The White Sea is one of the inland seas of the coldest Arctic Ocean. Such large rivers as the Onega, the Northern Dvina, the Mezen and others flow into it. The largest bays are Dvina, Kandalaksha, Mezen and Onega Bays. The coastline of the sea has a different landscape. In the northwestern part, the coast is rocky and high, but in the southeast, a low, gently sloping coast opens.
Geographic location of Onega Bay
Onega Bay is a bay located in the White Sea. Its length is approximately 185 km. The minimum width of the bay is 50 km, the maximum reaches 100 km. The average depth of the reservoir is 16 m, but the deepest mark is 36 m.
The bay cuts deep into the mainland. It has an elongated shape and extends from the southeast to the northwest. The White Sea-B altic Canal connects the bay with the B altic Sea. Onega Bay on the map has the following coordinates: 64o30/s. sh. and 36o30/v. e.
Biological features of the Onega Bay
There are about 1,900 islands in the bay. For 6-7 months inThe waters of the Onega Bay are ice-bound. Despite this, the benthos is very rich in species diversity. There are areas where the number of mussels is about 50 kg per square meter.
The bay of the White Sea near the Solovetsky Islands has a frontal zone, due to which the productivity of zoo- and phytoplankton is very high. The area is home to fish species such as White Sea herring and cod.
Whole colonies of various bird species live on the coast, among which the largest population of Arctic terns, razorbills and choughs.
Onega Bay plays an important role for a number of migratory and wintering birds. Common eiders (the number of colonies is from 30 to 40 thousand individuals) and guillemots, whose population is approximately 10,000 birds, stop in these places for wintering. About 150 species of birds can be found in this region throughout the year.
The White Sea Bay is a haven for belugas that breed in these waters. There are about 8 groups of these mammals in the water area, the number of which is up to 1,200 individuals. Their number increases in summer due to the migration of belugas from the Barents Sea. During this period, their number may reach 3,500 individuals.
The ringed seal is also an inhabitant of these harsh places. You can meet her near the Solovetsky archipelago and in the inner part of the bay.
Islands
Most of the islands are treeless. Of the plants in these places, dwarf birch is most often found. Onega Bayhas a huge number of islands, the most famous of them are:
- the Solovetsky archipelago;
- oh. Shuyostrov;
- oh. Head Island;
- oh. cue;
- oh. Myagostrov;
- Big and Small Zhuzhmuy and others.
Fishing
In the White Sea, fishing is not as developed as in the Barents Sea. Therefore, the catch of the White Sea cod, herring and navaga does not have a serious impact on the reduction in the population of these fish species. On a smaller scale, pink salmon, Atlantic salmon and whitefish are caught.
Serious threats
Poachers are one of the major threats to the salmon population. Illegal fishing leads to a significant reduction in this species.
Another serious problem is the oil pollution of the bay in the shipping lanes. This phenomenon is especially dangerous for birds stopping for wintering in polynyas. Oil waste can kill migratory birds.
Birds during the breeding season can be disturbed by water tourism and shipping.
Ebb and flow
Onega Bay is part of the White Sea, which belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin. Even in summer, the temperature of this reservoir is quite low. Surface waters warm up to 6-15 degrees, closer to the coastline the temperature indicator can reach 18 degrees. Ice formation begins in October, and freeze-up can last up to 7 months.
Opensea surface currents are very weak, their speed does not exceed 1 km / h, while in the bays it increases.
The height of the tides can range from a few centimeters to 3 meters, depending on the part of the water area. This leads to the fact that currents intensify in narrow straits. High and low tides are quite common in this region. They are especially dangerous in shallow waters. During the day, there are 2 low tides and the same number of high tides.
