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Shrinking Caspian Sea Gives Rise to Newly Discovered Island, Say Russian Scientists

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A newly formed island has emerged in the northern Caspian Sea, confirmed by Russian scientists following months of satellite observation and field research. First spotted in late 2024 via satellite imagery, the sandbank appeared to break the surface of the water roughly 30 kilometers southwest of Maly Zhemchuzhny Island—near the boundary between Europe and Asia. By mid-2025, an expedition team verified the feature’s presence, noting that it barely rises above sea level. Experts link its emergence to a long-term decline in the Caspian Sea’s water level, a trend fueled by increased evaporation from climate warming and regional tectonic shifts.

According to a statement from the Russian research team, satellite data in November 2024 showed an unusual build-up of sediment visible above the waterline. When a research vessel reached the site, scientists encountered a flat, damp sand formation, dotted with shallow ridges and only slightly elevated above the surrounding sea. Due to poor weather and extremely shallow waters, the team couldn’t land on the island. Instead, they deployed drones to capture aerial images, confirming both the shape and scale of the new landmass. The photographs revealed a barren, sandy stretch with no vegetation, surrounded by shifting shallow waters.

This emerging island offers valuable insight into the dynamic interplay between geology and climate in the Caspian region. Scientists note that similar features have periodically appeared during previous low-water periods, such as the temporary exposure of the Kumani Bank near Azerbaijan. While the current island may not be permanent, it could still become an important ecological site—possibly serving as a nesting area for seabirds or a haul-out spot for Caspian seals. Its evolution will be closely watched to determine whether it stabilizes, erodes, or expands over time.

Beyond its physical formation, the island symbolizes broader environmental shifts occurring in the region. As the Caspian Sea continues to retreat due to both climatic and tectonic forces, such features may become more common—reshaping coastlines and ecosystems in the process. For scientists, this is not only a rare geological event but also a valuable indicator of how inland seas respond to the pressures of a changing planet.

Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crashes in Kazakhstan, Killing 38

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An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 passenger jet crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, claiming 38 lives and leaving 29 survivors hospitalized. The crash occurred after the plane diverted from its scheduled route between Azerbaijan and Grozny, Russia, crossing the Caspian Sea before descending rapidly and bursting into flames near the shoreline.

The flight, J2-8243, was reportedly forced to reroute due to an emergency situation that may have been caused by a bird strike, according to Russia’s aviation watchdog. However, aviation experts, including Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory, questioned this explanation, noting that bird strikes typically result in landings at the nearest airfield rather than significant deviations from the flight path.

Video footage of the crash, verified by Reuters, showed the aircraft crashing into the seashore and erupting in flames. Emergency responders extinguished the fire and transported survivors, including two children, to a nearby hospital. Efforts to recover the bodies of the deceased are ongoing.

Kazakhstan’s transport prosecutor, Timur Suleimenov, confirmed the recovery of the plane’s black box, which will aid in determining the cause of the crash. Preliminary flight tracking data indicated the plane had veered off its course along the west coast of the Caspian Sea before disappearing and later reappearing near Aktau, where it circled before crashing.

Officials have not clarified why the plane diverted across the sea. However, the crash follows reports of Ukrainian drone strikes in southern Russia’s Chechnya region earlier this month. These strikes led to temporary closures of several Russian airports, including Makhachkala, the nearest airport on the flight’s original route.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev expressed his condolences, describing the tragedy as a “tremendous sorrow for the Azerbaijani people.” He stated that while poor weather might have influenced the flight’s deviation, the crash’s cause remains under investigation. Azerbaijan Airlines suspended flights from Baku to Chechnya until the probe is complete.

Kazakhstan’s government has formed a commission to investigate the incident and provide support to the victims’ families. Both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan pledged cooperation in the investigation. Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, extended condolences. Kadyrov noted that some injured passengers remain in critical condition.

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, the maker of the crashed jet, also expressed its sympathies and pledged support for the investigation.

 

Life-Sized ‘Dead Whale’ Draws Thousands to Caspian Sea to Raise Climate Awareness at COP29

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A massive, 52-foot, hyper-realistic model of a sperm whale has appeared on the shores of the Caspian Sea, near Baku, Azerbaijan, emitting a rancid smell that has drawn thousands of curious onlookers. Although sperm whales don’t inhabit the Caspian Sea, this replica has sparked intense reactions and conversations among residents and visitors.

The whale, crafted by Captain Boomer, a Belgian collective of artists and scientists, is part of an awareness campaign to draw attention to ecological issues and climate change. Using molds taken from real whales and the added effect of rotting fish nearby, the installation replicates the appearance and smell of a beached whale, immersing people in a startling reminder of environmental degradation.

Captain Boomer has exhibited the model in cities across Europe and Australia for over a decade. This time, they have brought it to Baku in coordination with COP29, a United Nations climate summit addressing global climate change challenges. The collective’s intent is to confront people with the tangible impact of environmental crises, making them reflect on humanity’s relationship with nature. “People feel that their bond with nature is disturbed,” said Bart Van Peel, a Captain Boomer representative.

After a two-week journey by truck from Belgium through Europe, Turkey, and Georgia, the whale arrived in Baku with the cooperation of Azerbaijani authorities and local environmental activists, including Adnan Hussein of the FINS initiative, which aims to protect marine species.

In addition to the whale, the installation includes a street theater performance, where actors portray scientists examining the whale and speculating on its “death.” These fictional stories, sometimes attributing the whale’s presence to disrupted migration routes due to climate change, create a narrative that merges fact with fiction, provoking viewers to think deeply about the ecological effects of climate disruption.

With oceans warming, marine life, including whales, face challenges like altered food sources and disrupted migration routes. These conditions increase their vulnerability to human activities like fishing and shipping. Through this installation, Captain Boomer seeks to capture these challenges symbolically, emphasizing the urgency of climate action.

Since the exhibit’s debut, thousands have visited, some staying for extended periods, visibly moved by the sight. Van Peel reflects on the collective experience around the whale, describing it as a “gesture of a beast coming from another element and throwing itself at our feet, saying: ‘Look, I can’t anymore.’” He hopes the exhibit serves as a powerful question for those who experience it: “What are you going to do?”