The
Riviera of Russia
Odessa long been known as the "Riviera of Russia"
and the "Pearl of the Black Sea". Before the
revolution Odessa was a popular resort town for the
wealthy. But after the revolution, many palaces and
hotels of the czars and upper classes were seized and
converted into sanatoriums and public hotels.
Black
Sea Geography
The Black Sea has an area of 413,360 sq. km (159,600
sq. miles). The sea is 560 km (350 miles) across from
North to South and 1,210 km (750 miles) wide from
west to east. It has a darker color that the Mediterranean
Sea. Its deepest point is 2,245 meters (7,364 feet).
The Black
Sea connects with the small Sea of Azov (depth less
than 60 feet) in the Northwest through the Kerch Strait.
The deeper section of the sea is in the south near
Turkey, the shallower section is in the north. A number
of rivers empty into the Black Sea, including the
Bug, Danube, Dnieper, Dniester, and Don.
The Sea
of Asov tends to freeze during the winter, and sections
of the northern coastline of the Black Sea also freeze.
Odessa port rarely freezes, only once every 5-6 years.
The sea is subject to severe winter storms, and waterspouts
are common in summer.
Medical
mud
The Northern coast of the Black Sea is at a low altitude,
especially were the rivers drain into the sea, and
marshes are common. Around Odessa many of the salt
water lagoons and marshes were once part of the sea,
but later became enclosed by sandbars and coastal
barriers, called limans. Mud from these limans are
used for medial purposes and many health resorts have
developed around these limans.
The mud
looks and smells horrendous, but it has many healthful
properties, especially with nervous system disorders.
Black
Sea marine life
The Black Sea is tideless. The Black Sea has two layers
of water of different densities. The heavily saline
bottom layer has little movement and contains hydrogen
sulfide; it has no marine life. The top layer, much
less saline and richer in fish, flows in a counterclockwise
direction around the sea. In the upper layers of the
sea and on the shallow sea bed hundreds of species
of fauna and flora live.
At least
280 species of plants, 160 species of fish, and 640
species of crab live in the black sea.
Dolphins,
sharks and seals are also present. Occasionally on
the boat ride
tourists can see dolphins following the ship and jumping
out of the water. Seals can be seen rarely.
Commercial
fish include anchovy, mackerel, and sturgeon.
|
