Caspian Sea

Between the mouths of the Volga and Ural, the northern Caspian spreads across a shallow basin edged by low, shifting shores. The great rivers enter through networks of channels and small islands, their fresh water softening the salinity of the sea. In winter these waters freeze, and Caspian seals gather on the ice to breed. In warmer seasons the seals disperse towards islands and feeding grounds farther south.