Black Sea

The Black Sea is a body of water located between southeastern Europe, the Caucasus region and Western Asia. It is bordered by Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Turkey. Its maximum depth is 2190 meters (7200 ft) making it one of the deepest seas in the world. The sea has an area of 436 000 km2 (168 400 sq mi), making it larger than Portugal or North Korea.

The Black Sea was once referred to as Pontus Euxinus (“Hospitable Sea”) in ancient Greek literature due to its temperate climate and warm waters compared to other bodies of water at that time such as the Mediterranean or Red Seas which were considered hostile for shipping purposes during antiquity. In addition to being used for trade routes throughout history due largely because of its strategic location along major continental landmasses connecting eastern Europe with western Asia; many cities are situated around its coastlines including Istanbul , Odessa , Sochi , Novorossiysk , Constanta and Batumi .
These ports have helped facilitate cultural exchange among different civilizations throughout millenia while also providing access into lucrative markets including petroleum reserves now found on seabed shelves offshore from some countries borderingthe BlackSea – notably Azerbaijan & Turkmenistan who tap into gas fields off their respective coasts since 2007 & 2011 respectively..

The unique ecology found within this semi-enclosed basin contains several distinct species not seen elsewhere such as sturgeon fish responsible producing caviar delicacies popularized worldwide over centuries past ; alongside other aquatic animals like dolphins living amongst kelp forests near coastal areas while deepwater abyssal plains host myriad bottom feeders ranging smaller crustaceans all way up giant whales recently identified inhabiting certain parts blacksea’s depths only few years ago! Notable marine life aside though ;this inland lake also serves humans numerous ways from recreation sailing/boating tourism economic pursuits tied fishing industry recreational activities involving beach resorts nearby towns… much more!