Natural complexes of the Azov and White Seas. The White Sea is located “on the threshold” of the Arctic and has a very cold climate
"Describe the natural complex of the White Sea."
Answers:
WHITE SEA, inland sea Northern. Arctic approx., off the northern shores of the European part Russian Federation. 90 thousand km2. Large islands: Solovetsky, Morzhovets, Mudyugsky. In winter it is covered with ice. Tides up to 10 m (in Mezen Bay). The White Sea in the north is connected by the White Sea Throat Strait with the Barents Sea. The sea has low-lying but strongly indented shores; this is the Kandalaksha Bay and the lips (they are called estuaries). Onezhskaya, Dvinskaya, Mezenskaya. The White Sea is small in area. The bottom topography is uneven. The sea is not deep. Average depth - 67 m. Maximum depth - 350 m. Located on the shelf - continental shallows. The salinity of the White Sea is less than that of the Barents Sea, in the bays it is 10-14% o. In the north, salinity is higher (30%o) than in the south - 20-26%o. because in the south the rivers Onega, S. Dvina, Mezen flow into the sea, which desalinize the water of the White Sea, especially in the lips. Biological resources The White Sea is poorer than the Barents Sea. The White Sea is colder than the Barents Sea, which it enters warm current, The White Sea is freezing. Among the fish that live here are herring, salmon, brown trout, cod and others. Ports: Arkhangelsk, Onega, Belomorsk, Kandalaksha, Kem, Mezen. It is connected to the Baltic Sea by the White Sea-Baltic Canal, and to the Azov, Caspian and Black Seas by the Volga-Baltic waterway. In the White Sea there is the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve, where the eider nesting grounds are protected. This bird lines its nests with its down, which has the ability to retain heat. The fluff is light. People collect eider down.
My grandfather was a navigator and lived in the northern part of Russia. He told me about his adventures on the waters of the White Sea on a merchant ship. I remember that this reservoir is very small and not deep at all. Another interesting thing was that some people drank on a dare sea water, because it turns out that it is practically not salted.
Natural complex of the White Sea
It is internal (that is, surrounded by land) and is located in the north of Russia (European part). The Arctic Ocean is directly related to the waters of this sea. Among the reservoirs washing the territory of Russia, the sea in the north is second only to the Sea of Azov in its small size. Its area does not exceed 91 thousand km². The situation is the same with depth. highest value- 345 meters, and, on average, the figure is no more than 70 meters. Despite small sizes seas, quite a lot flow into its waters big rivers:
- Mezen;
- Northern Dvina;
- Kem;
- Onega.
The coastline has a very curved shape, which is why the White Sea is sometimes called the “Bay of Snakes”. It also has neighboring waters: the Barents and Baltic Seas, which are connected through canals.
History and interesting facts about the sea
The oldest news about this reservoir dates back to the 11th century. Then he was very important in terms of trade. Since those ancient times, the winds blowing nearby north sea, got their names. For example, noon is a south wind, and siverko is a north wind. The midnight wind is called the northeast wind, and the midday wind is the southeast wind, etc.
The very first foreigners to enter the White Sea were the British, followed by the Dutch. This was obvious, given a big increase development of trade in fish and valuable fur in those areas. We can say that the coastal areas became large trading points. But already in the 18th century, people began to increasingly understand that the North Sea was not the most profitable trade route, because most year it is covered with ice. And when St. Petersburg was founded, this salty object ceased to be in demand, and all attention shifted to the Baltic Sea.
L. S. Berg was the first to write about the existence of natural complexes on the bottom and surface of the sea. Underwater natural complexes are similar to the natural complexes of land in the unity and interaction of its constituent components: the underlying surface, water, flora and fauna.
In the era of scientific and technological progress, the problems of comprehensive study and development natural resources seas and oceans are becoming one of the most important for humanity.
Rational use of the resources of the World Ocean requires knowledge of the characteristics of the natural complexes of the seas.
Remember what you already know about ocean resources from your continental and oceanic geography course. What resources are rich in the Russian seas (see Fig. 7)?
Using the example of the White Sea, we will show the specifics of its natural complex and the problems of its rational development by humans.
A special natural complex is the White Sea - the icy sea of Pomors, on the shores of which young Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov learned to understand nature. The White Sea juts deep into the land between the Kola and Kanin peninsulas. It is connected to the Barents Sea by a wide strait - the Throat of the White Sea. The border between these seas runs from Cape Svyatoy Nos on the Kola Peninsula to Cape Kanin Nos.
The Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea and the so-called lips - Onega, Dvinsk, Mezen - are deeply cut into the land.
Name and remember the ports of the White Sea.
In terms of its area (about 90 thousand km2), the White Sea is almost 5 times smaller than the Black Sea.
Large islands - Solovetsky in the southwest, Morzhovets - in the north.
The Northern Dvina, Onega, and Mezen flow into the sea.
The relief of the seabed is uneven: the eastern part of the White Sea is shallow (from 30 to 120 m), in the western part the depths exceed 200 m and reach 340 m, the average depth of the sea is 60 m.
Rice. 66. White Sea
The volume of water is 5400 km 3. This is only 1/20 of the Baltic and 1/100 of the Black Sea.
Rivers annually bring more than 200 km 3 of fresh water to the White Sea. Most of it occurs at the end of spring - in May.
In the bays, especially in spring, the water freshens to 10-14‰.
From November to May the sea is covered with drifting ice. Continuous ice cover occurs in bays.
Water salinity is 30.0-30.8‰ in the north, and 20-26‰ in the south.
In summer, the greenish water of the White Sea is saturated, sometimes even oversaturated with oxygen, and plankton develops wildly in it. However, the severity of winter, desalination of water, coldness and low aeration at depth sharply reduce the potential biological productivity of the White Sea.
There are 194 species of algae in the White Sea, beluga whales and two species of seals live. Among the 57 species of fish, the most important are herring, salmon (salmon, brown trout), navaga, cod, saury, smelt, etc.
The magnitude of tides in the White Sea is 1.1-3.5 m. In Mezen Bay - up to 10 m.
The harsh nature of the White Sea is full of its own unique charm. The slanting rays of the low sun and the diffused light of the white nights give its waters a clarified and ghostly tone.
In 1932, the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve was established in the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea to protect the breeding colonies of eiders. Currently, the area of the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve has been greatly increased: it includes the coasts and islands of Bely and Barents seas. Not only the eider, but the entire natural complex and ancient monuments are protected.
The White Sea was known to Novgorodians back in the 11th century. Natural resources sea, comfortable geographical position contributed to the development of this sea.
As already noted, the role of the seas in human life and activity is increasingly increasing. Therefore, a comprehensive study of the nature of the seas will become increasingly important.
Questions and tasks
- What components does the natural complex of the sea consist of?
- What factors influence the formation of this complex?
- Why is it so important to know the properties of the PC of the sea?
- Describe the natural complex of the White Sea.
White Sea
It is located “on the threshold” of the Arctic and has a very cold climate. Summer is short and cool. On the southern shores the water warms up to +170C. Winter is long, from November to May the sea is covered with ice. There is a lot of precipitation, up to 500 mm per year.
The White Sea is small in area. The bottom topography is uneven. The sea is shallow. Because located on the continental shelf. Average depth - 60 m. Salinity - 20-26% O in the south, 30% O- in the north. The Strait connects the White Sea Throat with the Bering Sea.
White Sea
Low-lying but heavily indented shores.
Tides from 1m to 3.5m. Mezen Bay - up to 10m.
Biological resources are poor.
Fish: cod, navaga, herring, salmon.
Animals: harp seal, seal, beluga whale.
Kandalaksha Nature Reserve. Nesting sites are protected eiders
White Sea
Brave people live here - Pomors.
There is a large port of Kandalaksha.
An artificial Belomorsk canal was dug near the city of Belomorsk (built from 1933 to 1933 by prisoners). It connects the sea with the Baltic. Length - 227 km.
At the entrance to Onega Bay on Solovetsky Island, the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery was founded at the beginning of the 15th century.
Sea of Azov
Surprising in its shallowness, its average depth is 7m, and the maximum is 15m.
The climate is warm and dry, but the sea does not dry out and does not accumulate salts (Why?).
The sea is desalinated to 11-13% O. Sivash - 60% O. The mouth of the Don and the Taganrog Bay are almost completely fresh.
This is a paradise for sturgeon and stellate sturgeon.
Sea of Azov
In December the sea becomes covered with ice and is freed at the end of March. There are strong storms, especially in the fall. In June, the water temperature rises to +23-250 C, July-August +290 C, in estuaries up to +350 C.
Problem: fertilizers with water end up in the sea, hence the blooms and algae. Living organisms die and hydrogen sulfide is released. The saltier waters of the Black Sea flow into Azov. Disruption of the salt balance leads to a decrease in fish resources.
