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{{More footnotes|date=February 2008}}
[[Image:Caspian Depression - NASA (edited).jpg|thumb|250px|right|Caspian Depression and north Caspian Sea from space]]

The '''Caspian Depression''' ({{lang-rus|Прикаспи́йская ни́зменность|p=prʲɪkɐˈspʲijskəjə ˈnʲizmʲɪnnəsʲtʲ}}, ''Prikaspiyskaya nizmennost''', '''Caspian Lowland''') or '''Pricaspian/Peri-Caspian Depression/Lowland''' is a [[lowland|low-lying]] [[Flatland (disambiguation)|flatland]] region encompassing the northern part of the [[Caspian Sea]], the largest enclosed [[body of water]] on [[Earth]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.caspianenvironment.org/newsite/Caspian-Background.htm
|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130703213331/http://www.caspianenvironment.org/newsite/Caspian-Background.htm
|dead-url=yes
|archive-date=2013-07-03
|title=Caspian Sea » Background
|publisher=Caspian Environment Programme
|accessdate=2011-02-24
}}</ref> It is the larger northern part of the wider [[Aral-Caspian Depression]] around the [[Aral Sea|Aral]] and Caspian seas.

The level of the Caspian sea is {{convert|28|m}} below sea level, however several places in the depression are even lower, and among them [[Karagiye]] near [[Aktau]] is the lowest at {{convert|-132|m}}.

The [[Depression (geology)|depression]] lies at the southern end of the [[Ryn Desert]], and is in both [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Russia]]. Most of the Russian Republic of [[Kalmykia]] lies in the Caspian Depression. The [[Volga River]] and the [[Ural River]] flow into the Caspian Sea through this region. The deltas of the Ural and Volga Rivers are extensive wetlands. The North Caspian depression is part of the [[Continental climate|continental]] or [[semi-arid]] desert [[biome]]. The area receives {{convert|300|mm|abbr=on}} of rain per year, on average, and less than 10% of the region is irrigated.

The Caspian Depression is below sea-level, consisting of large areas of [[marshland]]s in the eastern region. It is one of the largest flat lowland areas in [[Central Asia]], covering approximately {{convert|200000|km²|abbr=on}}. The area is very rich in underground oil and gas reserves, and oil and natural gas pipelines cross the depression from north to south and east to west. Many geologists believe the Caspian Sea and the depression were formed by [[tectonic]] forces. Some of them also believe that the North Caspian depression became separated from the open ocean in ancient times to form an enormous salt lake. Part of the ancient [[Silk Road]] ran through this region. The two largest cities in the depression are [[Astrakhan]] in Russia, and [[Atyrau]] in Kazakhstan. Today, the region is used mainly for livestock raising.

The depression is also noted for [[salt dome]]s, particularly Volgograd salt. It increases dramatically as one travels from the [[Ryn Desert]] toward the Caspian Sea. Russian satellite photos have revealed huge deposits of salt domes (about 1,200), in the Caspian Depression in western Kazakhstan. One dome, called the [[Chelkar Deposit]], covers an area of {{convert|3237|km²|abbr=on}} and is nearly {{convert|8|km|0}} deep.

The southern region of the depression, or the north coast of the Caspian Sea, is characterized by large development of damp sites resulting from [[tidal]] phenomena. The depression is also home to a large number of [[insect]] [[species]], with several thousand different species likely living in the region around the Caspian Sea. Studies have shown that [[water pollution]], mostly coming from the Volga River, poses a serious threat to the [[biodiversity]] of the Caspian Depression. Water pollution is contributed mainly by [[Industry|industrial]], [[agricultural]], and household discharges.

==References==
{{reflist}}
* Evaporites of North Border of North Caspian Depression - ''Internet Geology News Letter No. 178'', January 13, 2003.
* [http://www.spacetoday.org/Satellites/SatBytes/SaltDomes.html Space Today Online].

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{{Geology of Europe}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Depressions of Russia]]
[[Category:Landforms of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:Lowest points]]
[[Category:East European Plain]]
[[Category:Depressions of Europe]]
[[Category:Endorheic basins of Asia]]

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