The White Sea belongs to the inner seasCold Arctic Ocean. Such large rivers as the Onega, the Northern Dvina, the Mezen and others flow into it. The largest bays are Dvinsky, Kandalaksha, Mezen and Onega Bay. The coastline of the sea has a different landscape. In the north-western part of the coast is rocky, high, but in the south-east opens a low flat coast.
The geographical location of Onega Bay
The Onega Bay is a bay located inthe White Sea. Its length is about 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 deeply cuts the mainland.It has an elongated shape and extends from the south-east to north-west. The White Sea-Baltic Canal connects the bay with the Baltic Sea. The Onega Bay on the map has these coordinates: 64about30/with. sh. and 36about30/at. d.
Biological features of the Onega Bay
На территории залива насчитывается около 1 900 of the islands. For 6-7 months in a year, the waters of the Onega Bay are bound with ice. Despite this, benthos is very rich in species diversity. There are areas where the number of mussels is about 50 kg per square meter.
The White Sea Bay near the Solovki Islands hasfrontal zone, so that the productivity of zoo and phytoplankton is very high. Fish species such as the White Sea herring and cod live in this area.
On the coast live entire colonies of various species of birds, among which is the largest population of Arctic terns, divers and cliffs.
Онежская губа играет важную роль для целого ряда migratory and hibernating birds. For wintering in these places, common eider (the number of colonies is from 30 to 40 thousand individuals) and clerks, whose population is approximately 10,000 birds, stop. 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. In the water area there are about 8 groups of these mammals, 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 numbers can reach 3,500 individuals.
The ringed seal is also an inhabitant of these harsh places. You can meet her near the Solovki archipelago and in the inner part of the lip.
Islands
Most of the islands are treeless. Of the plants in these places most often dwarf birch. The Onega Bay has a huge number of islands, the most famous of which are:
- the archipelago Solovetsky;
- about. Shuyostrov;
- about. Headostrov;
- about. Cue;
- about. Myagostrov;
- Big and Small Zhuzhmuy and others.
Fishing
In the White Sea, fishing is not as developed as inBarents. Therefore, the catch of white sea cod, herring and navaga does not have a serious impact on the reduction of the population of these fish species. Smaller scales of salmon, Atlantic salmon and whitefish are caught on a smaller scale.
Serious threats
Poachers are one of the major threats to the salmon population. Illegal fishing leads to a significant reduction in this species.
Another major problem is oilpollution of the bay in the area of navigable waterways. This phenomenon is especially dangerous for birds staying for the winter in the polynyas. Oil waste can cause the death of migratory birds.
Anxiety to birds during the breeding season can be delivered by boating and shipping.
Ebbs and flows
The Onega Bay is a part of the White Sea, whichrefers to the basin of the Arctic Ocean. Even in summer, the temperature of this reservoir is rather low. Surface water warms up to 6-15 degrees, closer to the coastline, the temperature indicator can reach 18 degrees. Ice formation begins in October, and the freeze-up can last up to 7 months.
In the open sea, surface currents are very weak, their speed does not exceed 1 km / h, whereas in bays it increases.
The height of the tides can be from severalcentimeters to 3 meters, depending on the area of the water area. This leads to the fact that in narrow straits currents intensify. Ebb and flow - a fairly frequent phenomenon in this region. They are especially dangerous in shallow waters. During the day there are 2 reflux and the same tides.
