Taganrog Bay is the largest in the Sea of Azov. It is located on the northeastern outskirts of the water area. It is separated by two large sandy spits - Dolgaya and Belosaraiskaya. They can be called the boundaries of the Taganrog Bay, which isolate it from the rest of the sea.
Rivers and their impact
4 large rivers flow into the bay: Don, Mius, Kalmius, Eya. The largest river The Don, when it flows into the bay in the northeast, forms a delta with several branches. Its total area is 540 square meters. km. The Don River significantly affects the salinity level in the bay. Due to the large amount of inflowing river water, the water area is mostly fresh. Only the western part of the Taganrog Bay has marine salinity, since in this part it collides directly with the sea. Other rivers flowing into this water area do not have such an impact on changes in water salinity.
A brief description of the bay
The length of the bay is about 140 km. The average width is 31 km, the maximum is 52 km, and the minimum is 26 km. The relief of the bottom of the Taganrog Bay is more even than that of the sea. Because of this feature, it is much shallower. The average depth does not exceed 5 m. Only at the border of the bay with the Sea of Azov is the largest indicator of 11 m observed. km.
Features
The southern and northern coasts of the bay are uneven, elevated, subject to frequent landslides. Under the action of the accumulation of abrasive material, sand bars and small islands were formed. The largest spit is Belosarayskaya, its length is 15 km. Spit Krivaya cuts into the water for 9 km, and Begliskaya - for almost 3 km. Not far from the Mariupol coast is a small island. Lyapin, off the coast of Yeysk are the Sandy Islands. And near the Taganrog port there is an artificial island. Turtle.
The bottom of the bay is relatively flat, has a slight slope. It descends from the Don River towards the Sea of Azov. Represented by deposits in the form of clayey silt, silty sand.
The ecological situation in the waters of the Taganrog Bay drops to a critical point. The reason for this is waste from the large industrial center of the region - Taganrog. Surface water pollution threatens the bio-resources of the bay.
Climatic features
The bay is located in a temperate climate zone, continental type. Throughout the year, the air temperature here is favorable. The water area freezes in December, and opens in March. In cold winters, the ice crust formed in the bay reaches 80 cm. The average figure is40-50 cm. But in warm winters, the ice layer does not exceed 20 cm. The ice cover is uneven, along the coast and near river mouths hummocks often form.
In summer, the water temperature in the Taganrog Bay reaches +25…+28 °C. The hottest month is July. At this time, the water warms up to almost +30 °C. Velvet season lasts until early October.
Animal world
The main we alth of the bay is aquatic bioresources. Recently, there has been a tendency to increase precisely freshwater fish, due to a decrease in the salinity of the reservoir. The most common here are pike perch, crucian carp and perch. They often congregate along coasts and estuaries. In addition, a large number of sturgeon, herring, ram, sabrefish and bream are found in the bay.
There are no large mammals living in the waters of the bay. However, according to archaeological finds that were found near Taganrog, these species used to live here. The remains of large and small mammals from the Pleistocene era have been found.
Rest in the Taganrog Bay
Territorially, the coast of the Gulf belongs to two states - Russia and Ukraine. The largest ports on the coast are Mariupol, Taganrog and Yeysk. These cities are resort areas. Every year a large number of people come to the coast for recreation and recreation. Tourists can stay in sanatoriums and recreation centers. Those who want to save a little on housing are invited to find a room in the private sector. If we compare prices, then the second option is significantly cheaper, however, living conditions will besomewhat worse.
You can relax on the bay all year round. Warm temperatures last for about 200 days. Although recently there have been some deterioration in the environmental situation, nevertheless, the favorable climatic conditions of the region, warm water make this place popular among vacationers. The coast of the Taganrog Bay is a wonderful place for a family vacation.
Besides, there is also a nature protection zone in the region - the Beglitska Spit. Some species of local flora are listed in the Red Book. Recently, the Pavlo-Ochakovskaya Spit has been gaining popularity. It is ideal for sports such as surfing. The shallow depths off the coast are great for those new to the sport.
Interesting fact
An interesting feature of the historical past of the bay is that it is the Taganrog Bay of the Sea of Azov - this is the very Pushkin "Lukomorye". It is known that the poet wrote his poem while in the palace of Alexander I in Taganrog. It is noteworthy that the oak, on which the “scientist cat” walked, was also located off the coast, but, unfortunately, it has not survived to this day.
