Donuzlav

The Donuzlav (Ukrainian and Russian Донузлав; Crimean Tatar Donuzlav ) with a maximum depth of 27 m, the deepest lake in the Black Sea region. The saltwater lake is located in southern Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the north- west of the Crimea peninsula directly on the shore of the Black Sea.

The lake has a length of 30 km. Its width is about 8 km, and the maximum depth is 27 m. After the 12 km long and 300-1000 m wide strip of land that separated the lake from the Black Sea, 1961 was broken to 200 m wide, the lake is connected with the sea and became an artificial bay.

The lake is a valuable wetland. Its steep, curving bay with small indentations serves as a waterfowl breeding and whereabouts.

The northern part of the lake and the surrounding shores in 1947 declared a nature reserve.

The settlements of urban type Nowooserne and Myrnyj on the shore of the lake and form with their ports a naval base of the Ukrainian Navy.

In the course of 2014 Krimkrise alleged Russian soldiers blocked the entrance to the lake before they sank the cruiser of the Kara- class Otshakoff there and so Ukrainian warships prevented from sailing and even prevent.