Why Is It Called the Black Sea? Unveiling Everything

What is it about this sea that makes everyone refer to it as the Black Sea? Is its water black, or is there something in it that is black? Let me tell you, there is nothing like that in the sea, but it is called the Black Sea due to its unsolved mysteries.

What is the Black Sea?

The Black Sea is located mainly in Eastern Europe. It borders the coastal regions of Turkey to the north, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia . The total area of the Black Sea is about 436,000 square kilometers, with a depth of around 1,250 feet (380 meters), and the deepest part reaches 2,212 feet (674 meters). Its coastline stretches from Ukraine in the south, Russia in the southwest, Georgia in the west, and Bulgaria and Romania in the east.

The water volume in this sea is approximately 547,000 cubic kilometers. Do you know what is special about the water in this sea? The water of the Black Sea is divided into two layers. The upper layer consists of fresh water, which goes up to 150 meters, while the lower layer is mixed with salty water. Due to this change, there is a significant lack of oxygen in the deeper regions which has limited the marine life there. The name “Black Sea” was given based on its weather conditions and water qualities in ancient times.

History and Significance

During the 15th and 16th centuries, trading was highly regarded and even after that, the Black Sea was considered an important source for trade. In ancient times, the Black Sea was part of the ancient trade routes connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

The Black Sea was also important for military and defense purposes, especially for the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires. The region was a cultural exchange point for Greek, Roman, Scythian, and Slavic cultures, and many Greek colonies were established along its coast such as Tauric Chersonesus, Olbia, Tomis, Mesembria, and Theodosia.

Unique Species

As mentioned, the Black Sea has low oxygen levels in its depths, which has led to the presence of several rare and unique species in its waters. These include:

Special Features

One of the unique features of the Black Sea is that due to the lack of oxygen in its deep sections, ships that have sunk there some of which are 2,000 to 3,000 years old, are still found in good condition. Additionally, ancient items from the Greek and Roman eras over 1,000 years old, have also been discovered in the sea in excellent condition.

Another interesting fact is that only animals living in the top 150 meters of the sea can survive, while below that life is almost non-existent. The sea is also known for the discovery of human skeletons along with sunken ships, which has contributed to its fame. These skeletons are believed to be in good condition.

Underwater River

A massive underwater river, a current of particularly saline water flows along the seabed of the Sea, originating from the Mediterranean Sea through the Bosphorus Strait. Scientists at the University of Leeds discovered this “undersea river” in 2010. If this undersea river were on land it would be considered the world’s sixth largest in terms of water volume.

It is also said that Soviet and Greek aircrafts vanished while crossing the Black Sea. For example, a Russian Tu-154 military plane carrying 92 people, including members of the Red Army Choir and journalists crashed into the Black Sea near Sochi. Additionally, a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet reportedly disappeared from radar over the Black Sea after conducting missile launches towards Ukraine, raising concerns about a potential crash.

Mysterious Cities and Tunnels

There have been mentions of cities in the Sea, but the exact locations remain unknown, and scientists are still searching for them. There are also claims about the existence of several tunnels that connect different countries, but solid proof has not been found. The more that is discovered in the Black Sea, the deeper its mystery seems to become.

NASA’s Aqua satellite, using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), has captured images of the Black Sea showing swirling phytoplankton blooms, which color the surface waters blue and green. According to NASA Earth Observatory, these blooms can be so bright that they are visible from space.

Thus, the this Sea holds many mysteries that remain unsolved, and scientists from many countries continue to work on unraveling them.