Caspian Sea - the largest lake on Earth, endorheic, located at the junction of Europe and Asia, called a sea because of its size, as well as because its bed is composed of oceanic-type crust. The water in the Caspian Sea is salty, from 0.05 ‰ near the mouth of the Volga to 11-13 ‰ in the southeast. The water level is subject to fluctuations, according to 2009 data it was 27.16 m below sea level. The area of the Caspian Sea is currently approximately 371,000 km², the maximum depth is 1025 m.
Geographical position
The Caspian Sea is located at the junction of two parts of the Eurasian continent - Europe and Asia. The length of the Caspian Sea from north to south is approximately 1200 kilometers (36°34"-47°13" N), from west to east - from 195 to 435 kilometers, on average 310-320 kilometers (46°-56° v. d.). The Caspian Sea is conventionally divided according to physical and geographical conditions into 3 parts - the Northern Caspian, the Middle Caspian and the Southern Caspian. The conditional border between the Northern and Middle Caspian runs along the line of the island. Chechen - Cape Tyub-Karagansky, between the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea - along the line of the island. Residential - Cape Gan-Gulu. The area of the Northern, Middle and Southern Caspian Sea is 25, 36, 39 percent, respectively.
The length of the coastline of the Caspian Sea is estimated at approximately 6500-6700 kilometers, with islands - up to 7000 kilometers. The shores of the Caspian Sea in most of its territory are low-lying and smooth. In the northern part, the coastline is indented by water channels and islands of the Volga and Ural deltas, the banks are low and swampy, and the water surface in many places is covered with thickets. The east coast is dominated by limestone shores adjacent to semi-deserts and deserts. The most winding shores are on the western coast in the area of the Absheron Peninsula and on the eastern coast in the area of the Kazakh Gulf and Kara-Bogaz-Gol. The territory adjacent to the Caspian Sea is called the Caspian region.
Peninsulas of the Caspian Sea
Large peninsulas of the Caspian Sea:
- Agrakhan Peninsula
- The Absheron Peninsula, located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea on the territory of Azerbaijan, at the northeastern end of the Greater Caucasus, on its territory the cities of Baku and Sumgait are located
- Buzachi
- Mangyshlak, located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, on the territory of Kazakhstan, on its territory is the city of Aktau
- Miankale
- Tyub-Karagan
Islands of the Caspian Sea
There are about 50 large and medium-sized islands in the Caspian Sea with a total area of approximately 350 square kilometers. Largest islands:
- Ashur-Ada
- Garasu
- Boyuk-Zira
- Zyanbil
- Cure Dashi
- Khara-Zira
- Ogurchinsky
- Sengi-Mugan
- Seal
- Seal Islands
- Chechen
- Chygyl
Bays of the Caspian Sea
Large bays of the Caspian Sea:
- Agrakhan Bay
- Kizlyar Bay
- Dead Kultuk (formerly Komsomolets, formerly Tsesarevich Bay)
- Kaydak
- Mangyshlaksky
- Kazakh
- Kenderli
- Turkmenbashi (bay) (formerly Krasnovodsk)
- Turkmen (bay)
- Gizilagach (formerly Kirov Bay)
- Astrakhan (bay)
- Hasan-kuli
- Gizlar
- Hyrcanus (formerly Astarabad)
- Anzali (formerly Pahlavi)
- Kara-Bogaz-Gol
Rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea-130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, of which 9 rivers have a delta-shaped mouth. Large rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea are the Volga, Terek, Sulak, Samur (Russia), Ural, Emba (Kazakhstan), Kura (Azerbaijan), Atrek (Turkmenistan), Sefidrud (Iran) and others. The largest river flowing into the Caspian Sea is the Volga, its average annual flow is 215-224 cubic kilometers. The Volga, Ural, Terek, Sulak and Emba provide up to 88-90% of the annual flow into the Caspian Sea.
Physiography
Area, depth, volume of water- the area and volume of water in the Caspian Sea varies significantly depending on fluctuations in water level. At a water level of −26.75 m, the area is approximately 371,000 square kilometers, the volume of water is 78,648 cubic kilometers, which is approximately 44% of the world's lake water reserves. The maximum depth of the Caspian Sea is in the South Caspian depression, 1025 meters from its surface level. In terms of maximum depth, the Caspian Sea is second only to Baikal (1620 m) and Tanganyika (1435 m). The average depth of the Caspian Sea, calculated from the bathygraphic curve, is 208 meters. At the same time, the northern part of the Caspian Sea is shallow, its maximum depth does not exceed 25 meters, and the average depth is 4 meters.
Water level fluctuations- the water level in the Caspian Sea is subject to significant fluctuations. According to modern science, over the past three thousand years, the magnitude of the change in the water level of the Caspian Sea has reached 15 meters. According to archeology and written sources, a high level of the Caspian Sea is recorded at the beginning of the 14th century. Instrumental measurements of the level of the Caspian Sea and systematic observations of its fluctuations have been carried out since 1837, during which time the highest water level was recorded in 1882 (−25.2 m), the lowest in 1977 (−29.0 m), with Since 1978, the water level has risen and in 1995 reached −26.7 m; since 1996, a downward trend has emerged again. Scientists associate the reasons for changes in the water level of the Caspian Sea with climatic, geological and anthropogenic factors. But in 2001, sea level began to rise again, and reached −26.3 m.
Water temperature- water temperature is subject to significant latitudinal changes, most clearly expressed in winter, when the temperature varies from 0-0.5 °C at the ice edge in the north of the sea to 10-11 °C in the south, that is, the difference in water temperature is about 10 ° C. For shallow water areas with depths less than 25 m, the annual amplitude can reach 25-26 °C. On average, the water temperature off the west coast is 1-2 °C higher than that on the east, and in the open sea the water temperature is 2-4 °C higher than off the coasts.
Water composition- the salt composition of the waters of the closed Caspian Sea differs from the oceanic one. There are significant differences in the ratios of concentrations of salt-forming ions, especially for waters in areas directly influenced by continental runoff. The process of metamorphization of sea waters under the influence of continental runoff leads to a decrease in the relative content of chlorides in the total amount of salts of sea waters, an increase in the relative amount of carbonates, sulfates, calcium, which are the main components in the chemical composition of river waters. The most conservative ions are potassium, sodium, chlorine and magnesium. The least conservative are calcium and bicarbonate ions. In the Caspian Sea, the content of calcium and magnesium cations is almost two times higher than in the Sea of Azov, and the sulfate anion is three times higher.
Bottom relief- the relief of the northern part of the Caspian Sea is a shallow undulating plain with banks and accumulative islands, the average depth of the Northern Caspian Sea is 4-8 meters, the maximum does not exceed 25 meters. The Mangyshlak threshold separates the Northern Caspian from the Middle Caspian. The Middle Caspian is quite deep, the water depth in the Derbent depression reaches 788 meters. The Absheron threshold separates the Middle and Southern Caspian Seas. The Southern Caspian is considered deep-sea; the water depth in the South Caspian depression reaches 1025 meters from the surface of the Caspian Sea. Shell sands are widespread on the Caspian shelf, deep-sea areas are covered with silty sediments, and in some areas there is an outcrop of bedrock.
Climate- the climate of the Caspian Sea is continental in the northern part, temperate in the middle part and subtropical in the southern part. In winter, the average monthly air temperature varies from −8…−10 in the northern part to +8…+10 in the southern part, in summer - from +24…+25 in the northern part to +26…+27 in the southern part. The maximum temperature of +44 degrees was recorded on the east coast. The average annual precipitation is 200 millimeters, ranging from 90-100 millimeters in the arid eastern part to 1,700 millimeters along the southwestern subtropical coast. Evaporation of water from the surface of the Caspian Sea is about 1000 millimeters per year, the most intense evaporation in the area of the Absheron Peninsula and in the eastern part of the South Caspian Sea is up to 1400 millimeters per year. The average annual wind speed is 3-7 meters per second, with northern winds prevailing in the wind rose. In the autumn and winter months, winds become stronger, with wind speeds often reaching 35-40 meters per second. The most windy areas are the Absheron Peninsula, the environs of Makhachkala and Derbent, where the highest wave of 11 meters was recorded.
Currents- water circulation in the Caspian Sea is associated with drainage and winds. Since most of the drainage occurs in the Northern Caspian Sea, northern currents predominate. An intense northern current carries water from the Northern Caspian along the western coast to the Absheron Peninsula, where the current divides into two branches, one of which moves further along the western coast, the other goes to the Eastern Caspian.
Economic development of the Caspian Sea
Mining of oil and gas-Many oil and gas fields are being developed in the Caspian Sea. Proven oil resources in the Caspian Sea are about 10 billion tons, total oil and gas condensate resources are estimated at 18-20 billion tons. Oil production in the Caspian Sea began in 1820, when the first oil well was drilled on the Absheron shelf near Baku. In the second half of the 19th century, oil production began on an industrial scale on the Absheron Peninsula, and then in other territories. In 1949, oil was first produced at Neftyanye Kamni from the bottom of the Caspian Sea. So, on August 24 of this year, Mikhail Kaverochkin’s team began drilling a well, which yielded the long-awaited oil on November 7 of the same year. In addition to oil and gas production, salt, limestone, stone, sand, and clay are also mined on the coast of the Caspian Sea and the Caspian shelf.
Shipping- Shipping is developed in the Caspian Sea. There are ferry crossings on the Caspian Sea, in particular, Baku - Turkmenbashi, Baku - Aktau, Makhachkala - Aktau. The Caspian Sea has a shipping connection with the Sea of Azov through the Volga, Don and Volga-Don Canal rivers.
Fishing and seafood production-fishing (sturgeon, bream, carp, pike perch, sprat), caviar production, as well as seal fishing. More than 90 percent of the world's sturgeon catch occurs in the Caspian Sea. In addition to industrial mining, illegal fishing of sturgeon and their caviar flourishes in the Caspian Sea.
Legal status of the Caspian Sea- after the collapse of the USSR, the division of the Caspian Sea for a long time was and still remains the subject of unresolved disagreements related to the division of the resources of the Caspian shelf - oil and gas, as well as biological resources. For a long time, negotiations were ongoing between the Caspian states on the status of the Caspian Sea - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan insisted on dividing the Caspian along the median line, Iran insisted on dividing the Caspian one-fifth between all Caspian states. The current legal regime of the Caspian was established by the Soviet-Iranian treaties of 1921 and 1940 These treaties provide for freedom of navigation throughout the sea, freedom of fishing with the exception of ten-mile national fishing zones and a ban on vessels flying the flag of non-Caspian states sailing in its waters. Negotiations on the legal status of the Caspian Sea are currently ongoing.
The southern shore of the Caspian Sea is very different from its other shores, especially from the northern and eastern ones. This is due to the terrain and its considerable distance (almost 1000 km) from the northern coast. It belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Almost parallel to the coastline of the Caspian Sea stretches the large Elburz mountain range, from which many small rivers run into the Caspian Sea.
The strip of land between Elburz and the Caspian Sea is agricultural; it is located in a subtropical climate, which means it is well suited for the cultivation of many agricultural crops, including heat-loving ones.
On the southern coast of the Caspian Sea there are 3 provinces of Iran: Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan with administrative centers, respectively, Rasht, Sari and Gorgan. 
In the photo is the village of Masule in Gilan, the village is built on a mountain slope, the roofs of the houses serve as a road for pedestrians and separate the “streets”.
By the way, Gilan at one time belonged to Russia in 20-21 years of the last century. Actually, at the beginning of the 18th century, not only Gilan, but also Mezandaran was Russian
These provinces are economically developed; one of the sectors of the economy is connected precisely with their location on the shores of the Caspian Sea. This is the fishing industry.
Hydrocarbons are produced in the same region.
The coast of the Caspian Sea is connected to the coast of the Persian Gulf by railway. There is a project for a water canal from the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf.
It is clear that in Iran, as in any other country, the work of fishermen cannot be called easy.
This photo alone serves as a good illustration of what was said.
The Caspian Sea, or rather its water surface, serves as a “bone of discord” between our country and Iran. If before the collapse of the USSR everything was clear and understandable, now, when 4 states besides Iran were formed on the shores of the Caspian Sea - Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the issue has become more acute.
But apparently, diplomats and leaders of the Caspian countries managed to come to an agreement.
The Caspian Sea is simultaneously considered both an endorheic lake and a full-fledged sea. The reasons for this confusion are brackish waters and a hydrological regime similar to the sea.
The Caspian Sea is located on the border of Asia and Europe. Its area is about 370 thousand km 2, its maximum depth is just over one kilometer. The Caspian Sea is conventionally divided into three almost equal parts: Southern (39% of the area), Middle (36%) and Northern (25%).
The sea washes simultaneously the Russian, Kazakh, Azerbaijani, Turkmen and Iranian shores.
Shore of the Caspian Sea(Caspian Sea) has a length of approximately 7 thousand kilometers, if you count it together with the islands. In the north, the low seashore is covered with swamps and thickets, and has multiple water channels. The eastern and western coasts of the Caspian Sea have a winding shape; in some places the shores are covered with limestone.
There are many islands in the Caspian Sea: Dash-Zira, Kur Dashi, Dzhambaisky, Boyuk-Zira, Gum, Chigil, Here-Zira, Zenbil, Ogurchinsky, Tyuleniy, Ashur-Ada, etc. Peninsulas: Mangyshlak, Tyub-Karagan, Absheron and Miankale. Their total area is approximately 400 km 2.
Flows into the Caspian Sea more than a hundred different rivers, the most significant are the Ural, Terek, Volga, Atrek, Emba, Samur. Almost all of them provide 85–95% of the annual water flow to the sea.
The largest bays of the Caspian Sea: Kaydak, Agrakhansky, Kazakh, Dead Kultuk, Turkmenbashi, Mangyshlaksky, Gyzlar, Girkan, Kaydak.
Climate of the Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is located in three climatic zones: subtropical climate in the south, continental in the north and temperate in the middle. In winter, the average temperature varies from -10 to +10 degrees, while in summer the air warms up to about +25 degrees. During the year, precipitation ranges from 110 mm in the east to 1500 mm in the west.
The average wind speed is 3–7 m/s, but in autumn and winter it often increases to 35 m/s. The most windy areas are the coastal areas of Makhachkala, Derbent and the Absheron Peninsula.
Water temperature in the Caspian Sea fluctuates from zero to +10 degrees in winter, and from 23 to 28 degrees in the summer months. In some coastal shallow waters the water can warm up to 35-40 degrees.
Only the northern part of the sea is subject to freezing, but in especially cold winters the coastal zones of the middle part are added to it. Ice cover appears in November and disappears only in March.
Problems of the Caspian region
Water pollution is one of the main environmental problems of the Caspian Sea. Oil production, various harmful substances from flowing rivers, waste from nearby cities - all this negatively affects the condition of sea water. Additional troubles are created by poachers, whose actions reduce the number of fish of certain species found in the Caspian Sea.
Rising sea levels are also causing serious financial harm to all Caspian countries.
According to conservative estimates, restoring destroyed buildings and taking comprehensive measures to protect the coast from flooding costs tens of millions of dollars.
Cities and resorts on the Caspian Sea
The largest city and port washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea is Baku. Other settlements in Azerbaijan located in close proximity to the sea include Sumgayit and Lenkoran. On the eastern shores is the city of Turkmenbashi, and about ten kilometers from it by the sea is the large Turkmen resort of Avaza.
On the Russian side, on the seashore there are the following cities: Makhachkala, Izberbash, Derbent, Lagan and Kaspiysk. Astrakhan is often called a port city, although it is located approximately 65 kilometers from the northern shores of the Caspian Sea.
Astrakhan
There are no beach holidays in this region: along the sea coast there are only continuous reed thickets. However, tourists go to Astrakhan not for lounging on the beach, but for fishing and various types of outdoor activities: diving, catamaran riding, jet skiing, etc. In July and August, excursion ships ply along the Caspian Sea.
Dagestan
For a classic seaside holiday, it is better to go to Makhachkala, Kaspiysk or Izberbash - this is where not only good sandy beaches are located, but also decent recreation centers. The range of entertainment on the seashore on the Dagestan side is quite wide: swimming, healing mud springs, windsurfing, kiting, rock climbing and paragliding.
The only disadvantage of this direction is the underdeveloped infrastructure.
In addition, among some Russian tourists there is an opinion that Dagestan is far from the most peaceful territory that is part of the North Caucasus Federal District.
Kazakhstan
A much calmer environment can be found in the Kazakh resorts of Kuryk, Atyrau and Aktau. The latter is the most popular tourist city in Kazakhstan: there are many good entertainment venues and well-maintained beaches. In summer, the temperature here is very high, reaching up to +40 degrees during the daytime, and dropping only to +30 at night.
The disadvantages of Kazakhstan as a tourist country are the same poor infrastructure and rudimentary transport links between regions.
Azerbaijan
The best places to relax on the Caspian coast are Baku, Nabran, Lankaran and other Azerbaijani resorts. Fortunately, everything is fine with the infrastructure in this country: for example, several modern comfortable hotels with swimming pools and beaches have been built in the Absheron Peninsula area.
However, in order to enjoy a holiday on the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan, you need to spend a lot of money. In addition, you can only get to Baku quickly enough by plane - trains rarely run, and the journey from Russia itself takes two to three days.
Tourists should not forget that Dagestan and Azerbaijan are Islamic countries, so all “non-believers” need to adapt their usual behavior to local customs.
If you follow simple rules of stay, nothing will spoil your vacation on the Caspian Sea.
The Caspian Sea is the largest lake on our planet, which is located in a depression of the earth’s surface (the so-called Aral-Caspian Lowland) on the territory of Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Iran. Although they consider it as a lake, because it is not connected with the World Ocean, but by the nature of the formation processes and history of origin, by its size, the Caspian Sea is a sea.
The area of the Caspian Sea is about 371 thousand km 2. The sea, stretching from north to south, has a length of about 1200 km and an average width of 320 km. The length of the coastline is about 7 thousand km. The Caspian Sea is located 28.5 m below the level of the World Ocean and its greatest depth is 1025 m. There are about 50 islands in the Caspian Sea, mostly small in area. The large islands include such islands as Tyuleniy, Kulaly, Zhiloy, Chechen, Artem, Ogurchinsky. There are also many bays in the sea, for example: Kizlyarsky, Komsomolets, Kazakhsky, Agrakhansky, etc.
The Caspian Sea is fed by more than 130 rivers. The largest amount of water (about 88% of the total flow) is brought by the rivers Ural, Volga, Terek, Emba, which flow into the northern part of the sea. About 7% of the flow comes from the large rivers Kura, Samur, Sulak and small ones that flow into the sea on the west coast. The rivers Heraz, Gorgan, and Sefidrud flow into the southern Iranian coast, bringing only 5% of the flow. Not a single river flows into the eastern part of the sea. The water in the Caspian Sea is salty, its salinity ranges from 0.3‰ to 13‰.
Shores of the Caspian Sea
The shores have different landscapes. The shores of the northern part of the sea are low and flat, surrounded by low-lying semi-desert and somewhat elevated desert. In the south, the shores are partly low-lying, they are bordered by a small coastal lowland, behind which the Elburz ridge runs along the coast, which in some places comes close to the shore. In the west, the Greater Caucasus ranges approach the coast. In the east there is an abrasion coast, carved out of limestone, and semi-desert and desert plateaus approach it. The coastline changes greatly due to periodic fluctuations in water levels.
The climate of the Caspian Sea is different:
Continental in the north;
Moderate in the middle
Subtropical in the south.
At the same time, there are severe frosts and snowstorms on the northern shore, while fruit trees and magnolias bloom on the southern shore. In winter, strong storm winds rage at sea.
On the coast of the Caspian Sea there are large cities and ports: Baku, Lankaran, Turkmenbashi, Lagan, Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Izberbash, Astrakhan, etc. 
The fauna of the Caspian Sea is represented by 1809 species of animals. More than 70 species of fish are found in the sea, including: herring, gobies, stellate sturgeon, sturgeon, beluga, white fish, sterlet, pike perch, carp, bream, roach, etc. Of the marine mammals, only the smallest in the world, the Caspian seal, is found in the lake. not found in other seas. The Caspian Sea lies on the main migratory route of birds between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Every year, about 12 million birds fly over the Caspian Sea during migration, and another 5 million usually winter here.
Vegetable world
The flora of the Caspian Sea and its coast includes 728 species. Basically, the sea is inhabited by algae: diatoms, blue-greens, red, characeae, brown and others, of the flowering ones - rupee and zoster.
The Caspian Sea is rich in natural resources; many oil and gas fields are being developed in it; in addition, limestone, salt, sand, stone and clay are also mined here. The Caspian Sea is connected by the Volga-Don Canal with the Sea of Azov, and shipping is well developed. A lot of different fish are caught in the reservoir, including more than 90% of the world's sturgeon catch.
The Caspian Sea is also a recreation area; on its shores there are holiday homes, tourist centers and sanatoriums.
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To the east of Azerbaijan, Iran faces the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, the total length of the coastline is 724 km. The provinces of Gilan, Mazanderan and Gulistan have access to the sea. These regions are not often included in tourist routes, but the Caspian Sea is deservedly very popular among residents of the capital and surrounding areas.
The Caspian regions of Iran have the best mild and warm subtropical climate in the country, in sharp contrast to the arid continental climate of the Iranian plateau. Average winter temperatures are about +8 - 10°C, summer temperatures are approximately +26 - 27°C, while the average annual precipitation reaches 1500 mm. This area, unlike most of Iran, is saturated with moisture not only in winter, during the passage of Mediterranean cyclones, but also in summer, with constant winds from the north. In August, which is the month of greatest warming, the water temperature rises to +28°C. In October-November, its temperature in the surface layer drops to +16 - 17°C. Such climatic conditions make the Caspian coast a popular holiday destination for Iranians, and can also be attractive to foreign tourists.
If we describe the coastal provinces from west to east, then the first one needs to talk about Gilan. In addition, historically this province is most connected with Russia and has repeatedly fallen into short-term dependence on the empire, and then on the USSR. The center of the region is the city of Rasht, and its sea gate is the port of Anzali. It lies at the mouth of the Sefid River, which originates in the Elborz mountains. In its middle and lower reaches there are many species of fish, the most valuable of which is the Caspian trout.
The western outskirts of Anzeli abut a fifteen-kilometer lagoon. Despite pollution and significant ecosystem changes associated with rising Caspian Sea levels, it is an excellent place for fishing and bird watching.
Gilan is one of the few places in Iran suitable for growing tea, rice and silk, primarily due to its mild and humid climate. The development of rural tourism in the vicinity of Rasht is connected with this. For example, you can visit rice fields at sea level and see the production of natural silk.
Provinces Mazanderan stretches along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, and includes several actively developing resort towns. The westernmost of them, Ramsar, is perhaps one of the most attractive places on the entire coast. There are no historical attractions in its district, but what they lack is more than made up for by the magnificent landscape and almost Mediterranean climate. The town is sandwiched between the sea and hills covered with green subtropical forests. In addition, Ramsar hot springs and baths with medicinal water are popular. Ramsar has been used as a resort since the beginning of the 20th century: an ancient hotel and the palace of the last Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, have been preserved here.
To the east of Ramsar lie the cities of Tonekabon, Chalus and Nowshahr. Tonekabon is notable for its orange orchards. Nowshahr is a seaside resort that has flourished since the time of Shah Reza, when it was considered the summer capital of Iran and the favorite vacation spot of the royal family. From Chalus, located 5 km from the coast, there is a road to Mount Alam-Kuh and a mountain lake.
Numerous hotels of different levels have been built in Ramsar and Chalus, the most expensive of which are the five-star Azadi; in both cities they have the same name and offer accommodation costing 60 – 70 USD per night. There are also more modest hotels with an average room price of up to 40 USD per night. It is important to note that in this resort area there are hotels intended exclusively for foreigners, more expensive and actively cooperating with tour operators and tourist Internet portals, and hotels for Iranians, where a foreigner can stay only if he knows about their existence.
The most saturated resort area of Mazanderan is the section from Mahmudabad to Babulsar. Here, the shore of the Caspian Sea for about 70 km is occupied by hotels and sanatoriums, and the cities merge into one another. Babulsar and its surroundings do not have any natural attractions, but at the same time it has a developed tourist infrastructure, primarily a significant number of various accommodation places.
In the southeastern part of the Caspian Sea there is a bay Khalij-e Gurgan, separated from the main water area by a spit. Its waters and shores are included in the Miankale Biosphere Reserve. Swamps and peat bogs, forests, reed beds and shallows of the bay are under special protection. On the southern shore of the bay is the city of Behshahr, another seaside resort. It, unlike more western towns, does not have such a variety of hotels, there are only a few rather modest hotels, such as MianKaleh, so these places are best visited during a trip from Ramsar or Gurgan.
On the border with Turkmenistan, also on the shores of the Caspian Sea, is located Gulestan province. Unlike the other two Caspian provinces, it has a much drier climate and is mostly covered with steppes and semi-deserts. At the same time, in the foothills of Elborz and near the coast, broad-leaved forests remain, protected and a popular tourist destination. Not far from the center of the province - Gurgan - there are forest parks such as Sorkh Pushte or Shast Kulo. They are provided with the necessary infrastructure: cafes and restaurants, campsites.
On the coast of the Caspian Sea is the oldest in Iran Gulestan National Park, including an area of deciduous and tropical rainforest. On its territory there is a twenty-meter waterfall Gulistan. Another large waterfall - Shirabad - is a whole chain of waterfalls with a total height difference of about 80 m. This place is rich in animals. There are a huge number of wild boars in oak forests, so meeting them, especially in the evening, is very likely. However, wild boars are accustomed to people, rummage through the trash left by tourists, looking for something tasty, and do not show excessive aggression. You can also hear many stories about encounters with leopards that are found in the park.
Gulistan is a wintering place for millions of migratory birds; in addition, many species live here permanently. Many of them are included in the Red Book. This makes Lake Gulistan and the Miankale Spit a unique place for ornithologists and bird watching.
In Gurgan and its surroundings, you can stay in a hotel or at one of the recreation centers, the best service of which is provided by the NaharKhoran and Azin 3* hotels. In addition, you can find a hotel in nearby cities: Gonbad Kavus, Azadshahr and Minudasht.
The Caspian coast is the most favorable and green region of Iran, undoubtedly of interest to tourists. However, Iranians travel to the Caspian Sea mainly on their own, so Iranian travel agencies do not organize trips to the coast of Gilan and Mazanderan. Some companies, such as Gardeshyaran, include visits to Caspian cities in larger tours.
Perhaps two of the most important disadvantages of sea holidays in Iran are also reflected here: the ban on alcohol and special restrictions on women's clothing. According to the laws in force in Iran, women are prohibited from appearing in front of unfamiliar men in “excessively revealing” clothing. Currently, residents of this country can swim in a regular swimsuit on only a few beaches where there are “women’s sectors.” In addition, the Caspian Sea is considered very dirty and is significantly inferior in cleanliness to the Persian Gulf.
At the same time, if you have the opportunity, visit these places during your trip to Iran - here you can take a break from the endless yellow-orange landscapes outside the bus window, wander through green meadows and forests, and see the growing of tea and fruits and finally, swim in the Caspian Sea.
