Seas washing the territory of Russia. From the Black Sea to the White Sea, or How many seas wash Russia

Unique. Occupying 1/7 of the entire landmass, it simultaneously has on its territory all possible natural landscapes and climatic zones. The main part of the length of its borders lies on the water, thus covering more than a dozen seas belonging to three oceans. At the same time, it is not so easy to understand how many seas wash Russia. Some scientists believe that our country borders on 12 such reservoirs. Some argue that there are 13 of them.

The struggle for maritime boundaries

This dispute did not arise out of nowhere. In all centuries, countries that had water borders were in an advantageous position. The military and merchant fleet, fishing, border protection, rich ports that regularly supplied hard cash to the treasury - these are just some of the advantages of access to the sea. Until the end of the century before last, one of the most honorable and coveted titles for many such states was recognition of them as “Mistress of the Sea.” Starting from the 15th century, Spain, Portugal, Holland, England, Russia, and then Germany, which entered the world stage late, competed for the title. The struggle for Russia's seas was very difficult. Only under Peter the Great the once lost Baltic returned to us. And Russia was able to re-annex the Black Sea only a century and a half later, under Catherine the Great. And the struggle for it with its closest neighbors until the 20th century was very cruel. This can be understood just by looking at the numerous memorials on the Black Sea coast. Such, for example, as the monument to the dead sailors in Sevastopol.

What's the catch?

It would seem that it is very easy to answer the question of how many seas wash Russia: just open the map and look at it carefully. But... This is where the stumbling block lies. Scientists have been arguing about the number of Russian maritime borders for decades. How many are there? 12? Or is it still 13? Or maybe even 14?

The whole difficulty lies in what is considered seas. And world scientific thought still cannot come to an agreement on this issue. In general, the very concept of “sea” is quite vague. For example, the Mediterranean also includes the Aegean, which is separated only by bottom irregularities, and the Arctic Ocean is divided off the coast of Russia into a good dozen seas. But there are also colloquial designations... “Ladoga Sea”, “Glorious Sea - sacred Baikal”...

According to hydrologists

And yet, what is commonly called the sea in scientific circles?

1) This is the name of a part of the World Ocean, separated from it by land or an underwater mountain range, but having a connection with it. This classification is the most common. It includes most of the known seas. But in this case, the question remains open about “inland seas” that are in no way connected to any ocean.

2) According to the second tradition, any large salty body of water is considered a sea, regardless of whether it has access to the ocean or not.

These disagreements are one of the reasons why scientists cannot agree on how many seas wash Russia. Should we consider the Caspian and Aral Seas, which currently have no connection with the World Ocean, as such? Or should we classify them as salty, but still lakes?

Water boundaries on the country map

The map impartially shows how many seas wash Russia and their names. We count. In the south - Black and Sea of ​​Azov. Unfortunately, it is not known how long the latter will retain its status. Now it is becoming increasingly shallow, its maximum depth barely reaches 20 meters. So, perhaps, we will soon be poorer by one sea.

In the north, our country is washed by 7 seas, which belong to 2 oceans. Baltic - to Atlantic. Barents, Beloe, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukotka - to the Arctic.

To the east we are bordered by the USA and Japan by the Bering, Japan and Okhotsk seas, which belong to the Pacific Ocean.

Seas with disputed status

Thus, everything turns out... But here again it gets into trouble full height the question of how many seas wash Russia. It turns out there are 3 more water bodies, whose status is still in question.

Caspian. Like many Russian seas, it belongs to the Atlantic Ocean, but only nominally. The point is that it has no direct relation to them. The Caspian Sea is a fragment of those times when the salty waters of the ancient Tethys Ocean splashed on the site of present-day Siberia and China. Now the Caspian Sea is drainless, and only the commonality of the animal and plant worlds reminds of its connection with the Atlantic. For many years, geographers cannot agree on whether it can be considered a sea by definition or should be classified as a salt lake. However, recently the Caspian sea status was officially returned.

Pechora. Another stumbling block. It is formed by uneven water relief and, strictly speaking, is just a coastal part of the Barents Sea, at the confluence of the Pechora River. Despite the fact that some scientists refuse to identify it as a separate object, it is officially present on the map of Russia.

Aral. Objectively speaking, the issue has long been considered closed. Just a few decades ago, there were heated debates about this drying up drainage reservoir. Like the Caspian Sea, it has no connection with the ocean; moreover, due to the shallowing of the rivers that feed it, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, it is receding every year. And despite the fact that many people habitually call the Aral Sea, legally it is a salty, endorheic lake.

On this table you can see how many seas wash our country.

№	Name	Which ocean does it belong to?
1	Azovskoe	Atlantic
2	Baltic	Atlantic
3	Barentsevo	Arctic
4	White	Arctic
5	Beringovo	Quiet
6	East Chukotka	Arctic
7	Karskoe	Arctic
8	Caspian	Atlantic
9	Laptev	Arctic
10	Okhotsk	Quiet
11	Pechora	Arctic
12	Black	Atlantic
13	Japanese	Quiet

Thus, through simple manipulations with the map, you can see that on the territory of our country there are 13 seas, belonging to three of the four existing oceans. An interesting fact is that almost all of Russia’s seas, related to the Atlantic (except for the Azov Sea) and the Pacific Ocean, are also a water border with other countries. While from time immemorial only Russian ships plied the coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean.

Twelve seas of three oceans wash the shores of Russia. And only one sea - the Caspian - belongs to the internal drainless basin of Eurasia.

Seas of the Arctic Ocean

The seas of the Arctic Ocean - Barents, White, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukotka - wash the territory of Russia from the north. All these seas are marginal; only the White Sea is inland. The seas of the Arctic Ocean are separated from each other and from the Central Polar Basin by archipelagos of islands (Spitsbergen, Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya, O. Wrangel, etc.). All seas are located on the continental shelf and are therefore shallow. All seas of the Arctic Ocean are open. The seas of the Arctic Ocean are characterized by large runoff from the mainland (about 70% of Russia's territory belongs to the basin of this ocean). Rivers bring here 2735 km 2 of water. In summer, warm river water promotes melting sea ​​ice, and in autumn and winter, desalinating sea water, accelerates the formation of strong ice.

In winter, the western regions are characterized by cyclonic activity that mitigates frosts. Cyclones move from the North Atlantic along a trough of low pressure passing over the Barents Sea to the Kara Sea. They are associated with unstable, very windy, cloudy weather in the waters of the western seas. In the eastern regions, cyclonic activity is associated with the Aleutian Low, but is less developed. The increase in the frequency of cyclonic weather is due to an increase in winter temperatures. Over the central seas (Laptev and East Siberian) anticyclonic cloudy weather with calms or very weak winds prevails. In general, there is a change in winter temperature conditions when moving from west to east. In summer, the main role in climate formation is played by the continuous flow of solar radiation arriving during polar day. Summer cyclones are not as deep and fill quickly, so their role in shaping the climate is less than in winter. The main amount of solar radiation is spent on melting snow and ice, so the temperature background is low. In summer, differences in the climate of the seas of the Arctic Ocean are smoothed out.

The most striking distinctive feature northern seas is the year-round presence of ice in all Arctic seas. Most of the Arctic Ocean all year round bound by ice. In winter only western part The Barents Sea remains ice-free. Off the coast in winter, young, motionless ice forms, attached to the shore. This is coastal fast ice. Behind the fast ice strip there are flaw polynyas. Behind them there are drifting multi-year ice - Arctic pack (pack ice). It consists of large ice floes separated by cracks, sometimes polynyas. In addition to sea ice, in the polar seas there are powerful blocks of continental ice - icebergs that have broken off from ice sheets descending to the sea surface off the coast of Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya.

The position in high latitudes and the lack of solar heat caused weak heating of the waters of the Arctic seas. In summer, the water temperature at the ice edge approaches zero, and towards the coast of the mainland it rises to +4 - +6°С, in the southwestern part of the Barents Sea - to + 8 - +9°С, and in the White Sea even to +9 - +10°C. in winter average temperature in most of the water area it is close to freezing temperature, i.e. -1.2...-1.8°C. In the western part of the Barents Sea, the water temperature in January - February is + 4 - + 5°C.

The salinity of sea waters decreases from the northern edges of the seas to the southern ones.

The overall biological productivity of the seas is low. Relatively small and species diversity organisms living in these seas. Following the change in the severity of the nature of the seas from west to east, the number of sea inhabitants is decreasing in the same direction. In the Chukchi Sea, the species diversity of animals is slightly increasing due to a decrease in severity due to the penetration of warm waters from the Pacific Ocean. The species composition of the inhabitants also changes. Among the commercial fish in the Barents Sea, cod, haddock, halibut, sea bass, and herring predominate; to the east, salmon (nelma - in the central seas and salmon - in the Chukotka sea), whitefish (omul, muksun, vendace) and smelt are common. In the Chukchi Sea, the usual Arctic species are joined by Pacific boreal species.

Pacific Seas

The Pacific Ocean and its seas - Bering, Okhotsk and Japan - wash the eastern shores of Russia. The seas are separated from the Pacific Ocean by the ridges of the Aleutian, Kuril and Japanese islands, behind which there are deep-sea trenches.

They are characterized by less shelf development, so large areas of the seas have great depths. Within each sea, a shelf, a continental slope and a deep-sea basin are clearly visible.

A distinctive feature of the water exchange of all the seas of the Far East is the relatively small influx of river water into them. Only 19% of Russia's territory belongs to the Pacific Ocean. The total river flow into these seas is 1212 km 2 /year. Compared to the total volume of water in these seas, this is very small.

The climate of the Pacific seas is largely determined by the interaction of land and ocean. Monsoon circulation smoothes out differences in the climate of the seas in winter. The average January temperature varies from -16°...-20° near the coast to -4°C near the islands. Only in the Sea of ​​Japan in the southwest does the temperature rise to +5°C, but this is far from Russian territory. The harshest winter is in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, 500 km from the shores of which Oymyakon, the pole of cold of the Northern Hemisphere, is located.

In summer, the differences in the temperature regime of the seas are quite significant. The difference of more than 30 degrees in latitude certainly affects the total radiation and summer air temperatures over the waters of different seas. In the Bering Sea, the average July temperatures are 7-10°C, in the Okhotsk Sea 11-14°C (in some years up to 18°C), in the Japanese Sea 15-20°C (up to 25°C in the warmest years in the south). Typhoons and powerful cyclones sometimes penetrate the seas from southern latitudes, bringing hurricanes.

In winter, the northern half of the Bering Sea and almost the entire Sea of ​​Okhotsk are covered with ice. A narrow strip of ice forms near the Russian coast even in the Sea of ​​Japan. First-year ice of local origin is common in all seas. The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is the most severe in terms of ice, in the northwestern part of which the ice regime lasts 280 days a year. This is due to the general severity of winter in this sea. Strongly cooled during the winter, the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk warm up very slowly in the summer. Even in the northern Bering Sea, ice conditions are not as severe.

For all seas Far East Low winter water temperatures are typical: from 0... + 2°C to -1.3...-1.8°C. In summer, the surface water temperature in the Bering Sea is 5-10°C, in the Okhotsk Sea - +8-12°C, in the Japanese Sea off the coast of Russia, the water temperature is 17°C. The salinity of sea waters varies from 30-32‰ in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk to 33‰ in the Bering Sea and the Sea of ​​Japan off our coasts.

The seas of the Pacific Ocean are characterized by tidal currents.

The organic world of the Pacific seas finds favorable conditions for its existence. In shallow waters, under conditions of sufficient warming, abundant and diverse phyto- and zooplankton develop, and lush thickets form seaweed. Brown algae reach several tens of meters in length, forming real underwater forests. The ichthyofauna here is much more diverse than in the northern seas. Arctic, boreal, and in the Sea of ​​Japan, subtropical fish species live here. In total, about 800 species of fish live in the seas of the Far East, of which 200 species are commercial. The species diversity of fish in the Sea of ​​Japan is especially high (more than 600 species).

Seas of the Atlantic Ocean

Three inland seas of the Atlantic Ocean - the Baltic, Black and Azov - wash small areas of Russian territory. All of them protrude deeply into the mainland, and their connection with the ocean is through other seas and shallow straits. Their weak connection with the ocean determines their rather unique hydrological regime. The climate of the seas is decisively influenced by the westerly transport of air masses.

Baltic Sea the westernmost of the sea. It is connected to the ocean through the shallow Danish Straits and the North Sea.

The main features of the climate of the Baltic Sea are formed under the influence of the steady transport of temperate air from the Atlantic. Cyclones often pass through the sea, accompanied by western, southwestern and northwestern winds, cloudy weather and heavy rainfall. Their annual number reaches 800 mm or more. In summer, cyclones carry moist, cool air, so the average July temperature is 16-18°C, and the water temperature is 15-17°C. In winter, Atlantic air causes thaws, as its average temperature in January is about 0°C. The cold arctic air that sometimes breaks through here can lower the temperature to -30...-35°C. The Gulf of Finland, located near the borders of Russia, is covered with ice in winter; off the coast of the Kaliningrad region there is only floating ice. However, in exceptionally severe winters the entire sea froze (1710, 1809, 1923, 1941, 1955, etc.).

About 250 rivers flow into the Baltic Sea, but about 20% of the annual river flow is brought into the sea by the river. Neva (79.8 km 2). Its flow exceeds the flow of the other three largest rivers: the Vistula, the Neman and the Daugava, combined. The flow of the Neva is regulated by lakes, so it is characterized by one spring-summer maximum. Strong long lasting westerly winds raise the water level in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland.

The fauna of the Baltic Sea is depleted in species due to high desalination, low mixing of waters and poverty of plankton. Fishes of commercial importance are: herring, Baltic sprat, cod, whitefish, duck, lamprey, smelt, salmon. The sea is home to seals, whose numbers are declining due to pollution of sea waters.

Black Sea- the warmest among the seas washing the shores of our Motherland. The Black Sea lies in a deep tectonic basin with oceanic-type crust and Cenozoic sedimentary cover. The maximum depth of the sea reaches 2210 m. The depression is outlined by a continental slope, which in a number of places (especially off the Caucasian coast) is strongly dissected by underwater canyons. The shelf is most developed in the northwestern part of the sea, off the coast of Ukraine. The coastline of the sea is weakly dissected.

The geographical position of the sea and the relatively small area of ​​the water surface determine throughout its entire water area a uniform climate, close to the Mediterranean, with warm, wet winters and relatively dry summers. In winter, the synoptic situation determines the predominance of northeastern winds with an average speed of 7-8 m/s over almost the entire sea area. The development of strong (more than 10 m/s) and especially stormy winds is associated with the passage of cyclones over the sea. The average air temperature in winter decreases from the open sea to the coast. In the northeastern part, near the coast of Russia, it approaches 0°C, in the northwest it is -2"C, and in the southeast + 4...+ 5°C. In summer, northwestern winds prevail over the sea Their average speed is 3-5 m/s, decreasing from west to east. Strong, especially stormy, winds are rarely observed in summer and are also associated with the passage of cyclones. The average air temperature in August varies from + 22 ° C in the northwest. 24-25°C in the east of the sea.

There is a cyclonic current on the sea surface along the coast. In the central part of the sea, two rings of cyclonic currents can be traced: one in the western part, the other in the eastern part of the sea. Along the Russian coast, the current carries water from the south. Through the straits, water exchange occurs with neighboring seas. Through the Bosphorus, the surface current carries Black Sea water, and the deep current supplies saltier and heavier water from the Sea of ​​Marmara to the Black Sea. The salinity of the Black Sea waters in the central part is 17-18‰, and with depth it increases to 22.5‰. Near the mouths of large rivers it drops to 5-10‰.

Among them there are Pontic relics (beluga, stellate sturgeon, sturgeon, herring), Mediterranean forms (mullet, mackerel, horse mackerel, red mullet, sprat, anchovy, tuna, stingray, etc.) and freshwater (ram, pike perch, bream). Of the mammals in the Black Sea, endemics have been preserved - the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin (dolphin) and the white-bellied seal, or monk seal, listed in the Red Books.

Sea of ​​Azov- the smallest and shallowest on the planet. Its area is 39.1 thousand km 2, the volume of water is 290 km 2, the greatest depth is 13 m, the average is about 7.4 m. The narrow and shallow Kerch Strait connects it with the Black Sea. The Sea of ​​Azov is shelf. The topography of its bottom is quite simple: the shallow coast turns into a smooth and flat bottom. Depths slowly and smoothly increase with distance from the coast.

The sea is deeply cut into the land, its water area and volume of water are small and do not have a significant impact on the climate; therefore, its climate has continental features, more pronounced in the northern part of the sea, which is characterized by cold winters and hot, dry summers. In the southern regions, which are more influenced by the Black Sea, the climate is milder and more humid. The average temperature in January is -2...-5°С, but with stormy winds from the eastern and north-eastern directions, temperatures can drop to -25...-27°С. In summer, the air over the sea warms up to 23-25°C.

Ice forms on the Sea of ​​Azov every year, but due to frequent and rapid changes in weather conditions, ice can appear and disappear repeatedly during the winter, turning from stationary to drifting and back again. Ice formation begins at the end of November in the Taganrog Bay. The shallowness of the sea, good heating and illumination, mixing of the water column, and the abundant removal of organic and mineral substances by rivers created favorable conditions for the development of organic life. The Sea of ​​Azov is home to about 80 species of fish, among which the most diverse are Mediterranean forms. The main commercial importance is sprat, pike perch, anchovy, bream, and sturgeon.

Caspian sea-lake

The Caspian Sea belongs to the internal closed basin of Eurasia.

The sea extends from north to south within the temperate and subtropical climate zones for 1200 km with an average width of about 300 km. The large length along the meridian (10°34"), together with the volume of sea waters, determines the differences in its climate. In winter, the sea is under the influence of the Asian High, so northeastern winds blow over it, bringing cold continental air from temperate latitudes. The average air temperature in January - February reaches -8...-10°C in the northern part of the sea, -3...+ 5°C - in the middle and +8...+ 10°C - in the southern part. Increase in air temperature to average and. in the southern parts of the sea is mainly due to the fact that sea waters accumulate significant reserves of heat in the summer, therefore they warm the air currents passing over the sea, thereby softening the winter. The shallow northern part of the sea is covered with ice from January to March. The cyclones of the Iranian branch of the polar pass over the Southern Caspian in winter. the front brings precipitation. Summer is characterized by more stable and clear weather compared to the autumn-winter period. Temperature differences between the Northern and Southern Caspian Sea in summer are small. The average July temperature in the north is 24-25°C, and in the south 26-28°C. The annual precipitation over the waters of the Northern Caspian Sea is 300-350 mm, in the southwestern part of the sea it exceeds 1200-1500 mm.

Hydrological regime, water balance and the level of the Caspian Sea are closely related to surface runoff within its basin. More than 130 rivers bring about 300 km 2 of water to the sea annually. The main flow comes from the Volga (more than 80%). Thanks to the flow of the Volga, northeastern winds and the Coriolis force, there is a constant counterclockwise current along the shores of the Caspian Sea. There are two more cyclonic currents in the middle and southern basins.

Water salinity ranges from 0.3‰ at the mouth of the Volga to 13‰ in the southeastern part. The organic world of the Caspian Sea is not rich in the number of species, but is deeply endemic. The main part of the fauna is Mediterranean, left over from the period when the sea had a connection with the World Ocean, but later underwent changes (herring, gobies, sturgeon). It was joined by younger forms from the northern seas (salmon, whitefish, seal). A significant part of the fauna is represented by freshwater forms (cyprinids, perch). Over 70 species of fish are now found in the Caspian Sea. Sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, beluga, sterlet, white fish, pike perch, bream, carp, and roach are of commercial importance. The Caspian sturgeon herd is considered the largest in the world. Fishing for Caspian seals is limited.

Russia owns huge reserves, which are distributed unevenly over the area. Most of them are concentrated in the north, a smaller part in the south. The country has the longest coastline in the world, the total length of which is about 61 thousand km. In addition to the oceans and seas, there are more than two million rivers and the same number. All water resources actively used in economic activity states. In total, Russia is washed by 13 seas, 1 of which is closed, and the remaining 12 belong to the basins of the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific oceans. This article provides a list and brief description all seas and oceans washing the territory of the Russian Federation.

Atlantic Ocean

The seas of the Atlantic Ocean wash the western coast of the state. These include the Azov, Black and Baltic seas. The length of the coastline is about 1845 km. The largest rivers flowing into these seas are Luga, Neva, Don, Matsesta and Ashe.

Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean and the seas of its basin wash the northern part of Russia. The total length of the coastline is 39,940 km. The Arctic Ocean basin includes the Chukchi, Kara, East Siberian, White, Barents Seas, as well as the Laptev Sea. , flowing into the Arctic Ocean include the Lena, Yenisei, Ob, Northern Dvina and Pechora.

Pacific Ocean

The waters of the Pacific Ocean wash the territory of Russia from the east. The length of the coastline is 17,740 km. The Sea of ​​Japan, Okhotsk and Bering Seas are located on the Asian coast of the country. The Amur and Anadyr are the largest rivers in the Pacific basin.

Map of the seas and oceans that wash the territory of Russia

As can be seen on the map above, the country's shores are washed by twelve seas. Another, the Caspian Sea, has an internal closed basin and is the largest enclosed body of water in the world. The seas of Russia differ in origin, temperature, maximum depth, bottom topography, degree of salinity and diversity of flora and fauna.

The seas of the Atlantic Ocean that wash Russia:

Sea of ​​Azov

An inland sea in southwest Russia that is the shallowest in the world. The Sea of ​​Azov can be considered a gulf of the Black Sea. The length from north to south is 231 km, and the maximum depth is up to 14 m. The reservoir freezes in winter, and warms up well in summer. Thanks to the predominantly positive temperatures, life is actively developing in the waters. 80 species of fish, including commercial ones, live here.

Black Sea

The waters of the Black Sea wash the southwestern borders of the country. Its length from north to south is 580 km. The maximum depth exceeds 2 thousand m. Most of the cyclones that occur throughout the year originate over the Atlantic. Numerous rivers significantly desalinate the coastal waters of the sea. Because of high content In hydrogen sulfide water, the bottom part is uninhabitable. At shallow depths, both Mediterranean and freshwater fish species are found: anchovy, horse mackerel, tuna, stingray, bream, pike perch, and ram.

Baltic Sea

The reservoir, located in the north-west of Russia, is 660 km long. It is an inland sea. The maximum depth of the Baltic Sea is 470 m. Cyclones that form near the Atlantic bring frequent rain and wind to the Baltic. Due to the abundance of precipitation, the water in the sea is slightly salty, so there is little plankton in it. Fish include smelt, herring, Baltic sprat, whitefish and many others.

The seas of the Arctic Ocean that wash Russia:

Barents Sea

Sea waters wash part of the northern coast of the country. The length of the coastline is 6645 km. The maximum depth exceeds 590 m. The North Atlantic Current and Arctic air radically influence climatic conditions. Summer temperature does not rise above +10ºС. In the northwestern part the ice does not melt all year round. The waters are rich in plankton. More than a hundred species of fish live here, some of them commercial, for example, halibut, haddock, and catfish. represented by seals, bears and beluga whales. They settled on the coastal rocky cliffs various types birds such as gulls, guillemots and guillemots.

White Sea

An inland sea washing the northern part of the state. The length exceeds 600 km, the maximum depth is 343 m. The White Sea is slightly larger than the Sea of ​​​​Azov. Winter is long and harsh, and summer is humid and cool. Cyclones dominate over the reservoir. The water is slightly salty on the surface. The world of zooplankton and phytoplankton is not very developed. There are about fifty species of fish, which is significantly less than in neighboring seas. This is due to the harsh climate and low salinity. Cod, smelt, Chinook salmon, pollock, and salmon are of great commercial importance. The fauna is represented by sea hares and beluga whales.

Kara Sea

The waters wash the islands and archipelagos of northern Russia. The length of the coastline is 1500 km, the maximum depth is 620 m. The average water temperature does not exceed 0°C. Throughout the year, a significant part of the sea surface is covered with ice. Salt water at river mouths becomes almost fresh. According to recent studies, there are oil and gas deposits on the shelves. Brown and red algae grow well in the sea. Fish resources are rich in navaga, flounder, chinook salmon, nelma and smelt. There are: sei whale and fin whale.

Laptev Sea

A marginal reservoir of the Arctic Ocean, 1300 km long. The maximum depth is 3385 m. The sea is located near the Arctic Circle, which significantly affects the climate. Winter temperatures average -26°C. The region is affected by cyclones, bringing with them blizzards and winds. In summer the air warms up to +1ºС. Melting ice and runoff from Siberian rivers dilute the salt water of the sea. The flora is represented by a variety of algae and plankton. Near the coastal strip you can find sea ​​urchins And . Large freshwater fish emerge from river mouths to feed. The fishery is not developed, since the sea is covered with ice most of the time. Among the mammals, beluga whales, walruses and seals do well.

East Siberian Sea

The sea of ​​the Arctic Ocean basin adjacent to the northern coast of Russia. The length of the coastline exceeds 3000 km, the greatest depth is about 900 m. The average air temperature in winter is -28°C. The reason is so low temperatures are cold winds carrying air masses from Siberia. Summer air temperatures rise to +2ºС on average. The fauna is scarce due to the harsh climate. The ichthyofauna of the coastal zone includes whitefish and sturgeon. Large mammals include beluga whales, walruses, and polar bears.

Chukchi Sea

A marginal reservoir in the north of the country. The greatest depth is 1256 m. Throughout the year the sea receives little sun rays. A sharp drop in temperature begins in the fall. Winter is characterized by strong winds and an average temperature of -28°C. Cover the reservoir with ice all year round. Grayling, char and cod are found in the Chukchi Sea. Phytoplankton serves as food for cetaceans. Polar bears live on drifting ice floes, forming an entire population.

The Pacific seas that wash Russia:

Bering Sea

The reservoir in the northeastern part of the Pacific coast has a coastline length of 13,340 km, a maximum depth of 4,151 m. There are numerous islands near the coast. In winter, the average air temperature does not rise above -23ºС. Summer temperatures average +10ºС. The Bering Sea is covered with ice almost all year. The coast is indented with capes, bays and spits. The high banks are favored by seagulls, puffins, and guillemots. The aquatic world is famous for its diversity of salmon and flounder. The gently sloping shores have become home to walruses, sea otters and polar bears.

Sea of ​​Japan

The waters of the Sea of ​​Japan wash the eastern coast of Russia. The length of the coastline is 3240 km, the maximum depth is 3742 m. The location in temperate latitudes affects the local climate. IN winter period North-westerly winds blow over the surface. Typhoons often occur at this time. The influx of river water is insignificant. The coast is home to starfish of all sizes and colors, urchins, shrimp and sea cucumbers. The fishery covers cod, flounder, pollock and herring. After a storm, you can see relatively safe jellyfish on the shore.

Sea of ​​Okhotsk

A semi-enclosed body of water washing the south-eastern coast of the country. The maximum depth is 3916 m. The monsoon climate prevails on the coast. January temperatures drop to -25°C. The summer maximum is +18°C. IN coastal zone inhabited by crabs, mussels and starfish. Mammals include killer whales, seals and fur seals. In the open sea, flounder, capelin, coho salmon and pink salmon are caught.

Closed seas that wash Russia:

Caspian Sea

The only endorheic sea in the southwest of Russia. The length of the coastline is 1460 km, the maximum depth is 1025 m. Based on some signs, the Caspian Sea should be called a lake. But the salinity of the water, its size and hydrological regime indicate that it is a sea. There are many islands along the coast. The waters of the Caspian Sea are unstable, they rise and fall. Winter temperatures on average are -1°C, and by mid-summer they rise to +25°C. More than a hundred rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, the largest of which is the Volga. In winter, the northern part of the sea freezes. Vegetable and fauna unique. Only endemic species live here, species that live only in the Caspian Sea. Near the coast you can find goby, herring, sturgeon, white fish, shrimp, pike perch and beluga. A unique mammal is the Caspian seal, the smallest representative of its family.

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Ice cover and the long polar night are unfavorable for the development of plankton, therefore the biological productivity of the Arctic seas is low! It is only of great commercial importance. It comes here along with the Atlantic waters. large number plankton, followed by schools of fish. In second place is the White Sea, whose productivity is 4 times lower. In the seas of the Arctic Ocean, sea animals (seal, beluga whale) are caught.

The Northern Sea Route, 5,600 km long, passes through the seas of the Arctic Ocean. This is the shortest sea route from the western part of Russia to the North-East and. The ships are completed in less than a month. Distance from to through the North and Norwegian Seas and further along the Northern Sea Route is 14,280 km, and through the Suez Canal - 23,200 km. From Murmansk to Vladivostok - 10,400 km. The Northern Sea Route connects not only the western and eastern outskirts of Russia, but also the mouths of navigable rivers in Siberia. This made it possible to accelerate economic development and use the richest natural resources northern regions countries. Navigation along the Northern Sea Route lasts about four months. Nuclear-powered icebreakers are used to navigate ships here.

The seas of the Pacific Ocean are located mainly in the temperate zone and differ more warm waters than the Arctic ones. However, in winter, strongly cooled air from the continent is carried into the sea areas, so almost the entire Sea of ​​​​Okhotsk and the northern parts freeze in winter. Even in the harshest winters, ships are guided to Vladivostok by icebreakers.

The organic world in the seas of the Pacific Ocean, especially in the Japanese Sea, is much richer and more diverse than in the Arctic seas. Only in the seas of the Far East do valuable sea animals live - the fur seal and the sea otter (sea otter). Pacific herring, cod, flounder, salmon, as well as mollusks and crustaceans, crabs, mussels, oysters, and shrimp are important commercial fisheries. Seaweeds, such as kelp (sea kale), are of economic importance. The transport importance of the Pacific seas is also great.

and the Caspian Sea. Three seas belong to the basin: , And . They are all internal. These seas extend deep into the land and have a relatively weak connection with the ocean through narrow, shallow straits. Sea tides are practically not observed here. The seas are highly desalinated due to the influx of large amounts of river water. Caspian Sea - part of the ancient one Caspian-Black Sea basin. Currently, it is a closed, endorheic lake that retains some marine features.

The seas of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caspian Sea are quite warm. In winter, the shallow northern parts of the Black and Caspian Seas and the bays of the Baltic Sea are covered with ice for a short time. All seas are of great transport importance. Their ports serve international and domestic shipping lines. The coasts of the Atlantic seas are of great importance for organizing recreation for the population.

Due to the fact that the seas of the Atlantic Ocean have different story development and are distant from each other, their nature is very different. the youngest. It was formed due to the flooding of a sagging section of the platform by sea waters. The sea is shallow. Its coastline is characterized by significant ruggedness. There are large sea bays off the coast of Russia: Finnish And Gdansk. Strong, long-lasting westerly winds raise the water level in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. This caused floods in St. Petersburg, located at the mouth of the Neva River.

The fauna of the Baltic Sea is not rich and diverse. The main commercial fish are herring, Baltic sprat, cod and eels.

The deep-sea basins of the Black and Caspian Seas are large tectonic depressions in the region of Alpine folding. When they sank, the adjacent southern parts of the platform were also lowered, and when they were flooded by sea waters, shallow northwestern regions, the Sea of ​​Azov and the northern part of the Caspian Sea emerged.

The southern position of these seas determines high temperatures surface waters and significant evaporation from their surface. Despite this, the seas are highly desalinated. Together with river waters they receive a large amount nutrients, which creates favorable conditions for the habitat of living organisms. However, the waters of the Black Sea from a depth of 200 m are contaminated with hydrogen sulfide and are practically devoid of life, so its fishing value is small.

Azov and are the most important fishing areas. Up to 80% of the world's reserves of the most valuable sturgeon fish are concentrated in the Caspian Sea. Black and Caspian Sea are of great transport importance.

Thus, the physical-geographical position of Russia has a number of positive aspects and shortcomings.

Positives:

1. Russia has open access to the seas of three oceans, both in and out, which facilitates economic ties with many countries;
2. Russia's location in both Europe and Asia makes it possible to earn a certain income by transporting goods from Europe to Asia and back;
3. Warm coasts create good conditions for recreation and tourism development;
4. The seas of the Arctic Ocean make it possible to deliver cargo to hard-to-reach areas.

Unfavorable features of the physical and geographical position:

1. The northern position of part of the territory of Russia, as well as the continental climate of the interior regions and their harsh conditions require enormous efforts from the population to ensure a normal existence, efforts immeasurably greater than in other major ones;
2. The vast spaces of Russia create difficulties in development natural resources, require large funds to build roads and transport goods, complicate the management of the country and ensuring its security.

I would be grateful if you share this article on social networks: Our state is rightfully recognized as a state with access to a large number of water areas. The seas and that wash Russia are located at different latitudes. So how many seas washes Russia?

The number of reservoirs washing the Russian Federation

In total in space Russian Federation There are water spaces that belong to the waters of one inland sea and 12 more, belonging to the waters of the three largest oceans of the planet. The list of seas that wash Russia includes many objects whose waters our state shares with other countries.

IN general list included Arctic sea pool:

• Barentsevo;
• White;
• Karskoe;
• Laptev Sea;
• East Siberian;
• Chukotka.

To the list of seas Atlantic Basin includes:

• Baltic;
• Black;
• Azovskoe.

Refers to Pacific Basin:

• Beringovo;
• Okhotsk;
• Japanese.

Attention! A special feature of our state is the inland Caspian Sea located on its territory. This list helps to understand which oceans wash Russia.

Caspian Sea

Oceans

In total, three of the four parts of the world's oceans wash the shores of Russia. Borders of Russia not in contact only with the Indian Ocean. Unless, of course, you count the presence of the division of the World Ocean into five parts. IN recent years in the world scientific practice There is an opinion that it is necessary to separate the Southern Waters located in the region of the South Pole of the planet. This division is accepted by analogy with the existence of the Arctic Ocean. But official science has not yet officially recognized such a division.

Taking into account this division, we can separately consider each object washing the shores of our state.

Atlantic

What ocean do you think the Baltic belongs to? This is a body of water that unites the borders of virtually all European states, belongs to the Atlantic Ocean. The Baltic Sea has always been the center of Eurasian civilization.

The unification by a single water space ensured the successful economic development of the Baltic countries. It is not for nothing that the largest Russian economic centers are located on the Baltic shores. Including the cities of St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Baltiysk and Vyborg.

At the same time, the Atlantic waters include the most saturated with hydrogen sulfide space in the Russian Federation - Black. Along with the Baltic, Chernoe is a major transport artery and an important resort area for the development of the country's economy. The bases of the Russian Armed Forces are located in its waters. They are in such major cities, like Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. There is no need to think about which ocean the Black Sea belongs to. It part of the Atlantic waters.

Comparing how many oceans wash Russia, should be included in the Atlantic waters also a miniature Sea of ​​Azov. Its area is only 39 thousand square meters. It is too shallow for water transportation, so a special channel for ships was dug in it. Due to the convenient bottom topography, covered with sand and warm water, the Sea of ​​Azov is recognized more as a resort than as a strategic site. There are numerous recreation centers on its banks. The resort center is the city of Yeysk.

Arctic

A huge area off the coast of the Russian Federation is occupied by the cold and dangerous Arctic. It includes large number seas. For example, the White Sea, which ocean does it belong to? It is part of the Arctic Ocean.

This part of the World Ocean includes the largest sea washing the territory of Russia, the Bering Sea. The area of ​​the Bering Sea is 2,315,000 square kilometers.

Its depths are rich. The fields located at the bottom of the Chukotka region have the maximum natural oil reserves. Their potential is still known only theoretically. Active geological surveys are constantly being carried out at the bottom of Arctic reservoirs.

Attention! A logical feature of all Arctic waters is the very cold water, frozen for most of the year.

Quiet

The Pacific Ocean covers a large area of ​​the planet's surface. The reservoirs included in its water area, belonging to the water space of Russia, as well as the water spaces of the Arctic, characterized by a harsh climate.

Relatively favorable climate, allowing the creation of resort areas on the shores, only the Japanese one differs. It is also the most “inhabited” region of Russia on the Pacific coast. Suffice it to recall such large and developed megacities as Vladivostok or Nakhodka.

The Pacific Ocean on the territory of Russia is a real center of water transport communications between the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. At the moment, it is waterways that receive maximum attention when considering programs economic development territories.

Pacific Ocean

Development of coastal areas

Every body of water located on the territory of the Russian Federation must has large population centers. The development of cities was gradual. Most ancient history, since the times of Ancient Rome and Greece, the Atlantic basins have been distinguished.