Even in the 16th century, Russian merchants tried to build a route from the Dvina to the East of the empire along the Arctic Ocean. At that time, the development of technology did not yet allow breaking through many meters of ice. The route could only be laid to the mouth of the Ob River. Everything has changed today. The Northern Sea Route has been used for more than 100 years. The Arctic coast is actively developing, but new needs are emerging. Tough competition forces us to look for new routes for transporting goods from Europe to the South-East and back. Once again, the Arctic Ocean is in the spotlight. There is a growing interest in studying the corridor for the movement of ships along the northern coast of Russia.
Ushakov's expedition
For more than one century, sailors have tried to overcome the route from the Gulf of Ob to the Laptev Sea. The section of the path in the area of the cape remained insurmountable until the beginning of the 20th century. Only in 1913, the Vilkitsky expedition managed to explore this place for the first time and discover a new land. The Vilkitsky Strait appeared on the map of the Russian Empire withArchipelago Land of Nicholas II, later renamed Severnaya Zemlya.
Already after the October Revolution, the young Soviet government began to pay much attention to the northern lands. Active exploration of the North began. Georgy Alekseevich Ushakov led a large, well-equipped expedition to the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, he was faced with the task of describing the archipelago in detail. The chairman of the Russian Geographical Society, Julius Mikhailovich Shokalsky, did a lot for the successful work of the expedition. The ocean to the north has become much closer thanks to his efforts.
Severnaya Zemlya archipelago
The team led by two famous explorers of the north Georgy Alekseevich Ushakov and his partner Nikolai Nikolayevich Urvantsev worked for two years. During this time, the entire archipelago was completely described. The largest islands were named - Bolshevik, October Revolution, Komsomolets. The archipelago is separated from the mainland by the 130-kilometer Vilkitsky Strait. Beyond Bolshevik Island is the Shokalsky Strait, and further north is the largest island of the October Revolution. Even further north is the Strait of the Red Army and the islands of Komsomolets with Pioneer. Then another strait, Belobrova, and the northernmost point of Schmidt Island. In addition, the archipelago includes a number of smaller islands.
So, described in the Strait of Shokalsky Island:
- Foundling with nearby Low, Dry and Baby, as well as a series of Sailors.
- Pie.
- Group of two islands - Cats.
- In the very center of the strait - Sentry.
- Coastal with Burugunnykh.
- Group of 7 islands - Krasnoflotsky.
As well as Vilkitsky, the water area of the Shokalsky Strait is promising for the shipping company. Over 110 km, the width changes from 20 to 50 km. The smallest fairway depth is 55 m.
Climate
The average long-term temperature in the area of the Shokalsky Strait is kept at -14 °С, however, in winter it can reach -47 °С with storm winds reaching up to 40 m/s. The main part of the precipitation falls on the summer period and reaches the greatest intensity much to the north of the strait. Coastal shores during the summer have time to thaw by no more than 15 cm, below the permafrost begins. Despite all the weather difficulties, modern icebreakers successfully overcome the route even in winter. Moreover, the possibility of going around the archipelago from the north along a deep-sea route is constantly being worked out. But this is a matter for the future.
In the meantime, modern icebreakers are able to break through 40-meter corridors along the Southern route.
Animal world
The waters of the Kara Sea are not rich in vegetation. The Shokalsky Strait is no exception. The southern shores, from Bolshevik Island, are only 10% covered with vegetation in summer, and that mainly consists of moss and lichen. The northern island of the October Revolution is even poorer. Here the tundra occupies only 5% of the territory. But the flowering of foxtail, polar poppy with saxifrage against the background of glaciers and waves of the Kara Sea is a delightful sight. BUTthe fauna of these waters is richer. Numerous flocks of birds settle on the islands of the Shokalsky Strait in summer - a variety of gulls, a snowy owl, a sandpiper and many others. Deer, arctic foxes, wolves come from the mainland. There are rodents, including lemmings.
Of course, the polar bear reigns here. Seals, seals, beluga whales, numerous walruses settle in coastal waters. Highly valued northern fish - omul, muksun, vendace. Commercial fish include smelt, navaga, pollack and the famous nelma.
The northern region with its islands, straits, sea expanses is still only "waking up", but a great future awaits it.
