Which ocean is the largest? Physical geography - seas washing the territory of Russia
The Pacific Ocean is the largest on Earth
Pacific Ocean- the largest ocean in terms of area and depth on Earth, it occupies 49.5% of the surface of the World Ocean and holds 53% of the volume of its water. Located between the continents of Eurasia and Australia in the west, Northern and South America in the east, Antarctica in the south.
The Pacific Ocean extends approximately 15.8 thousand km from north to south and 19.5 thousand km from east to west. Area with seas - 179.7 million km², average depth- 3984 m, water volume - 723.7 million km³. Greatest depth Pacific Ocean(and the entire World Ocean) - 10,994 m (in the Mariana Trench).
November 28, 1520 for the first time in open ocean Ferdinand Magellan came out. He crossed the ocean from Tierra del Fuego to the Philippine Islands in 3 months and 20 days. All this time the weather was calm, and Magellan called the ocean Quiet.
The second largest ocean on Earth after the Pacific Ocean, occupying 25% of the surface of the World Ocean, with a total area of 91.66 million km² and a volume of water of 329.66 million km³. The ocean is located between Greenland and Iceland in the north, Europe and Africa in the east, North and South America in the west, and Antarctica in the south. Greatest depth - 8742 m (deep-sea trench - Puerto Rico)
The name of the ocean first appears in the 5th century BC. e. in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who wrote that “the sea with the pillars of Hercules is called Atlantis.” The name comes from the famous Ancient Greece the myth of Atlas, the Titan, holding the vault of heaven on his shoulders in the extreme western point Mediterranean. The Roman scientist Pliny the Elder in the 1st century used modern name Okeanus Atlanticus - "Atlantic Ocean".
The third largest ocean on Earth, covering about 20% of its water surface. Its area is 76.17 million km², volume - 282.65 million km³. The most deep point ocean is located in the Sunda Trench (7729 m).
In the north, the Indian Ocean washes Asia, in the west - Africa, in the east - Australia; in the south it borders on Antarctica. The border with the Atlantic Ocean runs along the 20° meridian of eastern longitude; from Quiet - along 146°55’ meridian of eastern longitude. Northernmost point Indian Ocean is located at approximately 30° north latitude in Persian Gulf. The width of the Indian Ocean is approximately 10,000 km between southern points Australia and Africa.
Ancient Greeks known to them western part The ocean with adjacent seas and bays was called the Eritrean Sea (Red). Gradually, this name began to be attributed only to the nearest sea, and the ocean was named after India, the country most famous at that time for its wealth on the ocean shores. So Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. e. calls it Indicon pelagos - “Indian Sea”. Since the 16th century, the name Oceanus Indicus - Indian Ocean, introduced by the Roman scientist Pliny the Elder back in the 1st century, has been established.
The smallest ocean on Earth, located entirely in the northern hemisphere, between Eurasia and North America.
The ocean area is 14.75 million km² (5.5% of the area of the World Ocean), the volume of water is 18.07 million km³. The average depth is 1225 m, the greatest depth is 5527 m in the Greenland Sea. Most of the bottom relief of the Northern Arctic Ocean occupy the shelf (more than 45% of the ocean floor) and the underwater margins of continents (up to 70% of the bottom area). The ocean is usually divided into three vast water areas: the Arctic Basin, the North European Basin and the Canadian Basin. Due to the polar geographical position, the ice cover in the central part of the ocean remains throughout the year, although it is in a mobile state.
The ocean was identified as an independent ocean by the geographer Varenius in 1650 under the name Hyperborean Ocean - “Ocean in the extreme north.” Foreign sources of that time also used the names: Oceanus Septentrionalis - “Northern Ocean” (Latin Septentrio - north), Oceanus Scythicus - “Scythian Ocean” (Latin Scythae - Scythians), Oceanes Tartaricus - “Tartar Ocean”, Μare Glaciale - “Arctic Sea” (lat. Glacies - ice). On Russian maps of the 17th - 18th centuries the names are used: Sea Ocean, Sea Ocean Arctic, Arctic Sea, Northern Ocean, Northern or Arctic Sea, Arctic Ocean, Northern Polar Sea, and the Russian navigator Admiral F. P. Litke in the 20s of the XIX century centuries called it the Arctic Ocean. In other countries the English name is widely used. Arctic Ocean - "Arctic Ocean", which was given to the ocean by the London Geographical Society in 1845.
By resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR dated June 27, 1935, the name Arctic Ocean was adopted, as corresponding to the form already used in Russia since early XIX century, and close to earlier Russian names.
Code name three waters oceans (Pacific, Atlantic and Indian) surrounding Antarctica and sometimes unofficially identified as the “fifth ocean”, which, however, does not have a clearly delineated northern border by islands and continents. The conditional area is 20.327 million km² (if we take the northern boundary of the ocean to be 60 degrees south latitude). Greatest depth (South Sandwich Trench) - 8428 m.
Oceans are called vast water bodies, which are located between continents. They differ from each other in salinity, the nature of currents, inhabitants and other features. Which ocean is the smallest in area? Why is he interesting? Let's find out.
Which ocean is the smallest?
The ratio of land and water on our planet is not the same. Most of the Earth's area is covered by the World Ocean. It covers approximately 71% or 361 million km 2 of its surface. It is part of the hydrosphere, a shell of water that washes all continents and islands.
Conventionally, it is divided into several areas that differ in their characteristics. It is generally accepted that there are four of them: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic oceans. Around the 17th century, the concept of the Southern Ocean, washing the shores of Antarctica or unknown at that time, appeared. southern continent" But in 1953 this concept was abandoned.
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest in area. It is almost 12 times smaller than the Pacific, and covers only 14.75 million km 2. Despite its modest size, it is the most difficult to study and develop, because its vast territories are covered with ice and icebergs.
Northern Ocean
In the past there were many names behind him. It was called the “Hyperborean”, “Northern”, “Arctic” ocean, “Ice Sea”. Some of its names were associated with ancient kingdoms, which is how the names “Scythian” and “Tartar” appeared.
The smallest ocean in the world was formed approximately 145-66 million years ago, in Cretaceous period. He filled the space around North Pole, located between Eurasia and North America. Its entire water area is usually divided into three basins: Canadian, North European and central Arctic.
The Arctic Ocean is the least deep, inhabited, and saltiest of all. Its volume is 18.07 million km³, of which approximately 6.63 million km3 is located in the seas. The average depth is 1225 meters, the most deep place reaches 5527 meters and is located in the Greenland Sea.
Ocean waters
Due to its small size and closed nature, some geographers consider it the Atlantic Sea. The Arctic Ocean is surrounded by land on almost all sides. It connects with other oceans through the Davis Strait, Bering Strait, Danish Strait, and Hudson Strait. All seas, bays, bays occupy about 70% of its area.
The waters of the smallest ocean have low salinity, the reason for this is precipitation, melting ice, and a low level of evaporation. In addition, they are desalinated by the rivers of Asia and Alaska, which annually bring about 5 thousand km 3. They create a powerful Trans-Arctic flow. It intensifies near the Bering Strait Pacific current, ensuring ice drift from Alaska to Greenland.
However, the volume of the rivers is very small compared to the amount that comes from the Atlantic. Every year the Atlantic Ocean provides its “northern neighbor” with 298 thousand km 3 of water. Thus, the northern branch of the warm Gulf Stream passes between Spitsbergen and Norway. It softens the climate Northern Europe and does not allow its western shores to be covered permanent ice even in winter. From Spitsbergen, currents head to the Chukchi Sea, taking about five years to reach it.
The eternal cold of the Arctic
The polar position affects the ocean climate. In its various regions, the polar night lasts from 50 to 150 days a year, and access to solar warmth stops completely. At this time there is a zone above the ocean high pressure, which is shifted towards Greenland. Extreme cold and dry air masses come here.
The main feature of the smallest ocean is ice. He is constantly present in him. Some areas are covered with welded, stationary ice floes; in other areas they drift at speeds from 7 to 100 km/day.
Freezes in winter most of ocean and its seas. In summer solar radiation quite powerful. At this time, some coastal areas thaw, although some areas still remain. The northern shores of Greenland are ice-free throughout the year. The eastern and western shores of the island regularly supply the oceans with thousands of icebergs, which often penetrate the shipping routes between America and Europe. One of these “gifts” met the infamous Titanic.
Fauna and flora
Animal and vegetable world The smallest ocean has been poorly studied, but even now we can conclude that it is not very diverse. Only river mouths, shelves, and Atlantic regions are distinguished by their richness.
The most inhabited are the Barents, Kara, Greenland and Norwegian seas. They are home to up to 200 species of zooplankton and more than 100 species of fish. In the East Siberian and Laptev Seas, the number of species decreases several times; in the Arctic basin there are even fewer of them.
The main plants of the Arctic Ocean are diatoms, which can withstand the absence of heat. Many of them are attached to the undersurface of ice floes. In the seas of the oceans there are herring, tuna, salmon, flounder, cod, various mollusks and crustaceans. Thanks to them, many birds nest on the islands and coasts, forming entire “bird colonies”.
The inhabitants of the polar regions are characterized by gigantism, as well as longevity. The ocean is inhabited by the largest mussels in the world, largest predator planets - polar bear, huge whales, walruses and seals. The largest jellyfish, the Arctic cyanide, whose diameter reaches two meters, also lives in the ocean waters. In addition, many native species live up to ten years longer than their counterparts in tropical and subtropical areas.
Usage
Due to the abundance of ice cover, the smallest ocean is not easy to develop, but people have learned to use it. Two large shipping routes pass through its seas: Northern - along Eurasia, and Northwestern - along North America. In addition to them, there are many short sea routes along Norway, Alaska, Greenland, Canada and other regions.
The Arctic Ocean is a major source of seafood. More than 2 million tons of fish are caught there every year. Its shelves and coastal areas are rich in oil and gas. On its banks, coal, titanium, uranium, gold, mica, pigs, zinc, apatite, tin and iron are mined.
Fishing and production mineral resources harm vulnerable nature northern ocean. Therefore, along with industrial development, programs for its conservation are also being developed.
Our planet is unique among others in that it has huge reserves of water, and in the most suitable form for life - liquid. Just recently I was stuck in a traffic jam and secretly heard on the radio that the Arctic Ocean is the shallowest ocean. Curiosity overcame me, and I wanted to know why it was recognized as the shallowest.
Cause of shallow waters of the Arctic Ocean
All oceans, except the Arctic Ocean, have an average depth of 4 km. This depth can be achieved by immersing yourself in the bed of the Indian, Pacific or Atlantic Ocean.
The problem of the Arctic is precisely that the above-mentioned bed is practically absent from it.
The ocean relief looks like this:
- shelf;
- continental slope;
- bed.
Due to the fact that the area of the Arctic Ocean is 11 times smaller than that of the Pacific Ocean, the ocean relief is represented only by the shelf, and the average depth of the Arctic Ocean is only 1225 meters.
What makes the Pacific Ocean the deepest?
If you think that the whole point is its huge area, which is equal to 162 million km², then you are mistaken.
Yes, 10 Russian Federations could fit in the Pacific Ocean, but this ocean owes its depth to the tectonic structures on which it is located.
The first European to walk on the waters of this ocean was Magellan. His ships were never hit by the elements, and he awarded this ocean the name Pacific. In fact, it is as restless as the others, and the many junctions of lithospheric plates make it also the deepest.
There are 22 deep-sea trenches in the World Ocean, and only 5 of them are located outside the Pacific Ocean.
The Mariana Trench is located in its waters; its depth is only six meters short of reaching 11 km.
Amazingly, at the very bottom of the Challenger Deep, researchers managed to find life that was previously considered impossible at such a depth.
Using the given characteristics, create “calling cards” of the oceans and enter the numbers of the corresponding proposals in the table.quiet.Indian.Atlantic.North.Arctic.
1) THIS OCEAN IS CALLED GREAT
2) THE NORTHERN PART IS WASHED BY THE EURASIA CONTINENT.
3) IN THIS OCEAN THERE IS A COLD PERUVIAN CURRENT.
4) THE OCEAN WAS NAMED BY FERNAND MAGELLAN.
5) THE NATURE OF THE OCEAN IS VERY HARSH.
6) THE WARMEST OCEAN ACCORDING TO SURFACE WATER TEMPERATURE
7) THE GOLF STREAM IS THE MOST FAMOUS CURRENT IN THIS OCEAN.
8) PRODUCES MOST OF THE WORLD'S FISH CATCH
9) THIS OCEAN OCCUPIES ALMOST 1/3 OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE
10) THE MAIN HEAT BRINGS TO THE OCEAN IS THE NORTH ATLANTIC CURRENT.
11) IN THE WEST THE OCEAN WASHES EURASIA IN THE EAST AMERICA.
12) THIS OCEAN IS MAINLY LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
13) THERE ARE ALMOST NO CURRENTS IN THIS OCEAN.
14) LONGEST FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.
15)MOST OF THE YEAR THE ENTIRE SURFACE IS COVERED WITH ICE.
16) THIS OCEAN IS CONNECTED WITH THE ARCTIC OCEAN BY THE BERING STRAIT.
17) ONE OF THE OCEAN SEA HAS THE MOST HIGH SALTINITY IN THE WORLD.
18) THIS IS THE MAIN WATERWAY ON EARTH.
19) THE COLDEST OCEAN.
20) THE DEEPEST OCEAN.
21) THE MOST POLLUTED OCEAN BY HUMAN.
22) THE WESTERN PART WASHES AFRICA.
23)SECOND BIGGEST WINDOW.
24) IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE OKEN THE HIGHEST WAVES ARE MARKED AND TYPHOONS OFTEN OCCUR.
25) THE SHALLOWEST OCEAN.
26) HAS A RICH OIL DEPOSIT ON THE PERSIAN GULF SHELF.
! ADD 4 CHARACTERISTICS YOURSELF
a) southern latitude and eastern longitude;
b) northern latitude and east longitude;
c) northern latitude and western longitude.
2)The extreme northern point of Russia is the cape:
a) Chelyuskin;
b) Outbuildings;
c) Dezhnev.
3) The easternmost point of Russia has a longitude:
a) western;
b) eastern;
c) northern.
4) Russia’s maritime borders, compared to land borders, have the following length:
a) big;
b) equal;
c) less.
5) Availability of three climatic zones on the territory of Russia is explained long distance countries:
a) from north to south;
b) from west to east.
6) The seas of the Arctic Ocean compared to the seas of the Pacific Ocean:
a) deeper;
b) the same in depth;
c) less deep.
7)The terminal ports of the Northern Sea Route are:
a) Murmansk and St. Petersburg;
b) St. Petersburg and Vladivostok;
c) Vladivostok and Murmansk,
8) Time within the same time zone is called:
a) local;
b) waist;
c) maternity leave.
9) The boundaries of time zones are drawn in accordance with: a) parallels;
b) meridians;
c) horizontal.
10) In Russia they are the last to greet New Year residents:
a) Anadyr;
b) Magadan;
c) Kaliningrad.
11) There are no points on the territory of Russia that have:
a) northern latitude;
b) southern latitude;
c) western longitude.
12)The extreme eastern point of Russia is:
a) Cape Dezhnev;
b) Ratmanov Island;
c) Cape Chelyuskin.
13) The land borders of Russia compared to the sea borders have the following length:
a) big;
b) the same;
c) less.
14) Availability climatic regions within climatic zones is explained by the large extent of Russia in the direction of:
a) from north to south;
b) from west to east.
15) Salinity of the seas of the Pacific Ocean, compared to the seas of the Arctic Ocean:
a) higher;
b) the same;
c) below.
16) The time of this meridian is called:
a) local;
b) waist;
c) maternity leave.
17) A new day in Russia begins with the time zone:
a) second;
b) eleventh;
c) first.
18) The local time of a point depends on its:
a) geographic latitude;
b) geographic longitude.
19) The Northern Sea Route passes through the seas:
a) Atlantic and Pacific oceans;
b) the Pacific and Arctic oceans;
c) the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.
20) The territory of Russia is washed by as many oceans as the territory:
a) Brazil;
b) Canada;
in Australia.
21. The area of Russia is:
a) 17.1 million km2;
b) 22.4 million km2;
c) 17.8 million km2.
22. Northernmost continental point:
a) Cape Dezhnev;
b) Cape Fligeli;
c) Cape Chelyuskin. 23. Latitude of the extreme eastern point:
a) 170° W. d.;
b) 170° E. d.
24. Russia intersects:
a) with the equator;
b) with the northern tropic;
c) with the Arctic Circle.
25. The longest border between Russia and the state: a) Mongolia;
b) China;
c) Kazakhstan;
d) Ukraine.
26. Which rivers do the Russian border run along:
a) along the Amur;
b) along the Terek;
c) according to Ussuri;
d) along the Kura.
27. With which country does Russia’s border begin from the coast? Barents Sea:
a) with Finland;
b) with Norway;
c) with Estonia.
28. What part of the territory of Russia is located behind S.P.K.?
a) 1/5 (20%);
b) 1/2 (50%); c) 1/4 (25%).
29. With which countries does Russia only have a maritime border?
a) USA; b) China;
c) Japan; d) Norway.
30. Russia is located:
a) in the northern and western hemispheres;
b) in the northern and eastern hemispheres;
c) in the northern, eastern and western hemispheres;
d) only in the northern hemisphere.
31. The seas washing Russia do not freeze:
a) Chernoe and Kara;
b) Barents and Chernoe;
c) Okhotsk and Japanese.
32. The easternmost point of Russia is located:
a) in western hemisphere;
b) in eastern hemisphere.
33. The northernmost point of Russia is located:
a) in the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago;
b) in the Spitsbergen archipelago; c) in the Franz Josef Land archipelago.
34. Find a match:
Extreme points Russia:
a) northern; 1) m. Dezhneva;
b) southern; 2) m. Chelyuskin;
c) western; 3) the city of Bazarzyuzu;
d) eastern; 4) sand spit (Curonian) west of Kaliningrad.
35. Russia has only a maritime border with the states:
a) Norway and Japan;
b) Japan and China;
c) Japan and the USA.
36. In the north, Russia is washed by the seas:
a) Beloe, Barentsevo, Kara;
b) Beringovo, Kara, Laptev;
c) Baltic, Black, White.
37. The largest and deepest sea off the coast of Russia
a) Okhotsk;
b) Barentsevo;
c) Beringovo;
d) Japanese.
38. The shallowest sea on Earth and the smallest sea in Russia
a) Azovskoe;
b) Aral;
c) White;
d) Baltic
1. Seas of the Arctic Ocean.
2. Seas of the Pacific Ocean.
3. Seas of the Atlantic Ocean
4. Caspian Sea-lake.
Seas of the Arctic Ocean
The seas of the Arctic Ocean include: the Barents Sea, the White Sea, the Kara Sea, the Laptev Sea, the East Siberian Sea and the Chukchi Sea.
All these seas wash the territory of Russia from the north. All seas, except the White Sea, are marginal, and the White Sea is internal. The seas are separated from each other by archipelagos of islands - natural boundaries, and where there is no clear boundary between the seas, it is drawn conditionally. All seas are shelf seas and therefore shallow, only the northern waters of the Laptev Sea extend to the edge of the Nansen Basin (depth 3385 m). Thus, the Laptev Sea is the deepest of northern seas. The second deepest of the northern seas is the Barents Sea, and the shallowest is the East Siberian Sea, the average depth of all seas is 185 m.
The seas are open, and there is a free exchange of water between them and the ocean. From the Atlantic, warm and salty waters flow into the Barents Sea in two powerful streams: the Spitsbergen and North Cape currents. In the east, the Arctic Ocean basin is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the narrow Bering Strait (its width is 86 km, depth 42 m), so water exchange with the Pacific Ocean is noticeably difficult.
The seas of the Arctic Ocean are characterized by large runoff from the mainland; about 70% of the runoff of the Russian territory belongs to the basin of this ocean. Inflow river waters reduces sea salinity to 32‰. Near the mouths of large rivers, salinity drops to 5‰, and only in the north-west of the Barents Sea does it approach 35‰.
The climate of the seas is harsh, which is primarily due to their geographical location in high latitudes. All seas, except the White Sea, lie in the Arctic. This fact causes their strong cooling in winter, during polar night. In the eastern part, the Arctic pressure maximum is formed, which maintains frosty, partly cloudy weather in winter. The Icelandic and Aleutian lows have a certain influence on the climate of the northern seas. For western regions The Arctic in winter is characterized by cyclonic activity, which is especially pronounced in the Barents Sea: frosts soften, the weather is cloudy, windy, with snowfalls, and fog is possible. Above central seas and the eastern anticyclone dominates, therefore the average January temperatures change as follows (in the direction from west to east): over the Barents Sea in January the temperature is -5o -15oC, and in the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea the average January temperature is about -30oC. Over the Chukchi Sea it is a little warmer - about -25°C, this is influenced by the Aleutian minimum. In the area of the North Pole in January the temperature is about -40°C. Summer is characterized by continuous solar radiation during the long polar day.
Cyclonic activity weakens somewhat in summer, but air temperatures remain quite low, because... main quantity solar radiation is spent on melting ice. Average July temperatures vary from 0°C on the northern edge of the seas to +5°C on the coast of the continent, and only over the water area White Sea in summer the temperature is up to +10°C.
In winter, all seas, with the exception of the western edge of the Barents Sea, freeze. Bound by ice all year round Most of the ocean, this ice persists for several years and is called pack ice. Ice is in constant motion. Despite its considerable thickness (up to 3 m or more), the ice is subject to fractures, and cracks and even polynyas form between the ice floes. The surface of the pack ice is relatively flat, but in some places hummocks up to 5-10 m high can appear. In addition to ice, icebergs that have broken off from the cover glaciers that are present on the Arctic islands can be found in the seas. In summer, the ice area decreases, but even in August, drifting ice floes can be seen in the seas off the coast. The ice regime changes annually; now, with climate warming, there is an improvement in ice conditions (for sea vessels). The water temperature remains low all year round: in summer +1o +5o (in the White Sea up to +10o), in winter -1-2oC (and only in the western part of the Barents Sea about +4oC).
The bioproductivity of the northern seas is low, the flora and fauna of these seas are relatively poor, and the depletion of flora and fauna occurs in the direction from west to east, due to the severity of the climate. Thus, the ichthyofauna of the Barents Sea includes 114 species of fish, and 37 species live in the Laptev Sea. The Barents Sea is inhabited by: cod, haddock, halibut, sea bass, herring, etc. The eastern seas are dominated by salmon (nelma, pink salmon, chum salmon, salmon), whitefish (omul, vendace) and smelt.
Pacific Seas
The seas of the Pacific Ocean include: the Bering Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Sea of Japan. They wash the eastern shores of Russia. The seas are separated from the Pacific Ocean by ridges of islands: the Aleutian, Kuril and Japanese, behind which there are deep-sea trenches (the maximum depth at the Kuril-Kamchatka trench is 9717 m). The seas are located in the subduction zone of two lithospheric plates: the Eurasian and the Pacific. The seas are also in the continental transition zone earth's crust to the oceanic, the shelf is small, so the seas of the Pacific Ocean are significantly deep. The deepest (4150 m) and largest in size is the Bering Sea. On average, the depth of all three seas is 1350 m, which is significant deeper than the seas Arctic Ocean. The seas stretch for almost 5,000 km from north to south, while they have free water exchange with the Pacific Ocean. Distinctive feature these seas have a relatively small influx of river water into them. Less than 20% of the water flow from the territory of Russia belongs to the Pacific Ocean basin.
The climate of the seas is largely determined by the monsoon circulation, which smoothes out the climatic differences of the seas, especially in winter. average temperature air in January varies from -15-20o C near the coast and to -5o C near the island arcs. The most severe winter in the water area Sea of Okhotsk(500 km from Oymyakon). In summer, the climatic differences between the seas are more noticeable. In the Bering Sea the average temperature in summer is +7 +10°C, and in the Sea of Japan the temperature reaches +20°C. summer season above Sea of Japan Typhoons often sweep through. In winter, ice forms in the seas: the Sea of Okhotsk freezes completely, and the Bering and Japanese Seas freeze only near the coasts. In winter, the water temperature ranges from +2оС to -2оС, and in summer the water temperature varies from +5оС in the north to +17оС in the south. Water salinity varies from 30‰ in the Sea of Okhotsk to 33‰ in the Bering and Sea of Japan.
The seas of the Pacific Ocean are characterized by tidal currents; in Penzhinskaya Bay the highest tidal waves are observed off the coast of Russia - up to 13 m, near Kuril Islands The height of tidal waves is up to 5 m.
The organic world of the seas is quite rich; plankton and seaweed grow abundantly in shallow waters. The ichthyofauna is represented by arctic and boreal fish species, and in the Sea of Japan also by subtropical fish species. Total in the seas Far East There are about 800 species of fish, of which more than 600 are in the Sea of Japan. Commercial significance have salmon (chum salmon, pink salmon, coho salmon, chinook salmon, etc.), iwasi herring, also Pacific herring, and bottom fish - flounder, halibut, cod, as well as pollock and sea bass; in more southern parts- mackerel, sea eels, tuna and sharks. In addition, the Pacific seas are rich in crabs, sea urchins, lives on the islands fur seal, sea otter
Seas of the Atlantic Ocean
Seas of the Atlantic Ocean: Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Azov Sea.
These seas are inland, they wash small areas of the country. The connection between these seas and the ocean is rather weak, and therefore their hydrological regime is unique.
The Baltic Sea (Varyazhskoye) is the westernmost of the seas of Russia. It is connected to the ocean through the shallow Denmark Strait and the shallow North Sea. The Baltic Sea itself is also shallow, it was formed in Quaternary times and was covered continental ice to the dregs. The sea is shallow, the maximum depth of the Baltic Sea is 470 m (south of Stockholm), in the Gulf of Finland the depth does not exceed 50 m.
The climate of the Baltic Sea is formed under the influence of westerly transport air masses from the Atlantic. Cyclones often pass through the sea; annual precipitation exceeds 800 mm. Temperatures in summer over the Baltic are + 16-18°C, water temperature + 15-17°C. In winter, thaws dominate the sea; the average temperature in January is around 0°C, but with the invasion of Arctic air masses, the temperature can drop to -30°C. Only the Gulf of Finland freezes in winter, but in some harsh winters The entire sea may freeze.
About 250 rivers flow into the Baltic Sea, but 20% of the river flow is brought by the Neva River. The salinity of water in the Baltic Sea does not exceed 14‰ (the average oceanic 35‰), off the coast of Russia (in the Gulf of Finland) the salinity is 2-3‰.
The Baltic fauna is not rich. Of commercial importance are: sprat, herring, eel, smelt, cod, whitefish, and lamprey. In addition, the sea is home to a seal, the number of which is Lately is decreasing due to sea water pollution.
The Black Sea is the warmest of the Russian seas. In area it is almost equal to the Baltic Sea, but greatly exceeds it - due to its great depth - in volume: the maximum depth of the Black Sea is 2210 m. The connection between the Black Sea and the Atlantic is carried out through the system inland seas and straits.
The climate of the Black Sea is close to the Mediterranean (warm, wet winter and relatively dry, hot summers). In winter the sea is dominated northeasterly winds. When cyclones pass, stormy winds often occur; the average air temperature in winter ranges from 0°C off the coast of Russia to +5°C on south coast seas. Prevail in summer northwest winds, average air temperature +22-25оС. Many rivers flow into the sea, the Danube giving the largest flow. The salinity of the Black Sea waters is 18-22‰, but near the mouths of large rivers the salinity decreases to 5-10‰.
Life lives only in upper layers seas, because Below 180 m, poisonous hydrogen sulfide is dissolved in water. The Black Sea is home to 166 species of fish: Mediterranean species– mackerel, horse mackerel, sprat, anchovy, tuna, mullet, etc.; freshwater species- pike perch, bream, ram. Pontic relics have been preserved here: beluga, stellate sturgeon, sturgeon, herring. Dolphins and seals live in the Black Sea among mammals.
The Sea of Azov is the smallest sea in Russia and the shallowest in the world: its average depth is 7 m, and its greatest depth is 13 m. This sea is a shelf sea, it is connected to the Black Sea by the Kerch Strait. Due to its small size and deeply inland position, the sea has the features continental climate, not sea. The average air temperature in January is about -3°C, but with stormy winds from the north-east, the temperature can drop to -25°C, although very rarely. In summer, the air over the Sea of Azov warms up to +25°C.
Two rivers flow into the Sea of Azov large rivers: Don and Kuban, which bring over 90% of the annual river flow. In addition to these rivers, about 20 other small rivers flow into it. Water salinity is about 13‰; By August the water in the sea warms up to +25°C, and near the coast up to +30°C. In winter, most of the sea freezes; ice formation begins in December, in the Taganrog Bay. The sea is freed from ice only in April.
Organic world Sea of Azov is diverse: it is home to about 80 species of fish, mainly Mediterranean and freshwater species - sprat, anchovy, pike perch, bream, sturgeon, etc.
Caspian sea-lake
The Caspian Sea belongs to the internal closed basin; it is a relict lake, but in the Neogene it was connected with the World Ocean. The Caspian Lake is the most big lake on Earth, according to the hydrological regime and large sizes it is very similar to the sea.
The Caspian basin consists of three parts: northern – shelf, with depths up to 50 m; medium - with depths of 200-800 m; the southern one is deep-sea, with a maximum depth of 1025 m. The length of the Caspian Sea from north to south is 1200 km, from west to east – about 300 km.
The climate of the Caspian Sea varies from temperate in the north to subtropical in the south. In winter, the sea is under the influence of the Asian High, and north-easterly winds blow over it. The average air temperature ranges from -8°C in the north to +10°C in the south. Shallow Northern part From January to March it is covered with ice.
In summer, clear, hot weather prevails over the Caspian Sea, the average summer air temperature is +25-28°C. The annual precipitation over the Northern Caspian Sea is about 300 mm, and in the southwest it falls up to 1500 mm.
More than 130 rivers flow into the sea, but 80% of the river flow comes from the Volga River. Water salinity ranges from 0.5‰ in the north to 13‰ in the southeast.
The organic world of the Caspian Sea is not rich, but endemic; it is home to: herring, gobies, sturgeon (beluga, stellate sturgeon, sterlet, sturgeon), carp, bream, pike perch, roach and other fish species, as well as seal.