Sea Of Azov

The Sea of Azov is a shallow inland sea of Eastern Europe connected to the Black Sea by the narrow Strait of Kerch. Sometimes described as the northern extension of the Black Sea, it forms part of the larger system of continental-shelf waters bordering the Eurasian landmass. The sea is bounded by Russia to the east and by Ukraine to the northwest and southwest, although the Ukrainian territories along its coast are presently under Russian occupation. The Sea of Azov is an important maritime route linking the Volga–Don Canal to the Black Sea, providing access for trade between Central Asia and global markets.

Physical geography and environmental characteristics

The Sea of Azov is noted for its exceptionally low depth, commonly regarded as the shallowest sea in the world. Its depth increases gently from the coastal margins toward the central basin, producing a flat and relatively featureless seabed. Numerous rivers, including the Don and the Kuban, discharge into the sea, transporting sand, silt and shells that create bays, limans and elongated spits along the shoreline. These deposits contribute to the gradual silting of the basin.
River inflow gives the water a low salinity compared with the Black Sea and enriches it with nutrients that promote substantial growth of algae and plankton. This high biological productivity has historically supported abundant fish stocks. The surrounding coasts and spits are low-lying and vegetated, providing habitat for large bird colonies. A constant outflow of surface water from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea helps maintain its hydrological balance.

Names and ancient terminology

The modern name of the sea likely derives from the town of Azov, whose name in the Kipchak language—asak or azaq—means “lowlands”. Alternative folk etymologies propose an origin in the name of a legendary Cuman prince said to have died defending his settlement in 1067. Older English sources sometimes spelled the name “Azoff”.
In antiquity the Sea of Azov was widely known to Greek and Roman authors as the Maeotis Swamp (palus Maeotis), a reflection of both its shallow depth and the marshes along its northeastern shores. Classical writers applied various names, including Maeotian Lake, Cimmerian Lake and related forms. Pliny the Elder recorded that local Maeotian peoples referred to the sea as Temarunda or “Mother of Waters”. In medieval Rus’ it was known as the Surozh Sea, after the nearby town of Sudak, while in Ottoman Turkish it was called the Balk Deniz (“Fish Sea”) due to its rich fisheries.

Prehistoric and ancient contexts

Archaeological remains indicate that humans occupied areas now submerged beneath the Sea of Azov during the Neolithic period. Debate continues over the geological development of the region, particularly following the publication of the Black Sea deluge hypothesis in 1997, which proposed that a sudden Mediterranean inflow through the Bosporus transformed a prehistoric lake into the present-day Black Sea. Some scholars have linked this event to ancient flood myths, although evidence remains contested.
In antiquity, the Maeotian region around the mouth of the Tanais (modern Don River) played a significant geographical role. Its swampy waters provided a natural barrier against the movements of nomadic peoples from the Eurasian steppe. Greek geographers debated the size and shape of the sea: Herodotus believed it nearly as large as the Black Sea, while later authors estimated it as roughly half that size. Its freshwater character contributed to confusion, with some ancient authorities imagining that it communicated directly with northern oceans.
Greek colonisation along the sea’s shores began in the seventh century BCE. The Bosporan Kingdom, taking its name from the Cimmerian Bosporus (Strait of Kerch), emerged as a long-lived Hellenistic polity controlling both sides of the strait. It exported grain, fish and enslaved people in exchange for Greek and Roman goods. Its decline is obscure, but it likely succumbed to nomadic incursions during the late fourth century CE.

Early modern military significance

The Sea of Azov became a strategic focus during repeated Russo–Ottoman conflicts. In the Russo-Turkish War of 1686–1700, Tsar Peter I launched two campaigns (1695 and 1696) to seize the fortress of Azov from the Ottoman Empire. The initial attempt failed, but a second, supported by a newly constructed Azov fleet, succeeded after a combined land–sea assault in July 1696. The victory granted Russia temporary access to the sea, prompting the establishment of a naval base at Taganrog.
Following Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Turkish War of 1710–1711, the Treaty of the Pruth restored Azov to the Ottomans and required the destruction of the Russian fleet. Russia regained the city briefly in 1737, but the Treaty of Niš (1739) again restricted its control.

Crimean War operations

During the Crimean War (1853–1856), the Sea of Azov became a theatre of Anglo-French operations against Russia. In May 1855 allied forces captured Kerch, opening the strait and enabling naval incursions aimed at disrupting Russian supply routes to the Crimean Peninsula. The subsequent siege of Taganrog involved extensive bombardments, but despite the allies’ numerical advantage the city held until the campaign ended in late summer. Coastal raids continued unsuccessfully into October.

Recent developments and contemporary issues

In December 2003 Russia and Ukraine signed a treaty designating the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch as shared internal waters, granting both states freedom of navigation. Relations deteriorated following the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea. The construction of the Crimean Bridge, whose clearance restricts the passage of large Panamax-class vessels, further complicated maritime access to Ukrainian ports.
In 2018 Ukraine announced increased naval deployments and enhanced coastal defence along the Sea of Azov, basing new vessels at Berdiansk. Passage of Ukrainian naval ships under the Crimean Bridge that September drew international attention, highlighting the growing militarisation of the region.