Caspian Sea

The northwestern Caspian receives waters from the Volga and the Terek, whose channels spread across low delta lands before reaching the sea. The Terek descends from the Caucasus, while the Volga opens a route far north into Russia. Astrakhan on the lower Volga became a centre of Caspian commerce; from there ships sailed south towards the Persian coast and across to Mangyshlak.