A New Island in the Caspian Sea

Unfortunately, the shallowing of this unique sea-lake continues. In May 2025, members of an expedition organized by P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IO RAS), the Caspian Branch of IO RAS, and the Astrakhan State Nature Biosphere Reserve confirmed formation of a new island in the Russian waters of the northern Caspian, 30 km southwest of Malyy Zhemchuzhnyy Island.

The new geographic feature is a section of the Srednyaya Zhemchuzhnaya Bank, which emerged from the sea surface as a result of the Caspian Sea level decline. Scientists from the Caspian Branch of IO RAS first noticed it on satellite images in November, 2024. The existence of the new island had to be confirmed during an expedition. In May 2025, the expedition only managed to approach the northern tip of the island. Landing was not possible due to the shallow waters surrounding it and unfavorable weather conditions. The island was filmed using a drone.

In spring, during the period of maximum Volga flow, at the peak of its flood, the island was a damp, flat plain with ridges of sand waves and furrows. Researchers hypothesize that during the low-water period, when the Caspian Sea level is at its lowest, the island’s elevation above the waterline will become more significant. With a further decline in the sea level, the island’s area could significantly increase, making it suitable for Caspian seals hauling-out and nesting rare bird species.

In the near future, researchers will complete a preliminary description of the new geographic feature and propose a name for it.

Source: P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IO RAS).
In the top photo: A new island in the Russian waters of the northern Caspian Sea, May, 2025. A still from a UAV video taken by Yu. Shulgina (IO RAS).