White Sea facts for kids
The White Sea is a cool sea located in the northwest part of Russia. It's like a big bay that connects to the larger Barents Sea. This sea is surrounded by different parts of Russia: Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The White Sea is completely inside Russia and is managed by different regions like Arkhangelsk, Murmansk Oblast, and the Republic of Karelia.
A very important city and port called Arkhangelsk is located on the White Sea. This port has been a key place for ships and trade for a long time. The White Sea-Baltic Canal is a special waterway that links the White Sea to the Baltic Sea, making it easier for ships to travel between these areas.
Did you know the White Sea is one of only four seas named after colors in English? The others are the Black Sea, the Red Sea, and the Yellow Sea.
Contents
Exploring the White Sea's Geography
The White Sea has four main parts, like big arms reaching inland.
- The Kandalaksha Gulf is in the western part. It's the deepest spot in the sea, going down about 340 meters (1,115 feet)!
- To the south, you'll find Onega Bay, where the Onega River flows in.
- In the southeast, the Dvina Bay is where the big Northern Dvina River meets the sea, right by the port of Arkhangelsk.
- On the eastern side, across from the Kola Peninsula, is Mezen Bay. The Mezen River and the Kuloy River both empty into this bay.
Other important rivers that flow into the White Sea include the Vyg, Niva, Umba, Varzuga, and Ponoy.
The bottom of the central White Sea and Dvina Bay is mostly covered with soft silt and sand. But if you go to the northern part, Kandalaksha Gulf, or Onega Bay, the bottom is a mix of sand and stones.
The White Sea has many islands, but most are quite small. The most famous group is the Solovetsky Islands. They are almost in the middle of the sea, close to the entrance of Onega Bay. Kiy Island in Onega Bay is special because it has a very old and important monastery. Velikiy Island, which means "Great Island," is the largest island in the Kandalaksha Gulf and is close to the shore.
Animals and Economy of the White Sea
The White Sea is home to many different kinds of life! It has over 700 types of small creatures called invertebrates (animals without backbones), about 60 kinds of fish, and 5 types of marine mammals.
People living near the White Sea do some fishing. They mostly catch animals like the harp seal, ringed seal, herring, saffron cod, a small fish called European smelt, Atlantic cod, and Atlantic salmon. There's also a growing business around collecting and using seaweed from the sea.
The White Sea is a very important place for transportation in northwestern Russia. The White Sea – Baltic Canal is a key waterway that connects the White Sea, through Lake Onega, to the Baltic Sea and the big city of Saint Petersburg. From the Baltic Sea, other waterways like the Volga–Baltic Waterway can take ships to the Volga River and even to the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Sea of Azov.
The main ports on the White Sea are Arkhangelsk, Belomorsk, Onega, Mezen, Kem, Kandalaksha, and Umba. Even though the sea freezes in winter, ships can still travel all year round! This is thanks to special powerful boats called icebreakers that cut through the ice.
Images for kids
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Two satellite photos of the White Sea taken on April 23, 2000 (top) and May 3, 2001 (bottom)
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A map of the White Sea from 1635
See also
In Spanish: Mar Blanco para niños
