Black Sea

The earliest known name of the Black Sea is the Sea of Zalpa, used by the Hattians and Hittites.

The Black Sea is the world's largest body of water with a meromictic basin, where deep waters do not mix with upper layers.

During the Messinian salinity crisis, water levels in the Black Sea fell but the sea did not dry up.

The Black Sea supports an active marine ecosystem, with around one-third of its biodiversity compared to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Black Sea deluge hypothesis suggests a catastrophic rise in the Black Sea's water level around 5600 BC due to Mediterranean waters breaching the Bosporus.