CDS (II) 2020 General Knowledge · Question 37 of 120

Correct — A, Black Sea. The Sea of Azov opens into the Black Sea through the Strait of Kerch, a channel only about 4 km across at its narrowest, and that strait is its only outlet to the wider ocean. Everything else about the sea follows from being that enclosed and that small: it covers roughly 39,000 square kilometres, averages about 7 metres deep and reaches only about 14 metres at its deepest, which makes it the shallowest sea in the world. It is fed by the Don and the Kuban, which between them supply more than 90 per cent of the fresh water flowing in, and that inflow keeps it noticeably less salty than the Black Sea next door.

• (b)Baltic Sea — A northern European sea, reached from the North Sea through the Danish straits. It is separated from the Sea of Azov by the whole breadth of eastern Europe.
• (c)Mediterranean Sea — Reached from the Black Sea, not from the Azov. Water leaving the Azov must first cross the Black Sea and then pass the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles before it is in the Mediterranean — two seas and three straits away.
• (d)North Sea — Lies off north-western Europe between Great Britain and the Scandinavian and continental coasts, with no connection of any kind to the Azov.

The Sea of Azov is a shallow arm of the Black Sea in eastern Europe, bounded by Ukraine and Russia. Its single link to the rest of the world's oceans is the Strait of Kerch, between the Kerch and Taman peninsulas. Because it is shallow and heavily fed by rivers, it freezes in part in winter, is unusually productive of fish, and has a salinity well below ocean average.

Two habits make this item easy. First, learn seas in chains rather than singly: Azov to Black Sea by Kerch, Black Sea to Marmara by the Bosphorus, Marmara to Aegean by the Dardanelles, and on into the Mediterranean. Second, attach the superlative — shallowest sea in the world — because superlatives are what examiners reach for. Anchor the geography to the exam and note that the strait has been a point of political contention in the years since, which changes nothing about where the water goes.

• The Sea of Azov connects to the Black Sea through the Strait of Kerch, about 4 km wide at its narrowest.
• Area about 39,000 square kilometres; average depth about 7 metres, maximum about 14 metres.
• It is the shallowest sea in the world, with depths ranging from under a metre to about 14 metres.
• The Don and the Kuban supply more than 90 per cent of its water inflow.
• The onward chain to the Mediterranean runs Black Sea, Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles, Aegean.

• Answering 'Mediterranean' because the Azov is ultimately connected to it — the question asks what it connects to, which is the Black Sea.
• Confusing the Sea of Azov with the Caspian Sea, which is landlocked and drains nowhere.
• Mixing up the Bosphorus and the Kerch Strait; they sit at opposite ends of the Black Sea.

As a direct connection question, as a sea-and-bordering-country match, or as part of a strait-identification item.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Sea of Azov is connected to the Black Sea through which one of the following straits?

  • (a)Bosphorus
  • (b)Strait of Kerch
  • (c)Dardanelles
  • (d)Strait of Otranto

  Answer(b) Strait of Kerch — the Bosphorus and Dardanelles lie beyond the Black Sea on the way to the Mediterranean.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which one of the following is the shallowest sea in the world?

  • (a)Baltic Sea
  • (b)Yellow Sea
  • (c)Sea of Azov
  • (d)Andaman Sea

  Answer(c) Sea of Azov — its maximum depth is only about 14 metres and its average about 7 metres.