Chukchi Sea - former Beringia

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

The Chukchi Sea was one of the last explored of all the seas surrounding Russia. The exploration of this most northeastern sea of the country was initiated by the explorer Semyon Dezhnev, who traveled by sea from the mouth of the Kolyma River to the Anadyr River.

The area of the sea is five hundred ninety thousand square kilometers. More than half of the area of the Chukchi Sea lies within the continental shelf, so the depths are no more than fifty meters, and in some places there are shallows up to thirteen meters. This is less than the height of a standard five-story building. According to geologists, ten to twelve thousand years ago there was land on this place, along which people settled on the American continent. This rather extensive land that existed in the past received the name Beringia in the scientific literature. The maximum depth of the sea is 1256 meters.

The climate here is extremely harsh. The Chukchi Sea freezes in October, and theice cover begins only in May. More than half a year the sea is unsuitable for navigation. In winter, the water temperature is negative, because due to high salinity, it freezes at a temperature slightly below zero degrees.

The Chukchi Sea, like all northern seas, is rich in fish, but due to harsh natural conditions, commercial fishing is extremely difficult, and often simply impossible. Navaga, char, grayling, polar cod are found in the sea. Mammals include walruses, polar bears, seals, seals, whales.

The coast of the sea in the west is the Chukchi Peninsula, and in the east - Alaska. For a long time, at least for five thousand years, the Chukchi have lived on the Chukchi Peninsula, genetically closely related to the indigenous inhabitants of Alaska. Now the natives of the Chukotka Peninsula are the characters of numerous jokes, but meanwhile, this people until the beginning of the twentieth century was very warlike and repeatedly defeated the Russians who were actively developing Chukotka.

It is interesting that, recognizing the strength of the Russians, the Chukchi called people other than themselves, only them. All other peoples have not been honored with such an honor. Bloody clashes between Russians and Chukchi continued from the first meeting in 1644 until the end of the eighteenth century, when a fortress was built on one of the tributaries of the Great Anyui, in which from now on military contacts were replaced by trade ones. However, minor combat "misunderstandings" continued throughout the nineteenth century.

The life of the Chukchi is inseparable from the sea, to which they gave their name. Although, in fairness, it must be clarified that the way of life and even the self-name of the Chukchi living in the depths of the peninsula and on the coast are very different. The very name "Chukchi" is derived from the Chukchi word meaning "rich in deer". The coastal Chukchi, whose economy is based on fishing and hunting for sea animals, are called differently - "ankalyn", which means "dog breeders".

Fishing in Chukotka, according to those who have visited this remote corner of Russia, is great. True, this applies mainly to the rivers and lakes of the peninsula. Visiting fishermen rarely pay attention to the Chukchi Sea. This rich but harsh northern region, alas, cannot boast of an abundance of fish caught. Although… who knows, maybe due to global warming, the northern ice will recede, and the local we alth, including the sea, will become more accessible.