Black Sea Regional Map

Pop Quiz! Did you remember the names of the countries that ring the Black Sea?

Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.

You can click on the map to see a close up.

Notice how a few more countries are not on the shoreline, but not too far away. Armenia, Greece, Moldova. Even Iraq is just on the other side of Turkey. So is Cyprus, and Syria.

Where does the water in the Black Sea come from? How deep is it? What temperature is it? What is the salinity?

We are going to explore all these questions and more, much more.

The answers will amaze you. Are you starting to see the fractal nature of the Black Sea?

The Black Sea Clock

Here is a more regional image showing the Black Sea in the center and the Mediterranean Sea in the lower left. You can just see the edge of the Caspian Sea on the far right.

Are you ready to learn the names of the countries that "ring" the Black Sea?

Let's start at the "top." Things are always easier to remember if you organize them in your mind. Just imagine the Black Sea to be a clock, we will start at 12 o'clock. The first country is Ukraine.

Then as we go clockwise around the rim of the Black Sea.... we next get to .... Russia! About the 1 to 2 o'clock position.

Then as we go further around the rim, we get to Georgia. At least that is what it is called right now in May 2008. We will discuss Abkhazia later and the dynamic changes happening right now. The border between Russia and Georgia hits the Black Sea coast at about 2 o'clock and Georgia continues down to the border with Turkey at about 4 o'clock.

Turkey forms the lower margin of the Black Sea. The rich history of the Ottoman Empire almost defies comprehension. We will explore this fractal boundary also.

Then comes Bulgaria at about 8 o'clock and Romania at about 9 o'clock.

That's it. Have you got that straight? Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.

6  magical, mysterious countries filled with fascinating people and customs and culture.

Next time we will explore more about the geography and get oriented to discuss the Black Sea news events.