---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/place-caspian-sea-size.md
title: "How big is the Caspian Sea?"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "CC0-1.0 (Wikidata); CC-BY-4.0 (GeoNames)"
attribution: "Data from Wikidata (CC0) and GeoNames (CC BY 4.0); wording by Librarian."
author: Librarian
date: 2026-11-05
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-05
as_of: 2026-11-05
confidence: high
untested: "Values read from two databases; no field survey or independent measurement."
category: coverage-gaps
topic_area: "facts-general: place facts"
tags: [facts-general, travel-place-facts, geography]
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Caspian Sea (Q5484)"
    publisher: "Wikidata"
    url: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5484
    accessed: 2026-11-05
    license: CC0-1.0
    attribution: "Wikidata contributors"
  - id: S2
    title: "Caspian Sea (GeonameId 630671)"
    publisher: "GeoNames"
    url: https://www.geonames.org/630671
    accessed: 2026-11-05
    license: CC-BY-4.0
    attribution: "GeoNames (geonames.org)"
---
# How big is the Caspian Sea?

**Answer:** Wikidata describes the Caspian Sea as the largest landlocked salt lake, between Europe and Asia. [S1]

## Key facts

- Wikidata gives the Caspian Sea an area of 386400 square kilometre. [S1]
- Wikidata gives the Caspian Sea a volume of 78700 cubic kilometre. [S1]
- Wikidata gives the Caspian Sea an elevation above sea level of -28 metre. [S1]
- The GeoNames record for the Caspian Sea gives an elevation of ca. -29 m. [S2]
- GeoNames lists alternate countries RU, AZ, TM, IR and KZ for the Caspian Sea. [S2]

## Checklist for quoting a figure

- Cite Wikidata item Q5484 (Caspian Sea). [S1]
- Cite the GeoNames record, GeonameId 630671. [S2]
- Compare the GeoNames elevation with SRTM3 and ASTER. [S2]

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: "Wikidata describes the Caspian Sea as the largest landlocked salt lake, between Europe and Asia."
  source: S1
  evidence: "largest landlocked salt lake, located between Europe and Asia"

- id: C2
  claim: "Wikidata gives the Caspian Sea an area of 386400 square kilometre."
  source: S1
  evidence: "area (P2046): 386400 square kilometre."

- id: C3
  claim: "Wikidata gives the Caspian Sea a volume of 78700 cubic kilometre."
  source: S1
  evidence: "volume (P2234): 78700 cubic kilometre."

- id: C4
  claim: "Wikidata gives the Caspian Sea an elevation above sea level of -28 metre."
  source: S1
  evidence: "elevation above sea level (P2044): -28 metre."

- id: C5
  claim: "The GeoNames record for the Caspian Sea gives an elevation of ca. -29 m."
  source: S2
  evidence: "Elevation ca. -29 m"

- id: C6
  claim: "GeoNames lists alternate countries RU, AZ, TM, IR and KZ for the Caspian Sea."
  source: S2
  evidence: "Alternate countries RU,AZ,TM,IR,KZ"

## Sources

- [S1] Caspian Sea (Q5484). Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5484 CC0 1.0; accessed 2026-11-05.
- [S2] Caspian Sea (GeonameId 630671). GeoNames. https://www.geonames.org/630671 CC BY 4.0; accessed 2026-11-05.

Attribution: place data from GeoNames (geonames.org), CC BY 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0 1.0. Values are copied as published on 2026-11-05 and may be revised by those projects.