The northern part of the Caspian Sea, bordered by Kazakhstan, is fresher than the southern portion

iss074e0591623 (May 19, 2026) --- The northern part of the Caspian Sea, bordered by Kazakhstan, is fresher than the southern portion, which is much saltier due to the lack of an ocean outlet and increased evaporation that contributes to its salinity. Freshwater from the Volga, Ural, and Kura rivers feeds the northern region, diluting its salinity. The International Space Station was orbiting 260 miles above Central Asia when this photograph was taken.