Caspian plain

The Caspian lowland is located on the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, and is basically a flatplain with a slope down to the sea, among which mountains rise up to 150 meters high.

The lowland is covered by steppe, semi-desert and desert landscapes of special scientific and environmental value. The unique water body of the Caspian region is Baskunchak lake - the largest  salt lake in Europe,  protected in theBogdinsko-Baskunchak Natural Reserve.

In the west, the Caspian lowland is crossed by the Volgar iver. The Volga delta is the largest and cleanest in Europe. It begins to the north of Astrakhan city, where a full-flowing tributary - Buzan, is separated. Along the entire path from Astrakhan to the spreading waters of the Caspian Sea, the delta is extremely diverse, the main branches 300-600 meters wide ramify into numerous channels and eriks - shallow streams up to 30 meters wide. Finally, at the confluence with the Caspian, theVolga has about 800 estuaries.

On the territory of theVolga delta about 500 plant species belonging to 82 families have been identified. The species-riches among the families are the types of wormwood, pondweed, astragalus, sedges, euphorbiaand..

Within the Astrakhan regiona bout 260 birds species can be found. Some, sedentary, can be seen all year round, others - migratory and nomadic, during their migrations seasons. The conditions for birdwatching are especially favorable in theAstrakhan Nature Reserve, where you can travel to observe the spring and autumn birds migrations.