The focus of this article will be mysterious.Norwegian Sea. To which ocean does it belong - the Atlantic or the Arctic? What is the climate and other physiographic characteristics? And what sights is it famous for? Read about this and more in this article.
Where is the Norwegian Sea
On the belonging of the water area to one or anotherthe ocean is still controversial. The Great Soviet Encyclopedia in this regard has discrepancies with the generally accepted point of view. Thus, it draws the borders of the Arctic Ocean along a circular line between Norway - Shetland and the Faroe Islands - Iceland - Jan Mayen - Greenland. The World Hydrographic Organization defines the cordons of this gigantic Arctic water area in a slightly different way. In her view, the Norwegian Sea belongs to the Atlantic. After all, the Arctic Ocean stretches from the pole to the conditional line Greenland - Iceland - Spitsbergen Archipelago - Bear Island - the northern coast of Scandinavia. Thus, it can be stated that this is the marginal sea of the Atlantic. Moreover, it has similar hydrographic characteristics. For example, the Atlantic Gulf Stream enters it. The border between the Norwegian and Greenland Seas passes through Cape Gerpiri in eastern Iceland, the islands of Jan Mayen and Medvezhy.
Physical and geographical characteristics of the water area
Норвежское море граничит с Гренландским, Северным and the Barents. It lies on the continental shelf of Eurasia and covers an area of about a million and four hundred thousand square kilometers. The greatest depth in the Norwegian Sea is 3970 m, but on average this parameter is a kilometer and seven hundred meters. In addition, the water area is replete with shoals. The largest are Lofoten banks and the underwater plateau of Kopytov. The salinity of the Norwegian Sea is quite significant - thirty-five per thousand. Such a “tropical” indicator is explained by an insignificant flow of fresh rivers, and not by a high level of evaporation, as in the waters at the equator. Another interesting indicator of the Norwegian Sea are large tides - an average of 3.3 meters. There are many islands in the water area. The largest of them are Annoya, Søroy, Arnoya, Seylann, Lofoten, Ringvassoy. The shelf of the water area hides in its depths large reserves of oil, the development of which is engaged in Norway.
Weather in the Norwegian Sea
As the Big Russian Encyclopedia says, thisthe only non-freezing winter area of the Arctic Ocean. Despite the fact that most of the sea lies beyond the Arctic Circle, it is not ice bound. This phenomenon is caused by the Norwegian Current, which is an offshoot of the Gulf Stream. Warm waters from the Caribbean are a favorable factor for the species diversity of flora and fauna. However, contact with cold arctic air causes fog and high humidity. Seasonal temperature fluctuations here are insignificant. Winters are mild, with a predominance of south-westerly winds. But they often bring serious storms when the height of the waves reaches nine meters. And in the summer it's cool. If in winter the air temperature varies between the marks - 4 - + 4 degrees, then in July it barely warms up to + 10-12. There are less cloudy days and strong winds in the summer, but, of course, there can be no tanning or bathing. Diving is possible only in a heat-insulating suit.
Fauna and flora
Of course, the Norwegian Sea cannot boastsuch species diversity as the coral reefs of the Gulf of Thailand, but still it is more habitable than the adjacent waters of the Arctic Ocean. The warm Gulf Stream not only stores the positive temperature of the water in the polar latitudes, but also allows many species of plants and animals to exist. Sharks even swim here. From the plant world should be mentioned algae kelp, which is produced on an industrial scale, purple, fucus and others. In coastal areas, there are benthic crustaceans and mollusks, sea worms. Here lives and the largest jellyfish in the world - a giant cyanea. Lobster, lobster, crabs and spiny lobster, scallops and mussels are fished.
sights
What is of interest to the tourist is the Norwegiansea? The photo often presents fascinating pictures of fjords, braids, bays and capes. Sea with strong tides forms a rugged rocky coast. A variety of cruises aboard ocean liners offer fjord cruises and admire the polar day or the northern lights. No less remarkable and fishing in the Norwegian Sea. In the warm season, people from different countries come here to try their luck. Basically, hunting is for Atlantic salmon. You can see large mammals in the sea - finval, narwhal, blue whale, bowhead whale and killer whale. On the pebble beaches there are bird markets and rookeries of seals, belugas and other pinnipeds.
