Volga Delta,Russia,satellite image. North is at top. Water is blue,algal mud is green,and salt deposits are white. The River Volga,running downwards from top,is spreading out among more than 500 branches to form its delta at the northern end of the Caspian Sea. The evaporation and drying of the Caspian Sea has led to the formation of extensive salt deposits (white,upper left),and the Volga Delta has expanded in size enormously. Here it is around 160 kilometres across. Prevailing winds form the east-west dunes seen at centre left,with water (dark blue) between the dunes |