The main feature that distinguishes water World Ocean from the waters of the land, is their high salinity. The number of grams of substances dissolved in 1 liter of water is called salinity.

Sea water is a solution 44 chemical elements, but salts play a primary role in it. Table salt gives water a salty taste, while magnesium salt gives it a bitter taste. Salinity is expressed in ppm (%o). This is a thousandth of a number. An average of 35 grams of various substances are dissolved in a liter of ocean water, which means the salinity will be 35%.

The amount of salts dissolved in will be approximately 49.2 10 tons. In order to visualize how large this mass is, we can make the following comparison. If all sea ​​salt in dry form, spread over the surface of the entire land, then it will be covered with a layer 150 m thick.

The salinity of ocean waters is not the same everywhere. The following processes influence the salinity value:

• evaporation of water. During this process, salts and water do not evaporate;
• ice formation;
• loss, reducing salinity;
• . The salinity of ocean waters near the continents is much less than in the center of the ocean, since the waters desalinate it;
• melting ice.

Processes such as evaporation and ice formation contribute to an increase in salinity, while precipitation, river runoff, and ice melting reduce it. Main role Evaporation and precipitation play a role in changing salinity. Therefore, the salinity of the surface layers of the ocean, as well as temperature, depends on latitude.

Everyone knows firsthand that the water in the sea is salty. But most people will most likely find it difficult to answer the question of which sea is the saltiest on the planet. However, hardly a person thought about why the sea is salty and whether there is life in the saltiest sea in the world. The world ocean is a single whole natural organism. On the planet, they occupy two-thirds of the entire earth's space. Well, sea water, which fills the world's oceans, is considered the most abundant substance on the surface of the Earth. It has a bitter-salty taste; it differs from fresh sea water in its transparency and color, specific gravity and aggressive effect on materials. And this is explained simply - sea water contains more than 50 different components.

The saltiest seas in the world Which seas are more salty and which are less - scientists know for sure. The liquid in the seas has already been studied and literally broken down into its components. And it turned out that the salty seas in Russia occupy the highest positions in the salinity ranking. So, the main contender for the status of the saltiest is the Barents Sea. This is because throughout the year the salinity of the surface layers fluctuates around 34.7-35 percent, however, if you deviate to the north and east, the percentage will decrease.
The White Sea is also different high salinity. In the surface layers the figure stopped at 26 percent, but at depth it increases to 31 percent. In the Kara Sea, salinity is about 34 percent, however, it is heterogeneous and at the mouths of inflowing rivers the water becomes almost fresh. Another one of the saltiest seas in the world can be called the Laptev Sea. At the surface, salinity is recorded at 28 percent. The figure is even higher - 31-33 percent - in the Chukchi Sea. But this is in winter, in summer the salinity drops.

Which sea is saltier By the way, everyone’s favorite Mediterranean Sea can also compete for the status of the saltiest in the world. Its salinity ranges from 36 to 39.5 percent. In particular, because of this, there is a weak quantitative development of phyto and zooplankton in the sea. However, despite this, the sea lives a large number of fauna representatives. Here you can find seals, sea turtles, 550 species of fish, about 70 endemic fish, crayfish, as well as octopuses, crabs, lobsters, and squid.

The Mediterranean Sea is saltier than many others. Certainly not saltier than the Mediterranean is another famous sea - the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea boasts a rich fauna - 1809 species. The sea is home to most of the world's sturgeon stocks, as well as freshwater fish(pike perch, carp and roach). The flora is also very rich - there are 728 plant species in the Caspian Sea, but, of course, algae predominate. Interesting fact, in Kazakhstan there is a unique natural object- Aral Sea. And him distinctive feature in that it can be called the second Dead Sea. Just half a century ago, the Aral Sea had standard salinity. However, as soon as water from the sea began to be taken for irrigation, salinity began to increase, and by 2010 it had increased 10 times. The Dead Sea is called not only because of its salinity, but also because many inhabitants of the Aral Sea became extinct as a protest against the increase in salinity. Why are the seas salty Why are the seas salty - this question has interested people since ancient times. For example, according to a Norwegian legend, at the bottom of the sea there is an unusual mill that constantly grinds salt. Similar stories exist in the fairy tales of the inhabitants of Japan, the Philippines and Karelia. But according to the Crimean legend, the Black Sea is salty due to the fact that girls caught in Neptune’s net are forced to weave white lace for the waves at the bottom for centuries and constantly cry about native land. Because of the tears, the water became salty.

But according to a scientific hypothesis, salt water became a different path. All water in the seas and oceans comes from rivers. However, fresh water flows in the latter. On average, 35 grams of salts are dissolved in one liter of the World Ocean. According to scientists, every grain of salt is washed out of the soil by river waters and sent to the sea. Over centuries and millennia, more and more salt has accumulated in the World Ocean. And she can’t go anywhere.

In some seas, the concentration of salts is off the charts. There is a version that the water in the oceans and seas was originally salty. The first body of water on the planet was supposedly filled with acid rain that fell to the earth as a result of a major volcanic eruption early in the planet's life. Acids, according to scientists, corroded rocks and entered into chemical compounds with them. As a result of chemical reactions appeared salty water, which now fills the World Ocean.

More details: http://www.uznayvse.ru/interesting-facts/samyie-solenyie-morya-v-mire.html

There are about 80 seas on the planet. Some of them are so salty that drowning in their water is almost impossible. Below are the top 10 such seas.

Our rating opens with the White Sea, washing the borders Russian Federation. The salinity in this sea sometimes reaches about 30‰ (ppm), that is, there are 30 grams of salt per liter of water. Although the sea is salty, it is home to approximately 50 species of fish.

Chukchi Sea (33‰)

Another “our” sea. The salinity of the Chukchi Sea is 33‰, which is what allows it, as well as the White and other seas, not to freeze in severe frosts (down to -1.8 degrees). The sea stretches between Chukotka and Alaska. Here you can find many species of fish, as well as walruses and seals.

Laptev Sea (34‰)

Another sea washing our borders. The salinity of the Laptev Sea is slightly higher than that of the Chukchi Sea - 34‰. The reservoir is located between Severnaya Zemlya and the New Siberian Islands. All year round, sea water rarely warms up above zero. Fish species such as sturgeon and perch are found here, and walruses are among the animals.

Barents Sea (35‰)

The next sea is again slightly saltier than the previous one - 35‰. Officially, this sea is recognized as the saltiest in Russia. Winter time The southwestern part of the reservoir freezes, the rest does not. The underwater world of the Barents Sea is incredibly rich - here you can find not only whales and killer whales, but also a great variety different types fish: from herring to perch.

Sea of ​​Japan (35‰)

This sea is not inferior in salinity to the Barents. The Sea of ​​Japan partially washes the island of Sakhalin, as well as the islands of Japan and the shores of Eurasia. In the southern part, the sea warms up to 26 degrees Celsius, and therefore it can even be called a “resort”. An incredible amount of living creatures live in the Sea of ​​Japan: there is simply no counting of seafood and fish here.

Ionian Sea (38‰)

One of the most picturesque and clean seas the world is also quite salty. This sea is the densest and saltiest in Greece. Besides the picturesque underwater world, The Ionian Sea boasts temperatures of: summer time the water warms up to 26-28 degrees. The sea is very popular among tourists.

Aegean Sea (38.5‰)

Almost the same characteristics will apply to Aegean Sea. Doctors advise washing with fresh water after swimming in this sea, because such a high concentration of sodium can negatively affect the skin. Greece and the Balkans swim in this sea. A myriad of living creatures live in it, including octopuses, sponges and fish.

Mediterranean Sea (39.5‰)

The Mediterranean Sea, located between Europe and Africa, is very salty in places – 39.5‰. Along the shores where tourists relax, such salinity is not observed; it is concentrated in other parts of the reservoir. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most diverse in its animal world - 500 species of fish, hundreds of shellfish and a lot of seafood. And this is not the limit.

Red Sea (42‰)

Another border sea, but this time between Africa and Asia. The Red Sea is one of the saltiest in the world, but this does not stop its inhabitants - stunning corals, different fish, dolphins, mollusks and crustaceans. The water in the sea is mixed all year round– in winter, the upper layers cool and sink to the bottom, and the warm ones rise up. By the way, the sea is incredibly clear.

Dead Sea (270‰)

The absolute champion of our rating. Located on the border of Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is striking in its salinity - about 200 grams of salt per 1 liter of water (270‰). This is the sea in its own way chemical composition is radically different from all others on Earth: 50% of it consists of magnesium chloride, and it also contains a lot of calcium, bromine, potassium and other mineral elements.

Potassium salts from waters of the Dead the seas crystallize artificially, and the density of the reservoir is so high that it is simply impossible to drown in it. Among other things, there is healing mud in the sea. Sometimes the water in the sea heats up to 40 degrees, which accelerates evaporation. And most importantly, there is no underwater world in the Dead Sea; with such salinity, it is impossible to live in it. That's why it's Dead.

Do you know which substance is the most abundant on our planet? That's right, this is water, and most of it is salty. Today we have to find out which of all the seas is the saltiest on earth.

Here in first place is the Red Sea, which in fact is not a sea at all. This is a lake that can be considered the saltiest in the world. It is located between Africa and Asia in a tectonic depression, whose depth reaches 300 meters. Precipitation in this place is extremely rare, about 100 millimeters per year, while evaporation from the surface is already 2000 mm. It is this unusual imbalance that leads to increased salt formation. Thus, the salt concentration per liter of water is as much as 41 grams, while in the Black Sea it is 18, and in the Mediterranean it is 25. The salt concentration here is constantly growing, since not a single river flows into the lake, and the lack of water is fully compensated by the Gulf of Aden . The temperature here is very stable - in summer it stays at +27°C, and in winter - +20°C. Since there are no external drains, the water is unusually clear and clean, which allows you to observe the most magnificent animals and vegetable world, even while on a pontoon.

But next on our list is the real sea - the Dead Sea, which is famous for its healing properties to the whole world. It is located on the border of Jordan and Israel, located in a tectonic depression that was formed several million years ago as a result of the Afro-Asian fault. It's relative small area, the maximum depth is 378 meters. length is 67 km and width is 18 km. Currently, the Jordan River flows into the sea, as well as several drying up streams, which is why the volume of the watercourse is constantly decreasing, and a huge layer of silt has formed at the bottom. The concentration of salt here is simply enormous - about 200 g per liter of water! This prevents a person from drowning, but if water gets into his eyes, he will not be happy. That is why swimming in the reservoir is allowed only in specially designated areas where there are showers with fresh water. For a long time, people have used the local mud as a medicinal and cosmetic product.

Unfortunately, the water level here is constantly falling, which contributes to the drainage of the reservoir. As scientists say, if nothing is done, then in 5-7 centuries there will be no trace left of it. Therefore, a plan is now being developed to transfer water from the Mediterranean and Red Seas, which are located nearby, to the Dead Sea. The project is estimated at several billion dollars, but whether it will be implemented is still unknown.

Among the properties of the waters of the World Ocean, temperature and salinity are distinguished.

Water temperature The world's oceans change in the vertical direction (decreases with depth, because... Sun rays do not penetrate greater depth) and horizontal (the temperature of surface waters decreases from the equator to the poles from +25 ° C to - 2 ° C due to the difference in the amount of solar heat received).

Surface water temperature. Ocean water is heated by the influx of solar heat onto its surface. The temperature of surface waters depends on the latitude of the place. In some areas of the ocean, this distribution is disrupted by the uneven distribution of land, ocean currents, constant winds, runoff of water from the continents. Temperature naturally changes with depth. Moreover, at first the temperature drops very quickly, and then quite slowly. The average annual temperature of the surface waters of the World Ocean is +17.5 °C. At a depth of 3-4 thousand m, it usually ranges from +2 to 0 °C.

Salinity of the water of the World Ocean.

Ocean water concentrates different salt: sodium chloride (gives water a salty taste) - 78% of the total amount of salts, magnesium chloride (gives water a bitter taste) - 11%, other substances. Salinity sea ​​water calculated in ppm (in the ratio of a certain amount of substance to 1000 weight units), denoted ‰. The salinity of the ocean varies, it varies from 32‰ to 38‰.

The degree of salinity depends on the amount of precipitation, evaporation, and desalination of rivers flowing into the sea. Salinity also changes with depth. To a depth of 1500 m, salinity decreases slightly compared to the surface. Deeper down, changes in water salinity are insignificant; it is 35‰ almost everywhere. The minimum salinity is 5‰ in the Baltic Sea, the maximum is up to 41‰ in the Red Sea.

Thus, water salinity depends : 1) from the ratio atmospheric precipitation and evaporation, which varies depending on geographic latitude (as temperature and pressure change); Salinity may be lower where the amount of precipitation exceeds evaporation, where the influx of river water is large, where the ice is melting; 2) from depth.