The Caspian Sea or Mazandaran Sea is an inland sea between Asia and Europe (European Russia). It is the world's largest inland body of water, with a surface area of 371,000 km² (143,000 sq. mi.), It has characteristics of both seas and lakes.

The Caspian Sea is bordered by Russia (Dagestan, Kalmykia, Astrakhan Oblast), Republic of Azerbaijan, Iran (Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces), Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, with the central Asian steppes to the north and east. On its eastern Turkmen shore is a large embayment, the Kara Bogaz Gol.

Paratethys was a large shallow sea that stretched from the region north of the Alps over Central Europe to the Aral Sea in Central Asia. The sea was formed during the Late Jurassic era as an extension of the rift that formed the Central Atlantic Ocean, and was isolated during the Oligocene epoch (about 34 million years ago). Today's Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Lake Urmia and others are remnants of the Paratethys Sea.

More Info: www.sheppardsoftware.com