Black Sea: Russia shocked the world with its full-scale attack on Ukraine on 24th February 2024. The western allies of Ukraine have responded with harsh sanctions on Russia and Ukraine is pleading for more support as it can’t handle the attacks from Russia.
Ukraine has requested NATO member Turkey, which shares a maritime border with both Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea, to close the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits to Russian ships.
Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has control over the straits and can limit the passing of warships from the region. This has landed Turkey in a tough situation, as it maintains good relations with both Ukraine and Russia. Meanwhile, Turkey has opposed sanctions on Russia and it has also described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as unacceptable.
The Black Sea left exposed?
Unfortunately for Ukraine, there was no Nato ship in the Black Sea when Russia started fighting against Ukraine. The nearest naval ship of a NATO member was located in the Mediterranean. The last such ship of a NATO member in the Black Sea was a French warship, which completed its tour in early January.
Black Sea Border Countries
The Black Sea is a marginal Mediterranean sea located between Europe and Asia. It lies to the east of the Balkans in Southeast Europe and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The countries bordering the Black Sea are Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Georgia, and Romania.
Why is it called the Black Sea?
The water body is named the Black sea due to its inhospitable nature. Another theory suggests that the Black Sea name came from the storms during winter which makes the water appear black.
As per another theory, the objects that drown in the water get a black sludge covering after a period of time, and discovery of such items in the sea may have given the name.
Black Sea: Key Facts
- Black Sea waters are anoxic as there is no significant presence of oxygen
- Marine life cannot survive in the anoxic zone and only Oxygen-rich surface water of the sea supports marine life
- The Black Sea is the largest water body with a meromictic basin
- This waterbody has a depth of more than 150 meters
- There is no life in the deepest layers of the Black sea’s water except Sulfur bacteria
- The water level of the Black Sea remains the same due to the absence of low and high tides
- Due to high levels of minerals and salt, objects float in the Black sea
