The White Sea belongs to the inland seas of the coldest Arctic Ocean. Such large rivers as Onega, Northern Dvina, Mezen and others flow into it. The largest bays are Dvinsky, Kandalaksha, Mezensky and Onega Bay. The coastline of the sea has a different landscape. In the northwestern part, the coast is rocky, high, but in the southeast, a low, shallow coast opens.
Geographical location of Onega Bay
Onega Bay is a bay located in the White Sea. Its length is approximately 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 gulf deeply cuts the mainland. It has an elongated shape and extends from the southeast to northwest. The White Sea-Baltic Canal connects the bay with the Baltic Sea. Onega Bay on the map has the following coordinates: 64 about 30 / s. w. and 36 about 30 / in. d.
Biological features of Onega Bay
There are about 1, 900 islands in the bay. For 6-7 months a year, the waters of Onega Bay are chained 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 Solovetsky Islands has a frontal zone, due to which the productivity of zoo and phytoplankton is very high. Fish species such as the White Sea herring and cod live in the area.
Entire colonies of various species of birds live on the coast, among which the largest population of polar terns, eels and klush.
Onega Bay plays an important role for a number of migratory and wintering birds. For wintering in these places ordinary eiders (the number of colonies are from 30 to 40 thousand individuals) and scavengers, whose population is about 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 the summer due to the migration of belugas from the Barents Sea. During this period, their number can reach 3, 500 individuals.
Ringed seal is also an inhabitant of these harsh places. You can meet her near the Solovetsky archipelago and in the inner part of the lip.
The islands
Most of the islands are treeless. Of the plants in these places, dwarf birch is most often found. Onega Bay has a huge number of islands, the most famous of them are:
- Solovetsky archipelago;
- about. Shuyostrov;
- about. Khedostrov;
- about. Cue;
- about. Majostrov;
- Big and Small Zhuzhmuy and others.
Fisheries
In the White Sea, fishing is not as developed as in the Barents. Therefore, the catch of the White Sea cod, herring and saffron cod does not have a significant impact on the decline in the population of these fish species. On a smaller scale, pink salmon, Atlantic salmon and whitefish are caught.
Serious threats
Poachers are one of the biggest threats to the salmon population. Illegal fishing leads to a significant reduction in this species.
Another major problem is oil pollution of the bay in the area of shipping lanes. This phenomenon is especially dangerous for birds stopping for wintering in wormwood. Oil waste can cause the death of migratory birds.
Water tourism and shipping can be of concern to birds during the breeding season.
