from exploration and production of energy carriers. And it is in these countries that there is a large number of abandoned oil wells that are not exploited due to their unprofitable nature, but nevertheless continue to have an adverse effect on the ecological situation. As for Iran, it dumps agricultural waste and sewage into the sea. Russia threatens the ecology of the region with industrial pollution. This is due to economic activity that has developed in the Volga region.

Countries in the Caspian Sea have made some progress in solving environmental problems. So, since 12.08.2007 the region has the strength of Framework convection, which sets a goal of protecting the Caspian Sea. This document has developed provisions on the protection of bioresources and the regulation of anthropogenic factors affecting the aquatic environment. According to this convection, the parties should cooperate in carrying out measures to improve the environmental situation in the Caspian.

In 2011 and 2012, all five countries signed other documents relevant to the protection of the marine environment. Among them:

• Protocol on Cooperation, Response and Regional Preparedness in the Occurrence of Cases that Cause Oil Pollution.
• Protocol relating to the protection of the region from pollution from land-based sources.

Development of the gas pipeline construction

To date, one more problem is unresolved in the Caspian region. It concerns the laying of the Nabucco gas pipeline. This idea is an important strategic task for the West and the United States, which continue to seek sources of energy resources, alternative to Russian ones. That is why, when addressing this issue, the parties do not turn to such countries as Kazakhstan, Iran and, of course, the Russian Federation. Brussels and Washington supported the statement of the President of Turkmenistan, made in Baku on 18.11.2010 at the summit of the heads of the Caspian countries. He expressed the official position of Ashgabat concerning the laying of the pipeline. The Turkmen authorities believe that the project should be implemented. At the same time, only those states, on the territories of the bottom of which it will be located, should give their consent to the construction of the pipeline. And this is Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. Iran and Russia opposed this position and the project itself. At the same time, they were guided by the issues of protecting the Caspian ecosystem. To date, the construction of the pipeline is not carried out because of the disagreement of the project participants.

The first summit

Countries in the Caspian Sea are constantly looking for ways to solve the problems that have ripened in this Eurasian region. Special meetings of their representatives are organized for this purpose. Thus, the first summit of the heads of the Caspian states was held in April 2002. Ashgabat became its venue. However, the results of this meeting did not justify the hopes. The summit was recognized as unsuccessful because of Iran's demands to divide the sea territory into 5 equal parts. This was categorically opposed by other countries. Their representatives defended their own point of view that the size of the national water areas should correspond to the length that the state's coastline has.

The unsuccessful holding of the summit provoked a dispute between Ashgabat and Baku about the belonging of three oil fields located in the center of the Caspian Sea. As a result, the heads of the five states did not reach a consensus on any of the issues raised. However, they agreed to hold a second summit. It was to be held in 2003 in Baku.

The second Caspian summit

Despite the existing arrangements, the planned meeting was postponed every year. The second summit of the heads of the Caspian states was convened only on October 16, 2007. It was held at Tehran. The meeting discussed topical issues related to determining the legal status of a unique water body, which is the Caspian Sea. Boundaries of states within the water area section were previously agreed upon when drafting a new convention. Also raised were the problems of security, ecology, economics and cooperation of coastal countries. In addition, the results of the work that the states conducted after the first summit were summed up. In Tehran, representatives of the five states also outlined ways for further cooperation in the region.

Meeting at the third summit

Once again, the heads of the Caspian countries met in Baku on 18.11.2010. The result of this summit was the signing of an agreement on expanding cooperation related to security issues. During the meeting, it was pointed out that which countries are washed by the Caspian Sea, only those that should ensure the fight against terrorism, transnational crime, the proliferation of weapons, and so on.

The fourth summit

Once again, the Caspian states raised their problems in Astrakhan on September 29, 2014. At this meeting, the Presidents of the five countries signed another statement.

In it, the parties recorded the exclusive right of the coastal countries to deploy armed forces in the Caspian. But even at this meeting the status of the Caspian Sea was never finally settled.