The Syvash or Sivash (Russian and Ukrainian: Сива́ш; Crimean Tatar:Sıvaş or Сываш, "dirt"), also known as the Putrid Sea or Rotten Sea (Russian:Гнило́е Мо́ре, Gniloye More; Ukrainian:Гниле́ Мо́ре, Hnile More; Crimean Tatar:Çürük Deñiz or Чюрюк Денъиз), is a large system of shallow lagoons on the west coast of the Sea of Azov. Separated from the sea by the narrow Arabat Spit, the water of the Syvash covers an area of around 2,560 km (990 sq mi) and the entire area spreads over about 10,000 km (3,900 sq mi). Its eastern connection to the Sea of Azov is called the Henichesk Strait. Lying on the northeastern coast of the Crimean Peninsula, control of the area is disputed between Ukraine and Russia.