Sea

Black Sea

The Black Sea is a strategic lake with one door — the Bosporus, which Turkey holds under the Montreux Convention. Russia's Crimean fleet, Ukraine's grain corridor, and NATO's southeastern flank all share this water; whoever needs to leave it must pass a Turkish strait or stay bottled up.

43.3°N · 34.2°E

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Map stories featuring Black Sea

GLOBAL TRADE · THE CHOKEPOINTSThe Gates of the WorldTHE WAR IN UKRAINE · ANATOMY OF AN INVASIONThe Invasion of UkraineTHE COLD WAR · THE LINE ACROSS THE WORLDThe Iron CurtainRUSSIA · THE NORTHERN EUROPEAN PLAINWhy Russia Fears the Plain