Introduction to this special section: The Black Sea Region

Abstract

Indeed, the Black Sea represents a very colorful region, not only from a historical and cultural perspective, but also from a hydrocarbon exploration point of view. This region has a long history of geological and geophysical activity. For example, the Black Sea became the type example of an euxinic basin and the name was literally derived from its earliest ancient Greek name, Pontos Axeinos (the dark or somber sea). Strangely enough, at one point its Latin name became Pontus Euxinus (the welcoming sea).