The Caspian Sea Encyclopedia

The Caspian Sea is a unique natural feature, the world’s largest landlocked water body. Historically the Caspian was one of the key zones where the interests of great powers such as Russia, Britain and Persia clashed. And the reason was and still is the oil – the "black gold" of the Caspian and also the natural riches of the sea, its other gold – the sturgeons with their black caviar.With this encyclopedia attempt to relate the Caspian story via an objective approach to the past and present of the sea where even today many geopolitical, economic, social and environmental issues are focused. These issues are vital not only to the Caspian countries, but other countries of the world as well.The encyclopedia contains about 1500 articles and terms providing descriptions of geographical features, cities, ports, transport routes, main oil and gas fields, aqueous biological resources, international treaties, national and international programs, research institutions, historical and archeological monuments, activities of prominent scientists, researchers, travelers, military commanders, oil industrialists and traders who had relation to the Caspian Sea.In addition this book gives the chronology of the most important events that became milestones in the history of the Caspian region development for more than 300 years, spanning a period from the times of Peter the Great till the present.

Prof. Igor S. Zonn is the General Director of Engineering Scientific-Production Center for Water Economy, Reclamation and Ecology in Moscow, Russia. His research has focused on the case studies about desert development, desertification, reclamation and water management in the arid lands, on regional climate change, socio-economic and environmental problems of the Aral, Caspian and Black seas.
Prof. Andrey G. Kostianoy is a Chief Scientist at the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, in Moscow, Russia. He is a specialist in physical oceanography. His research has focused on satellite monitoring, oceanography of coastal zones, regional climate change and environmental problems of the Black, Caspian and Aral seas.
Prof. Aleksey N. Kosarev is a Principal Scientist at the Department of Oceanology, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Russia. He is a specialist in physical oceanography. His research has focused on hydrology and ecology of the seas, and hydrological and ecological problems of the Aral, Caspian and Black seas.
Prof. Michael H. Glantz is the Director of the Consortium for Capacity Building at the University of Colorado (Boulder, Colorado). He recently transferred from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder where he served as director of programs involved in climate, water and weather impact assessments. In 1990 he was selected as a UNEP Global 500 laureat for the environment.