In this episode of Modern Nomads, we turn our focus to the Caspian Sea. Shared by five coastal countries — Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan — the regional treasure faces a critical decline in sea levels.
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Over the past two decades, the Caspian Sea level has dropped by more than two metres, putting local communities and ecosystems at risk. Scientists predict an even sharper decline in the years ahead.
Ecologists point to climate change as a major reason, particularly its impact on the Volga River — which flows through Russia and provides around 85% of the Caspian’s inflow.
Experts stress the urgent need for regional cooperation, including the long-standing but largely inactive Tehran Convention, created to protect the Caspian environment and promote sustainable use of its resources.
In response to the environmental crisis, the Kazakh government is launching the Caspian Sea Research Institute - a key step toward understanding the problem, protecting the endangered Caspian Sea, and preserving the region’s fragile ecosystem.
