Which sea is saltier red or mediterranean. List of the saltiest seas in the world. Video: Dead Sea. Israel

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 one 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 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). Vegetable world 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- Aral Sea. And him distinguishing feature in 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 Aral Sea died out as a protest against rising 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 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. Eventually chemical reactions appeared salty water that 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, sink 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 wealth, as well as uniqueness. 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 that of Baltic Sea and 8 times 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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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 seas have 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 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 low temperature water (in winter -1.8 degrees), 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

Salt sea on the edge of the North Arctic Ocean, it washes the shores of two countries at once - Russia and Norway. The area of ​​the reservoir is 1424 thousand square kilometers, maximum depth- 600 meters.

The sea plays a key role in fisheries and transportation, it has two major ports- Russian Murmansk and Norwegian Vardø.

There are often storms here, and the underwater world is rich different types fish and plankton. Mammals are also found here - seals, seals, polar bear, white whale.

6

Square Sea of ​​Japan- 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. Animal world rich and varied. Many species of fish and mammals are found here, crabs, scallops, and algae are fished.

Most salt Lake in Russia - 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

Salts in the waters Aegean Sea so much so that doctors advise after bathing here to wash under running water. fresh water 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. IN Lately the ecological situation here leaves much to be desired, the underwater world is depleted due to the death of plankton, which is necessary for feeding fish, although earlier in these places in industrial scale caught fish and octopuses.

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 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. The unique feature of the sea is that average temperature water 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 tropical zone with appropriate climatic conditions.

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02/10/2016 at 21:20 · pavlofox · 70 920

The most salty seas in the world

Around the world, there are about 80 seas, which are integral part World Ocean. All these waters are salty, but among them there are record holders, which are distinguished by a high concentration of salts and other minerals in their composition. by the most fresh sea the Baltic Sea is considered on the planet, the salinity of which is only 7 ‰ (ppm), which is equal to 7 grams per 1 liter of water. Among all the rest, we singled out the saltiest seas in the world.

10. White Sea | Salinity 30‰

They belong to the most salty seas in the world. Salinity here can reach 30‰ in some places. This is one of the smallest seas in Russia, with an area of ​​90,000 sq. km. The temperature here rises to 15 degrees in summer time year and drops to minus 1 degree in winter period. Inhabitants White Sea are about 50 species of fish, including white whale, salmon, cod, smelt and others.

9. Chukchi Sea | Salinity 33‰


Included in the ten most salty in the world. Its salinity is winter time is higher and can reach 33‰. It is located between Chukotka and Alaska on an area of ​​589,600 sq. km. The water temperature here is quite low: in summer - 12 degrees above zero, and in winter - minus 1.8 degrees. Walruses, seals, as well as fish - grayling, polar cod, Far Eastern navaga, arctic char and others live here.

8. Laptev Sea | Salinity 34‰


Covering an area of ​​662,000 sq. km., are among the most salty in the world. It is located between the New Siberian Islands and the Severnaya Zemlya Islands. The salinity of its waters reaches 34‰ in places, and the water temperature does not rise above 0 degrees all year round. Walrus, sterlet, sturgeon, perch and other animals live in the depths of the sea.

7. Barents Sea | Salinity 35‰


With a salinity of 35‰, it is one of the saltiest on earth and the most salty in Russia. It is washed by the waters of the White Sea and has an area of ​​1,424,000 sq. km. In winter, only the southwestern part of the sea does not freeze, the temperature here in summer does not exceed plus 12 degrees. Undersea world here it is quite rich in fish, including capelin, perch, herring, catfish, killer whale, beluga and others.

6. Sea of ​​Japan | Salinity 35‰


Located between the shores of Eurasia, the Japanese Islands, as well as the island of Sakhalin, they are among the most salty in the world. Its salinity reaches 35‰. annual temperature water fluctuates between 0-+ 12 degrees in the north, and in the southern part 17-26 degrees above zero. The fauna here is very rich and includes many species of fish. Herring, pollock, saffron cod, flounder, pink salmon, chum salmon, anchovies, crabs, shrimps, oysters, squids and many others live here. Japanese salt waters occupy an area of ​​1,062,000 sq. km.

5. Ionian Sea | Salinity 38‰



considered the most dense and salty in Greece. It is perfect for those who do not know how to swim and want to learn. In summer, the temperature here fluctuates between 25-26 degrees above zero, and in winter it drops to plus 14 degrees. The salinity of the sea is about 38‰. The inhabitants of salt waters are fish such as tuna, flounder, mackerel and others. It occupies the Ionian Sea with an area of ​​169,000 sq. km.

4. Aegean Sea | Salinity 38.5‰


Aegean one of the ten most salty seas in the world. Its salinity is about 38.5‰. Due to the high salinity, after bathing in such water, it is recommended to wash yourself with fresh water, since a high concentration of sodium can adversely affect the skin and mucous membranes. winter temperature here it is about 14 degrees above zero, and summer is plus 24 degrees. It is inhabited by octopuses, sardines, sponges and other inhabitants. It is located between the peninsulas of the Balkans, Asia Minor and the island of Crete. The Aegean Sea has existed for about 20,000 years. It was formed as a result of the flooding of the Egenid land and occupied an area of ​​179,000 sq.m. Its appearance led to the formation of the islands of Crete, Lesbos, Euboea and others.

3. Mediterranean Sea | Salinity 39.5‰


Located between Europe and Africa. It is rightfully considered one of the most salty seas in the world, the salinity of which reaches 39.5 ‰ in places. It also belongs to the warmest seas of the World Ocean - the temperature here is plus 25 degrees in summer and minus 12 degrees in winter. It is inhabited by seals sea ​​turtles, as well as more than 500 species of fish, including sharks, rays, blennies, lobsters, crabs, mussels and many, many others.

2. Red Sea | Salinity 42‰


Located between Africa and Asia, one of the saltiest on planet Earth. Its salinity reaches 42 ‰, which is about 41 grams per liter of water. A very rich underwater world is concentrated here: sharks, dolphins, rays, moray eels and other living creatures are the inhabitants of the Red Sea. The water temperature is 25 degrees above zero all year round. In the Red Sea, the water is very well and evenly mixed. In winter, surface waters cool down, become denser and sink down, while warm waters from the depths rise up. 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 throughout its volume the sea is the same in temperature and salinity, except in the depressions. In addition, the sea boasts amazing transparency.

1. Dead Sea | Salinity 270‰


- the saltiest in the world, which is located on the border of Israel and Jordan. The content of minerals is about 270 ‰, and the concentration of salts per 1 liter reaches 200 grams. The composition of the salts of the sea is significantly different from all others. It consists of 50% magnesium chloride, and is also rich in potassium, bromine, calcium and many others. mineral elements. Potassium salts are artificially crystallized from its water. Water has the highest density here, which is 1.3-1.4 g / m³, which completely eliminates the possibility of drowning. In addition to unique salts, the sea contains therapeutic mud, which contains 45% salts. Its characteristics are a high pH value of 9, as well as a bitter and oily taste. The sea temperature can reach 40 degrees above zero, which creates intense evaporation and contributes to high density. If in other waters with high salinity diverse inhabitants live, then in the waters of the Dead Sea they cannot be found.

What else to see:


Since childhood, we know that the water in the ocean is always salty. But which ocean is the most salty in the world? This is actually quite an important scientific question. The study of the salinity of the waters of the World Ocean has been going on for a long time. It is now known for sure which ocean on Earth is the most salty. It is the Atlantic Ocean, or, as it is called, the Atlantic. Let's consider its features.

How big is the Atlantic

The Atlantic Ocean has an area exceeding 106.5 million square kilometers. km. The depth of the most salt-rich ocean on Earth exceeds 3,600 meters. The water of the Atlantic Ocean has a salinity of approximately 35%, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of other oceans. An interesting feature the distribution of salinity became even. Moreover, he is the only one on the planet, which only confirms his title of the most salty.

What is the explanation for high salinity

The high salinity of the Atlantic is due to a number of reasons. Increased salinity does not occur everywhere at all. Where the waters of the North Atlantic Current flow, a lower level of salinity is recorded.

The Atlantic even has freshwater springs located underground. And this is one of the mysteries of the natural world, because water rises from the depths of the ocean.

What other salty oceans are there in the world

The saltiest after the Atlantic is the Indian Ocean. In certain areas, he is even able to break the leader's record. The total salinity is 34.8%.

The most salt-rich areas of the Indian Ocean are those where there is a minimum of precipitation per year. In winter, the Indian Ocean becomes less saline due to the monsoon current, which brings fresh water. Near the equator, a section is formed where the Indian Ocean shows less salinity.

Most big ocean peace (Quiet) is also rich in salt. The salt content of its waters exceeds 34%, and tropical regions can show salinities above 35.6%. The world's largest ocean also has a salinity above 30% in areas where glaciers are melting.

The coldest - the Arctic - has a salinity of 32%. characteristic feature of this ocean was the reduced salinity of the upper layer. This is due to the desalination of rivers and the melting of ice. bottom layer the ocean is more salty, it features warm and high-salinity water. It comes directly from the Greenland Sea. The deep layer of the Arctic has an average level of salinity compared to the third and second layers.

Interesting facts about the Atlantic Ocean

Previously, the Atlantic Ocean had a variety of names. For example, the ancient Greeks spoke of it as "the sea beyond the Pillars of Heracles." It has also been called the "sea of ​​darkness" and the Western Ocean. The saltiest ocean on the planet received its current name only in the 16th century thanks to the cartographer Martin Waldseemüller. This man became famous not only for the description of the Alps, but for the first map geographical world on which latitude and longitude have been plotted.

It is difficult to say why such a name was given. There are many supporters who believe in the existence of Atlantis - a sunken continent that was once located on the territory of the Atlantic Ocean. The main version is based on the myth of the titan Atlanta, who held the sky on his shoulders.

Scientists around the world consider the most important gift of the Atlantic to be its warm current Gulfstream. Thanks to him, you can provide a huge energy production, comparable to thousands of nuclear power plants. The high salinity of the Atlantic Ocean did not become a negative factor; the flora and fauna here are no less rich than in Pacific Ocean.

Which sea is the most salty in the world

You might think that since the Atlantic Ocean is the most salt-saturated on the planet, then it is in it that the most salty sea should be sought. However, it is not.


Many believe that the Dead Sea is considered the richest in salt in the world. However, in fact, this title is assigned to the Red Sea, which is located in Indian Ocean. Its salinity level exceeds 40%. Moreover, the large volume of evaporating water was the reason for this level of salt content. There is little precipitation in the territory adjacent to the most salty sea in the world, so there is really a lot of salt in it. Also, rivers do not flow into the Red Sea, but at the same time, what a rich world of flora and fauna it has. Second place is occupied by the Mediterranean Sea, which has a salinity index of about 39%. As in the previous case, the reason lies in the evaporation of moisture. Common list the saltiest seas in the world is as follows:

  • Red;
  • Mediterranean;
  • Black;
  • Azov.

Near the Black Sea, salinity reaches 18%. On the surface lies a layer enriched with oxygen. The depth is very salty and dense, practically does not contain oxygen. The Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov has an indicator of 11%, the northern part is the least saturated with salt, therefore, with the onset of cold weather, it easily freezes. feature Sea of ​​Azov there was an extremely uneven distribution of salt.

Which lake in the world is the saltiest

Here we got to Dead Sea, which is actually a lake, since it does not have access to the oceans.


Salinity Dead Sea exceeds 300%. Next to it is medical resort, however, as such, there is no living creature in the most salty lake in the world. Note that the Dead Sea is considered the most popular among the most salt-rich lakes, but there are others:

  • Assal;
  • Baskunchak;
  • Elton;
  • Don Juan;
  • Great Salt Lake.

Lake Tuz, for example, is located in Turkey. Large mines are located here, where a significant part of the country's salt reserves is mined. At Lake Assal, which is located in Africa, the salinity index exceeds 300%, as well as at the Dead Sea. In Russia there is Lake Baskunchak, the salinity of which reaches 300%. Here, too, they are actively extracting something important for Food Industry raw materials. The lake with the beautiful name Elton is also located in Russia, and its salinity is about 500%, but the average is only 300%. It is considered the largest salt lake in Europe. The presence of a high concentration of salt determines the non-freezing of lakes. However, such indicators are detrimental to flora and fauna, so the most salty lakes on the planet simply do not have inhabitants. The Great Salt Lake of the United States of America was no exception. Thus, we can determine that not only the Dead Sea claims its title, scientists regularly argue about replacing it on this pedestal with Lake Don Juan, which is located in Antarctica. Its salinity exceeds 350%. The question may reasonably arise, which lake is the least salty? It was the Russian Baikal, which has an indicator of 0.001%. Thanks to this and its purity, Baikal became famous as a lake with crystal clear clean water.

Importance of the Atlantic Ocean

What is the significance of the saltiest ocean in the world? The Atlantic Ocean is an example of maximum development economic activity. Throughout its territory, shipping, oil and gas production, fishing, biological resources. Many transoceanic routes, Passenger Transportation And major ports located on the coasts, bright examples economic development.


The value of the Atlantic Ocean for the world is associated with the presence huge base mineral resources. Most of it, scientists believe, has already been explored. Simultaneously Northern and caribbean, the Bay of Biscay attracts traders seeking to develop new oil and gas fields. The Atlantic is incredibly important for countries such as Mexico, England, Norway. Its biological potential is very great. For a long period the ocean was used for mining commercial fish which led to the depletion of biological resources.

What are the problems in the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic is part of the World Ocean, so its problems can affect the whole world. The waters of the Atlantic have long been polluted by man. Oil, plastic waste that does not decompose even for decades, constant fishing, a detrimental effect on the ecosystem as a whole. All this has had a detrimental effect on the Atlantic, which is under serious threat.


The invention of the harpoon gun led to the mass extermination of whales, now there are regular disputes about the renewal of the moratorium for countries around the world, but the International Whaling Commission actively opposes this, giving relief only to Denmark, Japan and Iceland.

most terrible disaster for the Atlantic was the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform. Approximately 5 million barrels of oil spread across the Atlantic, polluting over a thousand miles of coastline. This case shocked the whole world, led to massive lawsuits by fishermen who lost important jobs. Proceedings lasted a very long time, some litigation has not yet been resolved. Meanwhile, the disaster killed more than 6,800 animals, including sea turtles, dolphins, and other mammals.

The Atlantic has its own large garbage patch, similar to the Pacific. It is made of plastic, found in the waters Sargasso Sea. The situation with radioactive contamination is even more complicated. The Atlantic accepted tons of waste from nuclear power plants, a number of research centers dumped radioactive waste into rivers and coastal waters. The depths of the Atlantic conceal so many dangerous chemical substances that all of them cannot be counted. The result of economic activity was the pollution of several seas, which include the Irish, Mediterranean, North and others. At the end of the last millennium, Atlantic waters received more than 5,000 tons radioactive waste. Over 30 years, the United States has buried more than 14,000 containers containing radioactive elements, which has led to high level infections. The scuttled vessel, on board of which about 70 tons of sarin was stored, is also “buried” at the bottom of the Atlantic. Germany dumped 2,500 barrels containing industrial waste. Soviet Union 2 nuclear submarines were sunk.

The Atlantic is of particular importance for human economic activity and has many threatened ecosystems. The ocean needs to be carefully managed and preserved with the participation of all countries using its resources.

Everyone knows that sea water tastes salty. But not everyone knows that the amount of salt in different seas and oceans, as well as chemical composition saline solution varies significantly.


In some seas there is relatively little salt, in others, on the contrary, the water is more salty than usual.

How is sea salinity measured?

In order to find out in which sea the water is the saltiest, scientists, of course, do not taste it while traveling around different seas planets. Everything is much simpler: the salinity of sea water is measured by determining how much salt is contained in one liter of water. To do this, you just need to evaporate the water and weigh the remaining salt.

If we do this experiment with ordinary tap water, we will get about 1.5 - 2 grams of salts in the dry residue, which give taste. Distilled water, which does not contain salts, is absolutely tasteless, unlike ordinary water. drinking water.

Sea salt, obtained by evaporating sea water, consists not only of table salt known to everyone, but also of a large number other salts and minerals: sulfates, bicarbonates, borates, etc. In fact, almost the entire periodic table of elements can be found in sea water.

About 80 seas and oceans are marked on the map of our planet, and in each of them the salt concentration is at its own level. Moreover, different parts of the same sea have different salinity: where major river, decreases sharply. The most unsalted in the world is the Baltic Sea: the amount of salt in a liter of its water barely reaches 7 grams.

The most salty sea in the world

Sometimes in popular literature there is a statement that the Dead Sea is considered the saltiest in the world. In fact, this is not true, and here's why: The Dead Sea is not really a sea, but a lake.


It is not connected to the World Ocean by any strait, river or canal, therefore, from the point of view of geography, it is a lake. Therefore, in terms of salinity, it should be compared with other salt lakes on the planet, and not with the seas.

In fact, the most salty is the Red Sea, the water of which contains about 41 grams of salt per liter. This is a very high figure, which the waters of the Red Sea were able to achieve due to the hot, arid climate of the coast. Not a single river flows into it, the level of the Red Sea is replenished only due to the flow of water from the Gulf of Aden.

Evaporation of water is very high, and the incoming less salty water does not have time to dilute the brine. The neighboring Mediterranean Sea, with which the Red Sea is connected via the Suez Canal, has a salinity of only about 26 grams per liter of water.

The waters of the Red Sea amaze with purity and transparency, since not a single river flows into it, bringing with it river silt and fine sand. Despite the rather serious depth (about 3 kilometers in the deepest part), it is well warmed up by the sun's rays, and even in winter its temperature does not fall below 20 degrees, and in summer it stays at 27-28 degrees.


This ideal conditions for the multiplication marine fish, animals, mollusks and other underwater living creatures. The underwater world of the Red Sea is extremely rich and diverse, despite the high salinity of the water.

The most salty seas of Russia

The most saline sea washing the coast of Russia is the Barents Sea, the salt content of which reaches 35 grams per liter of water. It is located in the northern part of the country, so in winter it is almost completely covered with ice. Only remains free small plot seas in the southwest.

Even in summer, the water temperature does not exceed 12 degrees Celsius. Despite this, the Barents Sea is rich in fish, among which there are many commercial species - perch, herring, capelin, catfish, beluga, etc.


Other northern seas of Russia are slightly inferior in salinity to the Barents, but they are also among the top ten most saline seas in the world. These are the Laptev Sea (34 grams of salt per liter), the Chukchi Sea (33 grams of salt per liter) and the White Sea (30 grams of salt per liter of water).

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