Caspian Sea Suffers Historic Decline: Experts Warn of Ecological Crisis

Water levels in the Caspian Sea, the largest enclosed water body globally, have recently reached unprecedented lows, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS, referencing a research institute located in Astrakhan.

Experts from the Volga-Caspian Fisheries Research Institute indicated that the level of the Caspian Sea has dropped to over 29 meters below the Baltic Sea—a benchmark commonly used in Russia and certain post-Soviet nations to gauge the depths of landlocked water bodies in the area.

Typically, the average sea level of the Caspian Sea over the last century has fluctuated but generally remains around 26 to 27 meters below the Baltic Sea.

“The most notable decrease in water levels is occurring in the shallow northern region, which borders Russia and Kazakhstan,” the institute informed TASS. “Here, the retreating waters are unveiling extensive areas of the seafloor, which is also home to some of the most biologically diverse and densely populated ecosystems.”

Since 2015, the Caspian Sea has been receding at a concerning rate, with a nearly 80-centimeter drop in water levels over the past five years, according to the institute.

Scientists attribute this decline to a combination of climate change, which increases evaporation rates, alongside a decrease in water inflow from rivers that supply the sea, notably the Volga and Ural Rivers.

The Volga River, which originates in Russia and provides over 80% of the Caspian Sea’s water, has faced increasing pressures from dam construction and the growth of irrigation systems to support agriculture along its banks, as noted by experts.

The diminishing water levels pose a significant threat to the delicate ecosystem of the Caspian Sea, endangering species such as the wild sturgeon and the Caspian seal.