The Black Sea is washed by seven countries, many tourists seek on its shores during the holidays to swim and relax. A variety of Black Sea resorts are happy to meet everyone. But what do we know about this sea? Are there any interesting facts about the Black Sea that we do not know? Of course have. Get to know them in this article.
Sea with many names
Only this sea had a huge number of names in its entire history. As soon as he was not called. The very first name was given by the ancient Greeks - Pont Aksinsky. in translation, this means "inhospitable sea." It was along it that the Argonauts, led by Jason, sailed in search of the Golden Fleece. It was very difficult to approach the sea, since its shores were inhabited by hostile tribes who fiercely guarded their territory. In addition, there was little information about Pont Aksinsky, and navigation at that time was not established. Later, after the development and conquest of the coast, it was renamed the Pont Evsinsky, which meant "hospitable sea."
An interesting fact about the Black Sea is that he still had many names that were given to him by different peoples: Cimmerian, Ahshayen, Temarun, Tauride, Holy, Blue, Sourozh, Ocean. And in Ancient Russia, up to the sixteenth century, it was called Russian or Scythian.
Why is it black?
There is no single answer to this question, but there are two hypotheses that hold. The first says that the reason for this name is hydrogen sulfide. This substance has the peculiarity of covering with black coating metal objects falling to a depth of more than 150 meters, for example, an anchor. When the sailors lifted him, they saw that he was blackened. This quality of water also gave the name to the sea in the future.
The second hypothesis is that in the old days parts of the world were denoted by color. White means south, and black means north. In Turkish, for example, the Mediterranean Sea is called the White Sea, that is, located in the south.
Dangerous and healing inhabitants of the sea
Want to know interesting facts about the Black Sea and its inhabitants? For example, about a shark that can help fight cancerous tumors? In the middle waters of the Black Sea, a katran shark lives. It is small, less than a meter in length, but very dangerous. Spikes are located on her back. But vacationers should not be afraid of them: the sea dweller is afraid of noise, therefore she does not swim to the shores.
These Katran sharks are actively used in pharmacology, as their fat has excellent healing properties, and their liver contains a substance that can cure some forms of cancer.
In addition to these sharks, about 2500 different animals live in the Black Sea, among which there are very dangerous ones, such as a sea dragon. On its dorsal fin are poisonous spiky spikes, which can lead to death. Another dangerous inhabitant of the Black Sea is scorpion.
There is an interesting fact about the Black Sea in Russia, which says that it glows like a neon lamp on August nights. This is because it is at this time that a marine candle accumulates near the surface of the water - algae that are capable of bioluminescence. Due to their property, the sea sparkles in the dark.
Interesting facts about the Black Sea
- In winter, the Black Sea remains almost frozen at 90%.
- The only large peninsula that is washed by the Black Sea is the Crimean.
- There are no ebbs and flows in this sea, since the waters of the Atlantic Ocean get into it only in a small amount.
- The Black Sea currents are very interesting: they resemble two whirlpools, with giant waves, similar to glasses. Waves reach 400 kilometers. These whirlpools are named after the oceanologist who first described the currents - “Knipovich's Points”.
- Another interesting fact about the Black Sea is the fact that ancient Taman cities hid at its bottom. This was due to the fact that the sea is very rapidly increasing in volume - 25 centimeters per century.
- The mountains around the sea are also growing, but not so fast - about 15 centimeters per hundred years.
- About 7500 years ago, on the site of the Black Sea was a freshwater lake, with its inhabitants. Due to a cataclysm (flood or earthquake), a soil fracture occurred, and sea water entered the lake, flooding it and killing the inhabitants. Their remains, accumulated on the seabed, emit hydrogen sulfide, which stains all the metal black and prevents marine inhabitants from descending to a depth below 150 meters. According to some reports, the flooding of this lake could be the very flood from which Noah escaped in his ark.
These are such interesting facts about the Black Sea that exist in our history.