Which sea is the largest enclosed inland body of water on Earth?

The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed inland body of water on Earth.

It covers roughly 371,000 square kilometres between Europe and Asia. Five countries border it: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. Despite its name, the Caspian is usually classified as the world’s largest lake because it has no natural connection to an ocean.

The Caspian is saline, though its salinity is lower than that of most oceans and varies between regions. The Volga River supplies much of its inflow, while evaporation and limited outflow help maintain its enclosed character.

The Caspian is famous for sturgeon and caviar, as well as major oil and natural-gas resources. Its water level has changed significantly over time because of climate patterns, river inflow and human water use.