Russians discover new island in the Caspian Sea

A group of Russian researchers discovered a new island in the Caspian Sea. It has not yet been possible to land in it, but scientists have already managed to say that it is full of sand crystals.

An expedition of Russian investigation made in late May confirmed the appearance of a New island in the northern part of the Caspian Sea.

The island, which has no name, is located 30 kilometers southwest of another island called Maly Zhemchuzhny.

According to a statement from the Russian state news agency Tass, the island is only slightly high above water level and its surface was moist. In addition, it is mostly flat, but it is sandwicked.

According to Stepan Podolyakofrom the Institute of Oceanology PP Shirshov of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IO RAS), which was part of the expedition, the new island was born due to a drop in the water levels of the Caspian Sea.

“The occurrence of new islands in the Caspian Sea is associated with cyclic processes of long -term fluctuations at the level [destas] interior waters. Awash’s islands are elevations at the bottom of the surface that surface during periods of sea level, ”explained Podilyako.

What happens in the Caspian Sea?

The Caspian Sea, which is at the junction between Europe and Asia, is the largest body of inner water in the world when measured by its surface area of ​​371,000 square kilometers.

The levels of this sea descended during the 1930s and 1970s before they climbed again – and began to go down around 2010.

As climate change may be responsible for the recent declinebecause the Caspian seawater levels depend in part of evaporation rates, admitted Podilyako.

In addition, there is tectonic changes to occur at the bottom of the sea“may explain changes in water levels,” he added.

The scientists first detected signs of the new island in satellite images in November 2024 – when a battery of sand and sediments broke the surface of the water began to dry.

During the recent expedition, the researchers were able to approach the island to confirm their existence, but could not land due to the adverse conditions of the island.

At the moment, The island is just a few centimeters above water levelbut this may change with the reduction of river flows to the Caspian Sea in summer and fall. This situation can lower water levels around the island and increase its elevation.