The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

TUE CASriAX SEA. 371light navigation would be a comparatively easy undertaking, if advantage betaken, not only of the Kalausand Kuma, but also of the Terek and Kuban. Danilov'splans, estimated to cost from forty to fifty millions of roubles, would enablethe Astrakhan steamers to avoid the Volga delta, passing by a lateral canal intothe Mauich, then rounding the Taman peninsula, and thus arriving directly in theBlack Sea.The area of the Caspian at the time of its separation from the Euxine comprisedin Europe and Asia the entire region of lakes, marshes, and steppes whichstretches to the foot of the table-lands. South of Tzaritzin are yet visible the196.—East Manicii and Lower Kuma Rivers.Scale 1 : 1,200,000.-LofS£j*Middle, ^ A^'.""^"''"X^.i^*""steep cliffs skirting the ancient sea, and which would still form a continuation ofthe high or right bank of the Volga, if the bed of that river had not beengradually shifted westwards. A chain of lakes and ponds running a little inadvance of the southern cliffs, and evidently forming the bed of a river, is perhapsa continuation of the ancient Volga when it discharged into the ManichStrait. But the slow process of evaporation has reduced the area of the Caspianto 176,000 square miles, or about three-fifths of the surface of France. Owing tothe sedimentary deposits of the rivers, this area is still diminishing, although thevolume of water seems to remain much the same, an equilibrium having apparentlybeen established between the inflow and the loss by evaporation.