Seas of Russia - Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Physical and geographical description Sea of ​​Okhotsk summary

This natural reservoir is considered one of the deepest and largest in Russia. The coolest Far Eastern sea is located between the waters of the Bering and the Sea of ​​Japan.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk separates the territories of the Russian Federation and Japan and is the most important port point for our country.

After reading the information in the article, you can learn about the richest resources Sea of ​​Okhotsk and history of reservoir formation.

About the title

Previously, the sea had other names: Kamchatskoe, Lamskoe, Hokkai among the Japanese.

The current name of the sea was given by the name of the Okhota River, which in turn comes from the Even word "okat", which translates as "river". The former name (Lamskoe) also came from the Even word "lam" (translated as "sea"). Hokkai literally translates to "North Sea" in Japanese. However, due to the fact that this Japanese name now refers to the sea of ​​the North Atlantic Ocean, its name was changed to Ohotsuku-kai, which is an adaptation of the Russian name to the norms of Japanese phonetics.

Geography

Before proceeding to the description of the richest resources of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, we briefly present its geographical position.

The reservoir, located between the Bering and the Seas of Japan, strongly goes into the land of the mainland. The arc of the Kuril Islands separates the waters of the sea from the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The reservoir has for the most part natural boundaries, and its conditional boundaries are with the Sea of ​​Japan.

The Kuriles, which are about 3 dozen small areas of land and separating the ocean from the sea, are located in a seismically hazardous zone due to the presence of a large number of volcanoes on them. In addition, the waters of these two natural reservoirs are separated by the island of Hokkaido and Kamchatka. largest island Sea of ​​Okhotsk - Sakhalin. The largest rivers flowing into the sea are Amur, Okhota, Bolshaya and Penzhina.

Description

The area of ​​the sea is approximately 1603 thousand square meters. km, the volume of water - 1318 thousand cubic meters. km. The maximum depth is 3916 meters, the average is 821 m. The type of sea is mixed, continental-marginal.

Several bays pass along the rather even coastal boundary of the reservoir. The northern part of the coast is represented by many rocks and rather sharp cliffs. Storm is a frequent and quite common occurrence for this sea.

Features of nature and all resources of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are partly related to climate conditions and unusual terrain.

For the most part, the seashores are rocky and high. From the sea, from afar on the horizon, they are distinguished by black stripes, framed on top by brownish green spots of sparse vegetation. Only in some places (western coast of Kamchatka, northern part of Sakhalin) coastline is low-lying, fairly wide areas.

The bottom in some respects is similar to the bottom of the Sea of ​​Japan: in many places there are hollows under water, which indicate that the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe present sea in the Quaternary period was above sea level, and huge rivers flowed in this place - Penzhina and Amur.

Sometimes, during earthquakes, waves appear in the ocean, reaching several tens of meters in height. Related to this is an interesting historical fact. In 1780, one of these waves during an earthquake deep into the island of Urup (300 meters from the coast) brought the ship "Natalia", which remained on land. This fact is confirmed by the record preserved from those times.

Geologists believe that the territory of the eastern part of the sea is one of the most "troubled" areas on the globe. And today quite large movements of the earth's crust are taking place here. In this part of the ocean, underwater earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are often observed.

A bit of history

The rich natural resources of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk began to attract the attention of people from its very discovery, which occurred during the first campaigns of the Cossacks to the Pacific Ocean through Siberia. It was then called the Lam Sea. Then, after the discovery of Kamchatka, trips by sea and coast to this richest peninsula and to the mouth of the river. Penzhins have become more frequent. In those days, the sea already bore the names Penzhinskoe and Kamchatskoe.

After leaving Yakutsk, the Cossacks moved east not straight through the taiga and mountains, but along the winding rivers and channels between them. Such a caravan path eventually led them to a river called the Hunt, and along it they were already moving to the seashore. That is why this reservoir was named Okhotsk. Since then, many significant and important major centers. The name that has been preserved since then testifies to the important historical role of the port and the river, from which people began the development of this vast, richest sea area.

Features of nature

Natural resources Sea of ​​Okhotsk are quite attractive. This is especially true for the regions of the Kuril Islands. This is a very special world, consisting of a total of 30 large and small islands. This range also includes rocks of volcanic origin. Today the islands have active volcanoes(about 30), which clearly indicates that the bowels of the earth are here and now restless.

Some islands have underground hot springs (temperature up to 30-70°C), many of which have healing properties.

Very severe climatic conditions for life on the Kuril Islands (especially in the northern part). Fogs are kept here for a long time, and in winter very often there are strong storms.

Rivers

Many rivers, mostly small ones, flow into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. This is the reason for the relatively small continental flow (about 600 cubic km per year) of water into it, and about 65% of it belongs to the Amur River.

Other relatively large rivers are Penzhina, Uda, Okhota, Bolshaya (in Kamchatka), which carry a much smaller volume into the sea. fresh water. Water flows to a greater extent in spring and early summer.

Fauna

The biological resources of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are very diverse. This is the most biologically productive sea in Russia. It provides 40% of domestic and more than half of the Far Eastern catches of fish, crustaceans and mollusks. At the same time, it is believed that the biological potential of the sea is underutilized today.

A huge variety of depths and bottom topography, hydrological and climatic conditions in some parts of the sea, a good supply of fish food - all this led to the richness of the ichthyofauna of these places. The northern part of the sea contains 123 species of fish in its waters, the southern part - 300 species. Approximately 85 species are endemic. This sea is a real paradise for lovers of sea fishing.

Fishing, seafood production and production of salmon caviar are actively developing on the territory of the sea. The inhabitants of the sea waters of this region: pink salmon, chum salmon, cod, sockeye salmon, flounder, coho, pollock, herring, saffron cod, chinook salmon, squid, crabs. On the Shantar Islands, hunting (limited) for fur seals is carried out, and the extraction of kelp, mollusks and sea urchins is also becoming popular.

Of the animals, the white whale, seal and seal are of particular commercial value.

Flora

The resources of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are inexhaustible. Vegetable world reservoir: in the northern part, arctic species predominate, in the southern part - to a greater extent, species of the temperate region. Plankton (larvae, mollusks, crustaceans, etc.) provides abundant food for fish throughout the year. The phytoplankton of the sea is represented mainly by diatoms, and the bottom flora contains many species of red, brown and green algae, as well as extensive meadows of sea grass. In total, the composition of the coastal flora of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk includes about 300 species of vegetation.

In comparison with the Bering Sea, the benthic fauna here is more diverse, and in comparison with the Sea of ​​Japan, it is less rich. The main food fields for deep-sea fish are the northern shallow waters, as well as the East Sakhalin and western Kamchatka shelves.

Mineral resources

The mineral resources of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are especially rich. Only the water of the sea contains almost all the elements of the table of D. I. Mendeleev.

The bottom of the sea has exceptional reserves of globigerin and diamond silts, consisting mainly of shells of unicellular tiny algae and protozoa. Sludge is a valuable raw material for the production of insulating building materials and high quality cement.

The shelf of the sea is also promising for prospecting for hydrocarbon deposits. The rivers of the Aldan-Okhotsk watershed and the lower reaches of the Amur have long been famous for placers of valuable metals, which indicates that there is a possibility of finding underwater ore deposits in the sea. Perhaps there are still many unexplored raw materials in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

It is known that the lower shelf horizons and part of the continental slope adjoining them are enriched in phosphorite concretions. There is another more realistic prospect - the extraction of rare elements contained in the bone remains of mammals and fish, and such accumulations are found in deep-sea sediments of the Yuzhno-Okhotskaya basin.

It is impossible to remain silent about amber. The very first finds of this mineral on the eastern coast of Sakhalin date back to the middle of the 19th century. At that time, representatives of the Amur expedition worked here. It should be noted that Sakhalin amber is very beautiful - it is perfectly polished, cherry-red and highly appreciated by specialists. The largest pieces of wood fossil resin (up to 0.5 kg) were discovered by geologists near the village of Ostromysovsky. Amber is also found in the oldest deposits of the Taigonos Peninsula, as well as in Kamchatka.

Conclusion

In short, the resources of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are extremely rich and diverse, it is impossible to list all of them, let alone describe them.

Today, the importance of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk in the national economy is determined by the use of its richest natural resources and sea transportation. The main wealth of this sea are game animals, primarily fish. However, already today, a rather high level of danger of pollution of the sea fishing zones with oil products as a result of discharges of oily waters by fishing vessels creates a situation that requires certain measures to increase the level of environmental safety of the work being carried out.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is the sea of ​​the Pacific Ocean, separated from it by the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands and the island of Hokkaido.
The sea washes the shores of Russia and Japan.
The area is 1603 thousand km². The average depth is 1780 m, the maximum depth is 3916 m. The western part of the sea is located above the gentle continuation of the continent and has a shallow depth. In the center of the sea are the Deryugin depressions (in the south) and the TINRO depression. In the eastern part there is the Kuril basin, in which the depth is maximum.

Sea of ​​Okhotsk map Far East

In the chain of our Far Eastern seas, it occupies a middle position, protrudes quite deeply into the Asian continent, and is separated from the Pacific Ocean by the arc of the Kuril Islands. The Sea of ​​Okhotsk has natural boundaries almost everywhere, and only in the south-west from the Sea of ​​Japan is it separated by conditional lines: Cape Yuzhny - Cape Tyk and in the Laperouse Strait Cape Crillon - Cape Soya. The southeastern boundary of the sea runs from Cape Nosyappu (Hokkaido Island) through the Kuril Islands to Cape Lopatka (Kamchatka), while all passages between the island. Hokkaido and Kamchatka are included in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Within these limits, the expanse of the sea extends from north to south from 62°42′ to 43°43′ N. sh. and from west to east from 134°50′ to 164°45′ E. e. The sea is considerably elongated from the southwest to the northeast and expanded approximately in its central part.

GENERAL DATA, GEOGRAPHY, ISLANDS
The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is one of the largest and deepest seas in our country. Its area is 1603 thousand km2, volume 1318 thousand km3, average depth 821 m, maximum depth 3916 m. marginal type.

There are few islands in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The largest border island is Sakhalin. The Kuril ridge has about 30 large, many small islands and rocks. The Kuril Islands are located in the seismic activity belt, which includes more than 30 active and 70 extinct volcanoes. Seismic activity is manifested on the islands and under water. In the latter case, tsunami waves are formed. In addition to the named "marginal" islands in the sea, there are the islands of Shantarsky, Spafaryeva, Zavyalova, Yamsky and the small island of Iona - the only one of them remote from the coast.
With a large length, the coastline is indented relatively weakly. At the same time, it forms several large bays (Aniva, Patience, Sakhalin, Academies, Tugursky, Ayan, Shelikhov) and bays (Udskaya, Tauiskaya, Gizhiginskaya and Penzhinskaya).

Atsonopuri volcano, Iturup Island, Kuril Islands

From October to May-June, the northern part of the sea is covered with ice. The southeastern part practically does not freeze.

The coast in the north is strongly indented; in the northeast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, its largest bay, Shelikhov Bay, is located. Of the smaller bays of the northern part, the most famous are the Eyriney Bay and the bays of Shelting, Zabiyaka, Babushkin, Kekurny.

In the east, the coastline of the Kamchatka Peninsula is practically devoid of bays. In the west, the coastline is heavily indented, forming the Sakhalin Bay and the Shantar Sea. In the south, the largest are Aniva and Patience bays, Odessa Bay on Iturup Island.

Fishing (salmon, herring, pollock, capelin, navaga, etc.), seafood (Kamchatka crab).

Extraction of hydrocarbon raw materials on the shelf of Sakhalin.

The rivers Amur, Okhota, Kukhtui flow into it.

Sea of ​​Okhotsk Cape Velikan, Sakhalin Island

Main ports:
on the mainland - Magadan, Ayan, Okhotsk (port point); on the island of Sakhalin - Korsakov, on Kuril Islands- Severo-Kurilsk.
The sea is located on the Okhotsk subplate, which is part of the Eurasian plate. The crust under most of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is of continental type.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is named after the Okhota River, which in turn comes from Evensk. okat - "river". Previously, it was called Lamsky (from the Evensk. lam - "sea"), as well as the Kamchatka Sea. The Japanese traditionally called this sea Hokkai (北海), literally "North Sea". But since this name now refers to the North Sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean, they changed the name of the Sea of ​​​​Okhotsk to Ohotsuku-kai (オホーツク海), which is an adaptation of the Russian name to the norms of Japanese phonetics.

Cape Medyay Sea of ​​Okhotsk

Territorial regime
The water area of ​​the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is inland waters, the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone of two coastal states - Russia and Japan. According to its international legal status, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is closest to a semi-enclosed sea (Article 122 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea), since it is surrounded by two or more states and mainly consists of a territorial sea and an exclusive economic zone of two states, but it is not one, since connected to the rest of the world's oceans not by a single narrow passage, but by a series of passages.
In the central part of the sea, at a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines, there is an area elongated in the meridional direction, traditionally referred to in the English literature as Peanut Hole, which is not included in the exclusive economic zone and is open sea outside the jurisdiction of Russia; in particular, any country in the world has the right to fish here and conduct other activities permitted by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, excluding activities on the shelf. Since this region is an important element for the reproduction of the population of some species of commercial fish, the governments of some countries expressly prohibit their vessels from fishing in this area of ​​the sea.

On November 13-14, 2013, the Subcommittee established within the framework of the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf agreed with the arguments of the Russian delegation as part of the consideration of the application of the Russian Federation to recognize the bottom of the above section of the high seas as a continuation of the Russian continental shelf. On March 15, 2014, the 33rd session of the Commission in 2014 adopted a positive decision on the Russian application, first filed in 2001, and filed in a new edition in early 2013, and the central part of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk outside the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation was recognized Russian continental shelf.
Consequently, in the central part, other states are prohibited from extracting "sedentary" biological resources (for example, crab) and developing subsoil. Catching other biological resources, such as fish, is not subject to the restrictions of the continental shelf. Consideration of the application on the merits became possible due to the position of Japan, which, by an official note dated May 23, 2013, confirmed its consent for the Commission to consider the essence of the application without regard to resolving the issue of the Kuril Islands. Sea of ​​Okhotsk

temperature and salinity
In winter, the water temperature at the sea surface ranges from -1.8 to 2.0 °C, in summer the temperature rises to 10-18 °C.
Below the surface layer, at a depth of about 50-150 meters, there is an intermediate cold layer of water, the temperature of which does not change during the year and is about −1.7 °C.
The waters of the Pacific Ocean entering the sea through the Kuril Straits form deep water masses with a temperature of 2.5 - 2.7 ° C (at the very bottom - 1.5-1.8 ° C). In coastal areas with significant river runoff, the water temperature is around 0 °C in winter and 8-15 °C in summer.
The salinity of surface sea waters is 32.8-33.8 ppm. The salinity of the intermediate layer is 34.5‰. Deep waters have a salinity of 34.3 - 34.4 ‰. Coastal waters have a salinity of less than 30 ‰.

RESCUE OPERATION
Incident in December 2010 - January 2011
Icebreaker "Krasin" (year of construction 1976), analogue of the icebreaker "Admiral Makarov" (year of construction 1975)

From December 30, 2010 to January 31, 2011, a rescue operation was carried out in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, which received extensive media coverage.
The operation itself was large-scale, according to the Deputy Minister of Transport Viktor Olersky and the head of the Federal Agency for Fishery Andrei Krayny, rescue operations on such a scale have not been carried out in Russia for 40 years.
The cost of the operation was in the range of 150-250 million rubles, 6,600 tons of diesel fuel were spent on it.
15 ships, on which there were about 700 people, were captured by ice.
The operation was carried out by the forces of the icebreaking flotilla: the icebreakers Admiral Makarov and Krasin, the icebreaker Magadan and the tanker Victoria worked as auxiliary vessels. Coordinating Headquarters rescue operation was in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the work was carried out under the leadership of the Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Viktor Olersky.

Most of the vessels got out on their own, the icebreakers rescued four vessels: the trawler Cape Elizabeth, the research vessel Professor Kizevetter (first half of January, Admiral Makarov), the refrigerator Coast of Hope and the mother ship Sodruzhestvo.
The first aid was provided to the seiner Cape Elizabeth, whose captain led his vessel after the introduction of a ban on entering the area.
As a result, Cape Elizabeth was frozen into ice in the area of ​​the Sakhalin Bay. Sea of ​​Okhotsk

The second liberated vessel was the Professor Kizevetter, whose captain, as a result of the investigation, was deprived of his diploma for six months.
In the area of ​​January 14, the icebreakers gathered together the remaining ships in distress, after which the icebreakers escorted both vessels of the caravan on a coupler.
After the “whiskers” of the “Commonwealth” broke off, it was decided to first drive a refrigerator through heavy ice.
Wiring was suspended around January 20 due to weather conditions, but on January 24, it was possible to bring the refrigerator "Coast of Hope" to clean water.
On January 25, after bunkering, the Admiral Makarov returned to escort the mother ship.
On January 26, the towing "whiskers" broke again, we had to lose time for the delivery of new ones by helicopter.
On January 31, the floating base Sodruzhestvo was also taken out of ice captivity, the operation ended at 11:00 Vladivostok time.

HOKKAIDO ISLAND
Hokkaido (Jap. “North Sea Governorate”), formerly known as Ezo, in the old Russian transcription Iesso, Ieddo, Iyozo, is the second largest island in Japan. Until 1859, Matsumae was also called by the name of the ruling feudal clan that owned the castle town of Matsumae - in the old Russian transcription - Matsmai, Matsmai.
It is separated from the island of Honshu by the Sangar Strait, however, between these islands, the Seikan tunnel is laid under the seabed. largest city in Hokkaido administrative center prefecture of the same name - Sapporo. The northern coast of the island is washed by the cold Sea of ​​Okhotsk and faces the Pacific coast of the Russian Far East. The territory of Hokkaido is almost equally divided between mountains and plains. Moreover, the mountains are located in the center of the island and stretch in ridges from north to south. The highest peak is Mount Asahi (2290 m). In the western part of the island, along the Ishikari River (length 265 km), there is a valley with the same name, in the eastern part, along the Tokati River (156 km) - another valley. The southern part of Hokkaido is formed by the Oshima Peninsula, separated by the Sangar Strait from Honshu.
The island is the easternmost point of Japan - Cape Nosappu-Saki. Also located on it is the extreme north point Japan - Cape Soya.

Red Cape, Three Brothers Islands

SHELEKHOVA BAY
Shelikhov Bay is a bay of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk between the coast of Asia and the base of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The bay got its name in honor of G. I. Shelikhov.
Length - 650 km, width at the entrance - 130 km, maximum width - 300 km, depths up to 350 m.
In the northern part, the Taigonos Peninsula is divided into the Gizhiginskaya Bay and the Penzhina Bay. The rivers Gizhiga, Penzhina, Yama, Malkachan flow into the bay.
Covered with ice from December to May. The tides are irregular, semi-diurnal. In the Penzhina Bay, they reach the maximum value for the Pacific Ocean.
The bay is rich in fish resources. Fishing objects are herring, halibut, flounder, Far Eastern saffron cod.
In the southern part of the Shelikhov Bay there is a small archipelago of the Yamskiye Islands.
In Shelikhov Bay, tides reach 14 m.

Sakhalin Bay, swans have arrived Sea of ​​Okhotsk

SAKHALIN BAY
Sakhalin Bay is a bay of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk between the coast of Asia north of the mouth of the Amur and the northern tip of Sakhalin Island.
It is wide in the northern part, narrows to the south and passes into the Amur Estuary. Width up to 160 km Nevelskoy Strait connected with the Tatar Strait and the Sea of ​​Japan.
From November to June it is covered with ice.
The tides are irregular daily, up to 2-3 m.
Industrial fishing (salmon, cod) is carried out in the waters of the bay.
On the shore of the bay is the port of Moskalvo.

Aniva Bay, Korsakov Port, Sakhalin Island

ANIVA BAY
Aniva is a bay of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk south coast Sakhalin Islands, between the peninsulas of Crillon and Tonino-Anivsky. From the south it is wide open to the La Perouse Strait.
The origin of the name of the bay is most likely connected with the Ainu words "an" and "willow". The first is usually translated as "available, located", and the second as "mountain range, rock, peak"; thus, "Aniva" can be translated as "having ridges" or "located among the ridges (mountains)".
Width 104 km, length 90 km, maximum depth 93 meters. The narrowed part of the bay is known as Salmon Bay. The warm current Soya affects the temperature regime and the dynamics of currents inside the bay, which is changeable.

Sakhalin (Japanese 樺太，Chinese 库页/庫頁) is an island near east coast Asia. Part of the Sakhalin region. The largest island in Russia. It is washed by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan. It is separated from mainland Asia by the Tatar Strait (in the narrowest part, the Nevelskoy Strait, it is 7.3 km wide and freezes in winter); from the Japanese island of Hokkaido - by the La Perouse Strait.

The island got its name from the Manchu name of the Amur River - "Sakhalyan-ulla", which means "Black River" - this name, printed on the map, was erroneously attributed to Sakhalin, and in further editions of the maps it was already printed as the name of the island.

The Japanese call Sakhalin Karafuto, this name goes back to the Ainu "kamuy-kara-puto-ya-mosir", which means "land of the god of the mouth." In 1805, a Russian ship under the command of I.F. Kruzenshtern explored most of the coast of Sakhalin and concluded that Sakhalin was a peninsula. In 1808, Japanese expeditions led by Matsuda Denjuro and Mamiya Rinzo proved that Sakhalin was an island. Most European cartographers were skeptical of the Japanese data. For a long time, on various maps, Sakhalin was designated either as an island or a peninsula. Only in 1849 did the expedition under the command of G. I. Nevelsky put an end to this issue, passing on the military transport ship Baikal between Sakhalin and the mainland. This strait was subsequently named after Nevelskoy.

The island is elongated meridionally from Cape Crillon in the south to Cape Elizabeth in the north. The length is 948 km, the width is from 26 km (the Poyasok isthmus) to 160 km (at the latitude of the village of Lesogorskoye), the area is 76.4 thousand km².

BAY OF PATIENCE
Patience Bay is a bay of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk near the south east coast Sakhalin Islands. In the eastern part it is partially bounded by the Patience Peninsula.
The bay was discovered in 1643 by the Dutch navigator M. G. De Vries and named by him the Gulf of Patience, since his expedition had to wait here for a long time thick fog, which made it impossible to continue sailing.
The bay is 65 km long, about 130 km wide, and up to 50 m deep. The Poronai River flows into the bay.
In winter, the bay freezes over.
The waters of the bay are rich in biological resources, including chum salmon and pink salmon.
The port of Poronaysk is located in Patience Bay. Sea of ​​Okhotsk

- a chain of islands between the Kamchatka Peninsula and the island of Hokkaido, separating the Sea of ​​Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean in a slightly convex arc.
The length is about 1200 km. The total area is 10.5 thousand km². To the south of them is the state border of the Russian Federation with Japan.
The islands form two parallel ridges: the Greater Kuril and the Lesser Kuril. Includes 56 islands. They are of great military-strategic and economic importance. The Kuril Islands are part of the Sakhalin region of Russia. southern islands archipelago - Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai group - are disputed by Japan, which includes them in the Hokkaido prefecture.

Relate to the regions of the Far North
The climate on the islands is marine, rather severe, with cold and long winters, cool summers, and high humidity. The mainland monsoon climate undergoes significant changes here. In the southern part of the Kuril Islands, frosts in winter can reach -25 ° C, the average temperature in February is -8 ° C. In the northern part, the winter is milder, with frosts down to -16 ° C and -7 ° C in February.
In winter, the islands are affected by the Aleutian baric minimum, the effect of which weakens by June.
The average temperature in August in the southern part of the Kuril Islands is +17 °C, in the north - +10 °C.

List of islands with an area of ​​more than 1 km² in the direction from north to south.
Name, Area, km², height, Latitude, Longitude
Great Kuril Ridge
northern group
Atlasova 150 2339 50°52" 155°34"
Shumshu 388 189 50°45" 156°21"
Paramushir 2053 1816 50°23" 155°41"
Antsiferova 7 747 50°12" 154°59"
Macanrushi 49 1169 49°46" 154°26"
Onecotan 425 1324 49°27" 154°46"
Harimkotan 68 1157 49°07" 154°32"
Chirinkotan 6 724 48°59" 153°29"
Ekarma 30 1170 48°57" 153°57"
Shiashkotan 122 934 48°49" 154°06"

middle group
Raikoke 4.6 551 48°17" 153°15"
Matua 52 1446 48°05" 153°13"
Russhua 67 948 47°45" 153°01"
Ushishir Islands 5 388 — —
Ryponkicha 1.3 121 47°32" 152°50"
Yankich 3.7 388 47°31" 152°49"
Ketoi 73 1166 47°20" 152°31"
Simushir 353 1539 46°58" 152°00"
Broughton 7 800 46°43" 150°44"
Black Brothers Islands 37,749 — —
Chirpoy 21 691 46°30" 150°55"
Brat-Chirpoev 16 749 46°28" 150°50"

Southern group
Urup 1450 1426 45°54" 149°59"
Iturup 3318.8 1634 45°00" 147°53"
Kunashir 1495.24 1819 44°05" 145°59"

Small Kuril Ridge
Shikotan 264.13 412 43°48" 146°45"
Polonsky 11.57 16 43°38" 146°19"
Green 58.72 24 43°30" 146°08"
Tanfilyev 12.92 15 43°26" 145°55"
Yuri 10.32 44 43°25" 146°04"
Anuchina 2.35 33 43°22" 146°00"

Geological structure
The Kuril Islands are a typical ensimatic island arc at the edge of the Okhotsk plate. It sits above a subduction zone where the Pacific Plate is being swallowed up. Most of the islands are mountainous. The highest height is 2339 m - Atlasov Island, Alaid volcano. The Kuril Islands are located in the Pacific volcanic ring of fire in a zone of high seismic activity: out of 68 volcanoes, 36 are active, there are hot mineral springs. Large tsunamis are not uncommon. The most famous are the tsunami of November 5, 1952 in Paramushir and the Shikotan tsunami of October 5, 1994. The last major tsunami occurred on November 15, 2006 in Simushir.

DETAILED GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA OF OKHOTSK, DESCRIPTION OF THE SEA
Basic physical and geographical features.
The straits connecting the Sea of ​​Okhotsk with the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of ​​Japan and their depths are of great importance, since they determine the possibility of water exchange. The Nevelskoy and La Perouse straits are comparatively narrow and shallow. The width of the Nevelskoy Strait (between Capes Lazarev and Pogibi) is only about 7 km. The width of the La Perouse Strait is somewhat larger - about 40 km, and the greatest depth is 53 m.

At the same time, the total width of the Kuril Straits is about 500 km, and the maximum depth of the deepest of them (Bussol Strait) exceeds 2300 m. Thus, the possibility of water exchange between the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is incomparably less than between the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. However, even the depth of the deepest of the Kuril Straits is much less than the maximum depth of the sea, therefore, r, which separates the sea basin from the ocean.
The most important for water exchange with the ocean are the straits of Bussol and Krusenstern, as they have the largest area and depth. The depth of the Bussol Strait was indicated above, and the depth of the Kruzenshtern Strait is 1920 m. The Friza, Fourth Kuril, Rikord and Nadezhda straits are of less importance, the depths of which are more than 500 m. The depths of the remaining straits generally do not exceed 200 m, and the areas are insignificant.

The shores of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, which are not identical in external forms and structure, in different regions belong to different geomorphological types. From fig. 38 shows that for the most part these are abrasion shores altered by the sea, only in the west of Kamchatka and in the east of Sakhalin there are accumulative shores. In general, the sea is surrounded by high and steep shores. In the north and northwest, rocky ledges descend directly to the sea. A less high, and then a low-lying mainland coast approaches the sea near the Sakhalin Bay. The southeastern coast of Sakhalin is low, and the northeastern coast is low. very abrupt. The northeastern coast of Hokkaido is predominantly low-lying. The coast of the southern part of western Kamchatka has the same character, but its northern part is distinguished by some elevation of the coast.

The bottom relief of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is varied and uneven. In general, it is characterized by the following main features. The northern part of the sea is a continental shelf - an underwater continuation of the Asian mainland. The width of the continental shoal in the area of ​​the Ayano-Okhotsk coast is approximately 100 miles, in the area of ​​the Uda Bay - 140 miles. Between the meridians of Okhotsk and Magadan, its width increases to 200 miles. From the western edge of the basin of the sea is the island sandbar of Sakhalin, from the eastern edge - the continental shelf of Kamchatka. The shelf occupies about 22% of the bottom area. The rest, most (about 70%) of the sea is located within the continental slope (from 200 to 1500 m), on which separate underwater heights, depressions and trenches stand out.
The deepest South part sea ​​deeper than 2500 m, which is a section of the bed, occupies 8% of the total area. It is elongated as a strip along the Kuril Islands, gradually narrowing from 200 km against about. Iturup up to 80 km against the Krusenstern Strait. Great depths and significant slopes of the bottom distinguish the southwestern part of the sea from the northeastern part, which lies on the continental shelf.
Of the large elements of the relief of the bottom of the central part of the sea, two underwater hills stand out - the Academy of Sciences of the USSR and the Institute of Oceanology. Together with the protrusion of the continental slope, they determine the division of the sea basin into three basins: the northeastern TINRO basin, the northwestern Deryugin basin, and the southern deep-water Kuril basin. The depressions are connected by gutters: Makarov, P. Schmidt and Lebed. To the northeast of the TINRO depression, the Shelikhov Bay trough extends.

Kamchatka, race on the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, Berengia 2013

The least deep TINRO basin is located to the west of Kamchatka. Its bottom is a plain lying at a depth of about 850 m with a maximum depth of 990 m. The Deryugin Depression is located to the east of the underwater base of Sakhalin. Its bottom is a flat, elevated plain at the edges, lying on average at a depth of 1700 m, the maximum depth of the depression is 1744 m. The deepest is the Kuril basin. This is a huge flat plain, lying at a depth of about 3300 m. Its width in the western part is about 120 miles, its length in the northeast direction is about 600 miles.

The hill of the Institute of Oceanology has a rounded shape, it is extended in the latitudinal direction by almost 200 miles, and in the meridional direction by about 130 miles. The minimum depth above it is about 900 m. The upland of the USSR Academy of Sciences is indented by the peaks of underwater valleys. A remarkable feature of the relief of the hills is the presence of their flat tops, which occupy a large area.

CLIMATE OF THE SEA OF Okhotsk
By its location, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is located in the monsoon climate zone of temperate latitudes, which is significantly influenced by the physical and geographical features of the sea. Thus, a significant part of it in the west deeply protrudes into the mainland and lies relatively close to the cold pole of the Asian land, so the main source of cold for the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is in the west, and not in the north. The relatively high ridges of Kamchatka make it difficult for warm Pacific air to penetrate. Only in the southeast and south is the sea open to the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of ​​Japan, from where a significant amount of heat enters it. However, the effect of cooling factors is stronger than warming factors, so the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is generally the coldest of the Far Eastern seas. At the same time, its large meridional extent causes significant spatial differences in the synoptic situation and meteorological indicators in each season. In the cold part of the year, from October to April, the Siberian anticyclone and the Aleutian low act on the sea. The influence of the latter extends mainly to the southeastern part of the sea. Such a distribution of large-scale baric systems determines the dominance of strong, stable northwestern and northern winds, often reaching storm strength. Low winds and calms are almost completely absent, especially in January and February. In winter, the wind speed is usually 10-11 m/s.

The dry and cold Asian winter monsoon significantly cools the air over the northern and northwestern regions of the sea. In the coldest month (January), the average air temperature in the northwest of the sea is −20–25°, in the central regions −10–15°, only in the southeastern part of the sea it is −5–6°, which is explained by the warming effect Pacific Ocean.

The autumn-winter time is characterized by the emergence of cyclones of predominantly continental origin. They entail intensification, winds, and sometimes a decrease in air temperature, but the weather remains clear and dry, as they bring in continental air from the chilled mainland of Asia. In March-April, large-scale baric fields are restructured. The Siberian anticyclone is collapsing and the Honolulu High is getting stronger. As a result, during the warm season (May to October), the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is under the influence of the Honolulu High and the area of ​​low pressure located over Eastern Siberia. In accordance with this distribution of the centers of action of the atmosphere, weak southeasterly winds prevail over the sea at this time. Their speed usually does not exceed 6-7 m/s. Most often these winds are observed in June and July, although stronger northwesterly and northern winds. In general, the Pacific (summer) monsoon is weaker than the Asian (winter) monsoon, since the horizontal pressure gradients are small in the warm season.

bay Nagaevo

In summer, the air warms up unevenly over the entire sea. The average monthly air temperature in August decreases from southwest to northeast from 18° in the south to 12–14° in the center and to 10–10.5° in the northeast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. In the warm season, oceanic cyclones quite often pass over the southern part of the sea, which is associated with an increase in wind to a storm, which can last up to 5-8 days. The predominance of southeasterly winds in the spring-summer season leads to significant cloudiness, precipitation, and fog. Monsoon winds and stronger winter cooling of the western part of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk compared to the eastern part are important climatic features of this sea.
Quite a few mostly small rivers flow into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, therefore, with such a significant volume of its waters, the continental runoff is relatively small. It is equal to approximately 600 km3/year, while about 65% is provided by the Amur. Other relatively large rivers - Penzhina, Okhota, Uda, Bolshaya (in Kamchatka) - bring much less fresh water into the sea. It arrives mainly in spring and early summer. At this time, the influence of continental runoff is most noticeable, mainly in the coastal zone, near the mouth areas. major rivers.

Geographical position, large length along the meridian, monsoonal change of winds and good connection of the sea with the Pacific Ocean through the Kuril Straits are the main natural factors that most significantly affect the formation of the hydrological conditions of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The values ​​of heat input and output in the sea are determined mainly by radiative heating and cooling of the sea. The heat brought by the Pacific waters is of subordinate importance. However, for the water balance of the sea, the inflow and outflow of water through the Kuril Straits plays a decisive role. The details and quantitative indicators of water exchange through the Kuril Straits have not yet been studied enough, but the main ways of water exchange through the straits are known. The flow of surface Pacific waters into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk occurs mainly through the northern straits, in particular through the First Kuril. In the straits of the middle part of the ridge, both the inflow of Pacific waters and the outflow of Okhotsk waters are observed. Thus, in the surface layers of the Third and Fourth Kuril Straits, apparently, there is a runoff of water from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, while in the bottom layers there is an inflow, and in the Bussol Strait, on the contrary: in the surface layers, an inflow, in the deep layers, a drain. In the southern part of the ridge, mainly through the straits of Ekaterina and Friza, there is mainly a runoff of water from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The intensity of water exchange through the straits can vary significantly. In general, in the upper layers of the southern part of the Kuril ridge, the runoff of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk waters predominates, and in the upper layers of the northern part of the ridge, Pacific waters enter. In the deep layers, the influx of Pacific waters generally prevails.
The inflow of Pacific waters largely affects the distribution of temperature, salinity, formation of the structure and general circulation of the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

Cape Stolbchaty, Kunashir Island, Kuril Islands

Hydrological characteristic.
The sea surface temperature generally decreases from south to north. In winter, almost everywhere, the surface layers cool down to a freezing temperature of −1.5–1.8°. Only in the southeastern part of the sea does it remain around 0°, and near the northern Kuril Straits, the water temperature reaches 1–2° under the influence of the Pacific waters penetrating here.

Spring warming at the beginning of the season mainly goes to the melting of ice, only towards the end of it does the water temperature begin to rise. In summer, the distribution of water temperature on the sea surface is quite diverse (Fig. 39). In August, the warmest (up to 18-19 °) waters adjacent to the island. Hokkaido. In the central regions of the sea, the water temperature is 11-12°. The coldest surface waters are observed near about. Iona, near Cape Pyagin and near the Kruzenshtern Strait. In these areas, the water temperature is kept within 6-7 °. The formation of local centers of increased and decreased water temperature on the surface is mainly associated with the redistribution of heat by currents.

The vertical distribution of water temperature varies from season to season and from place to place. In the cold season, the change in temperature with depth is less complex and varied than in warm seasons. In winter, in the northern and central regions of the sea, water cooling extends to horizons of 100–200 m. rises to 1–2° in the southern part of the sea; near the Kuril Straits, the water temperature drops from 2.5–3.0° on the surface to 1.0–1.4° at 300–400 m horizons and then gradually rises to 1, 9-2.4° at the bottom.

In summer, surface waters are heated to a temperature of 10-12°C. In the subsurface layers, the water temperature is slightly lower than on the surface. A sharp decrease in temperature to values ​​of −1.0–1.2° is observed between horizons of 50–75 m; in horizons of 200-250 m it is 1.5-2.0°. From here, the temperature of the water almost does not change to the bottom. In the southern and southeastern parts of the sea, along the Kuril Islands, the water temperature drops from 10–14° at the surface to 3–8° at a 25 m horizon, then to 1.6–2.4° at a 100 m horizon and down to 1 .4—2.0° at the bottom. The vertical temperature distribution in summer is characterized by a cold intermediate layer, a remnant of the winter cooling of the sea (see Fig. 39). In the northern and central regions of the sea, the temperature in it is negative, and only near the Kuril Straits does it have positive values. In different areas of the sea, the depth of the cold intermediate layer is different and varies from year to year.

The distribution of salinity in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk varies relatively little with seasons and is characterized by its increase in the eastern part, which is under the influence of Pacific waters, and its decrease in the western part, desalinated by continental runoff (Fig. 40). In the western part, salinity on the surface is 28–31‰, and in the eastern part it is 31–32‰ or more (up to 33‰ near the Kuril ridge). In the northwestern part of the sea, due to desalination, the salinity on the surface is 25‰ or less, and the thickness of the desalinated layer is about 30–40 m.
Salinity increases with depth in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. At the horizons of 300-400 m in the western part of the sea, the salinity is 33.5‰, and in the eastern part it is about 33.8‰. At the 100 m horizon, the salinity is 34.0‰, and further towards the bottom it increases insignificantly, by only 0.5–0.6‰. In individual bays and straits, salinity and its stratification may differ significantly from the open sea, depending on local hydrological conditions.

Temperature and salinity determine the values ​​and distribution of the density of the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. In accordance with this, denser waters are observed in winter in the northern and central ice-covered regions of the sea. The density is somewhat less in the relatively warm Kuril region. In summer, the water density decreases, its lowest values ​​are confined to the zones of influence of coastal runoff, and the highest values ​​are observed in the areas of distribution of Pacific waters. Density increases with depth. In winter, it rises relatively slightly from the surface to the bottom. In summer, its distribution in the upper layers depends on the temperature values, and on the middle and lower horizons on salinity. In summer, a noticeable density stratification of water along the vertical is created, the density increases especially significantly at horizons of 25–35–50 m, which is associated with the heating of water in open areas and desalination near the coast.

Cape Nyuklya (Sleeping Dragon) near Magadan

The possibilities for the development of water mixing in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are largely related to the peculiarities of the vertical distribution of oceanological characteristics. Wind mixing is carried out in the ice-free season. It flows most intensively in spring and autumn, when strong winds blow over the sea, and the stratification of waters is not yet very pronounced. At this time, wind mixing extends to a horizon of 20–25 m from the surface. Strong cooling and powerful ice formation in the autumn-winter time contributes to the development of convection in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. However, it proceeds differently in its different regions, which is explained by the features of the bottom topography, climatic differences, the inflow of Pacific waters, and other factors. Thermal convection in most of the sea penetrates up to 50-60 m, since the summer heating of surface waters, and in the zones of influence of coastal runoff and significant freshening, cause vertical stratification of waters, which is most pronounced on the indicated horizons. The increase in the density of surface waters due to cooling and the resulting convection are not able to overcome the stability maximum located at the aforementioned horizons. In the southeastern part of the sea, where Pacific waters mainly spread, relatively weak vertical stratification is observed; therefore, thermal convection propagates here to 150–200 m horizons, where it is limited by the density structure of the waters.
Intense ice formation over most of the sea excites an enhanced thermohaline winter vertical circulation. At depths of up to 250-300 m, it spreads to the bottom, and its penetration to greater depths is prevented by the maximum stability that exists here. In areas with a rugged bottom topography, the spread of density mixing into the lower horizons is facilitated by the sliding of water along the slopes. In general, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is characterized by good mixing of its waters.

Features of the vertical distribution of oceanological characteristics, mainly water temperature, indicate that the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is characterized by a subarctic water structure, in which cold and warm intermediate layers are well pronounced in summer. A more detailed study of the subarctic structure in this sea has shown that the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, Pacific, and Kuril varieties of the subarctic water structure exist in it. With the same nature of the vertical structure, they have quantitative differences in the characteristics of water masses.

Based on the analysis of T, S-curves in combination with a consideration of the vertical distribution of oceanological characteristics in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, the following water masses are distinguished. Surface water mass with spring, summer and autumn modifications. It represents the upper maximum of stability, mainly due to temperature. This water mass is characterized by temperature and salinity corresponding to each season, on the basis of which its mentioned modifications are distinguished.
The Sea of ​​Okhotsk water mass is formed in winter from surface water and in spring, summer and autumn it manifests itself in the form of a cold intermediate layer flying between horizons of 40–150 m. This water mass is characterized by a fairly uniform salinity (about 32.9–31.0 place to place temperature. In most of the sea, its temperature is below 0° and reaches -1.7°, and in the area of ​​the Kuril Straits it is above 1°.

The intermediate water mass is formed mainly due to the sinking of water along the slopes of the bottom, within the sea it is located from 100-150 to 400-700 m and is characterized by a temperature of 1.5 ° and a salinity of 33.7‰. This water mass is distributed almost everywhere, except for the northwestern part of the sea, Shelikhov Bay and some areas along the coast of Sakhalin, where the Sea of ​​Okhotsk water mass reaches the bottom. The thickness of the intermediate water mass generally decreases from south to north.

The deep Pacific water mass is the water of the lower part of the warm layer of the Pacific Ocean, which enters the Sea of ​​Okhotsk at horizons below 800–2000 m, i.e., below the depth of the waters descending in the straits, and manifests itself in the sea as a warm intermediate layer. This water mass is located on the horizons of 600-1350 m, has a temperature of 2.3°C and a salinity of 34.3‰. However, its characteristics change in space. The highest values ​​of temperature and salinity are observed in the northeastern and partly in the northwestern regions, which is associated here with the rise of waters, and the smallest values ​​of the characteristics are characteristic of the western and southern regions, where the waters sink.
The water mass of the Southern Basin is of Pacific origin and represents the deep water of the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean from a horizon of 2300 m, corresponding to the maximum depth of the threshold in the Kuril Straits (Bussol Strait). The considered water mass generally fills the named basin from the horizon of 1350 m to the bottom. It is characterized by a temperature of 1.85° and a salinity of 34.7‰, which vary only slightly with depth.
Among the identified water masses, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the deep Pacific are the main ones and differ from each other not only in thermohaline, but also in hydrochemical and biological indicators.

Under the influence of winds and water inflow through the Kuril Straits, character traits system of non-periodic currents of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk (Fig. 41). The main one is the cyclonic system of currents, covering almost the entire sea. It is due to the predominance of cyclonic circulation of the atmosphere over the sea and the adjacent part of the Pacific Ocean. In addition, stable anticyclonic circulations and extensive areas of cyclonic water circulation can be traced in the sea.

At the same time, a narrow strip of stronger coastal currents stands out quite clearly, which, continuing each other, seem to bypass the coastline of the sea counterclockwise; the warm Kamchatka current directed to the north into Shelikhov Bay; flow of western and then south-western direction along the northern and north-western coasts of the sea; the steady East Sakhalin Current going south, and the rather strong Soya Current entering the Sea of ​​Okhotsk through the Laperouse Strait.
On the southeastern periphery of the cyclonic circulation of the Central Part of the Sea, a branch of the Northeast Current is distinguished, opposite in direction to the Kuril Current (or Oyashio) in the Pacific Ocean. As a result of the existence of these streams, stable areas of convergence of currents are formed in some of the Kuril Straits, which leads to subsidence of waters and has a significant effect on the distribution of oceanological characteristics not only in the straits, but also in the sea itself. And finally, one more feature of the circulation of the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is two-way stable currents in most of the Kuril straits.

Non-periodic currents on the surface of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are most intense off the western coast of Kamchatka (11–20 cm/s), in Sakhalin Bay (30–45 cm/s), in the region of the Kuril Straits (15–40 cm/s), over the South Basin ( 11-20 cm/s) and during the Soya (up to 50-90 cm/s). In the central part of the cyclonic region, the intensity of horizontal transport is much less than on its periphery. In the central part of the sea, velocities vary from 2 to 10 cm/s, with velocities below 5 cm/s predominating. A similar picture is also observed in the Shelikhov Bay, rather strong currents near the coast (up to 20–30 cm/s) and low velocities in the central part of the cyclonic gyre.

Periodic (tidal) currents are also well expressed in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Here their various types are observed: semidiurnal, diurnal and mixed with a predominance of semidiurnal or diurnal components. The velocities of tidal currents are different - from a few centimeters to 4 m/s. Away from the coast, the current velocities are low (5–10 cm/s). In straits, bays, and off the coast, the velocities of tidal currents increase significantly; for example, in the Kuril Straits they reach 2–4 m/s.
The tides of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk have a very complex character. A tidal wave enters from the south and southeast from the Pacific Ocean. The semidiurnal wave moves to the north, and at the 50° parallel it is divided into two branches: the western one turns to the northwest, forming amphidromic regions to the north of Cape Terpeniya and in the northern part of Sakhalin Bay, the eastern one moves towards the Shelikhov Bay, at the entrance to which arises another amphidrome. The diurnal wave also moves north, but at the latitude of the northern tip of Sakhalin it is divided into two parts: one enters Shelikhov Bay, the other reaches the northwestern coast.

There are two main types of tides in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk: diurnal and mixed. The most common are diurnal tides. They are observed in the Amur Estuary, Sakhalin Bay, the Kuril Islands, off the western coast of Kamchatka and in Penzhinsky Bay. Mixed tides are observed on the northern and northwestern coasts of the sea and in the area of ​​the Shantar Islands.
The highest tides were recorded in the Penzhina Bay near Cape Astronomichesky (up to 13 m). These are the highest tides for the entire coast of the USSR. In second place is the region of the Shantar Islands, where the tide exceeds 7 m. The tides are very significant in the Sakhalin Bay and in the Kuril Straits. In the northern part of the sea, the tides reach up to 5 m. In the southern part of the sea, the tides are 0.8–2.5 m. In general, tidal level fluctuations in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are very significant and have a significant effect on its hydrological regime, especially in the coastal zone.
In addition to tidal fluctuations, surge fluctuations in the level are also well developed here. They occur mainly during the passage of deep cyclones over the sea. Surge rises in the level reach 1.5–2 m. The largest surges are noted on the coast of Kamchatka and in the Gulf of Patience.

The significant size and great depths of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, frequent and strong winds over it determine the development of large waves here. The sea is especially stormy in autumn, and in ice-free areas in winter. These seasons account for 55–70% of storm waves, including those with wave heights of 4–6 m, and the highest wave heights reach 10–11 m. The most restless are the southern and southeastern regions of the sea, where the average frequency of storm waves is 35 -50%, and in the northwestern part it decreases to 25-30%. In case of strong waves, a crowd forms in the straits between the Kuril Islands and between the Shantar Islands.

Severe and long winters with strong northwest winds contribute to the development of intense ice formation in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The ice of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is exclusively of local formation. There are both fixed ice (fast ice) and floating ice, which are the main form of sea ice. In one quantity or another, ice is found in all areas of the sea, but in summer the entire sea is cleared of ice. The exception is the region of the Shantar Islands, where ice can persist in summer.
Ice formation begins in November in the bays and bays of the northern part of the sea, in the coastal part of the island. Sakhalin and Kamchatka. Then ice appears in the open part of the sea. In January and February, ice covers the entire northern and middle parts of the sea. In ordinary years, the southern boundary of a relatively stable ice cover curves northward from the La Perouse Strait to Cape Lopatka. The extreme southern part of the sea never freezes. However, due to the winds, significant masses of ice are carried into it from the north, often accumulating near the Kuril Islands.

From April to June there is a destruction and gradual disappearance of the ice cover. On average, the ice in the sea disappears in late May - early June. The northwestern part of the sea, due to the currents and the configuration of the coasts, is most of all clogged with ice, which remains there until July. Consequently, the ice cover in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk persists for 6-7 months. Floating ice covers more than three-quarters of the sea's surface. Close-knit ice in the northern part of the sea is a serious obstacle to navigation even for icebreakers. The total duration of the ice period in the northern part of the sea reaches 280 days a year.

The southern coast of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands are areas with low ice cover, where ice stays on average no more than three months a year. The thickness of the ice growing during the winter reaches 0.8–1.0 m. severe storms, tidal currents break the ice cover in many areas of the sea, forming hummocks and large leads. In the open part of the sea, solid immovable ice is never observed; usually, ice drifts here in the form of vast fields with numerous leads. Part of the ice from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is carried into the ocean, where it breaks up and melts almost immediately. In severe winters, floating ice is pressed against the Kuril Islands by northwestern winds and clogs some of the straits. Thus, in the winter time in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk there is no such place where an encounter with ice would be completely excluded.

hydrochemical conditions.
Due to the constant water exchange with the Pacific Ocean through the deep Kuril Straits, the chemical composition of the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk generally does not differ from that of the ocean. The values ​​and distribution of dissolved gases and biogenic substances in the open areas of the sea are determined by the inflow of Pacific waters, and in the coastal part, coastal runoff has a certain effect.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is rich in oxygen, but its content is not the same in different areas of the sea and varies with depth. A large amount of oxygen is dissolved in the waters of the northern and central parts of the sea, which is explained by the abundance of oxygen-producing phytoplankton here. In particular, in the central part of the sea, the development of plant organisms is associated with the rise of deep waters in the zones of convergence of currents. The waters of the southern regions of the sea contain a smaller amount of oxygen, since the Pacific waters, which are relatively poor in phytoplankton, come here. The highest content (7-9 ml/l) of oxygen is observed in the surface layer, deeper it gradually decreases and is 6-7 ml/l at the 100 m horizon, and 3.2-4.7 ml/l at the 500 m horizon, further, the amount of this gas decreases very rapidly with depth and reaches a minimum (1.2–1.4 ml/l) at horizons of 1000–1300 m; however, in deeper layers it increases to 1.3–2.0 ml/l. The oxygen minimum is confined to the deep Pacific water mass.

The surface layer of the sea contains 2–3 µg/l of nitrites and 3–15 µg/l of nitrates. With depth, their concentration increases, and the content of nitrites reaches a maximum at the horizons of 25-50 m, and the amount of nitrates sharply increases here, but the greatest values ​​of these substances are noted at the horizons of 800-1000 m, from where they slowly decrease to the bottom. The vertical distribution of phosphates is characterized by an increase in their content with depth, which is especially noticeable from horizons of 50–60 m, and the maximum concentration of these substances is observed in the bottom layers. In general, the amount of nitrites, nitrates and phosphates dissolved in the waters of the sea increases from north to south, which is mainly due to the rise of deep waters. Local features of hydrological and biological conditions (water circulation, tides, degree of development of organisms, etc.) form the regional hydrochemical features of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

Economic use.
The economic significance of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is determined by the use of its natural resources and maritime transport. The main wealth of this sea is game animals, especially fish. Here, mainly its most valuable species are mined - salmon (chum, pink salmon, sockeye salmon, coho salmon, chinook salmon) and their caviar. Currently, salmon stocks have decreased, so their production has decreased. The catch of this fish is limited. In addition, herring, cod, flounder and other types of sea fish are caught in the sea in limited quantities. Sea of ​​Okhotsk main area crab industry. Squid are being harvested in the sea. One of the largest herds of fur seals is concentrated on the Shantar Islands, the extraction of which is strictly regulated.

Sea transport lines connect the Okhotsk ports of Magadan, Nagaevo, Ayan, Okhotsk with other Soviet and foreign ports. Various cargoes come here from different regions of the Soviet Union and foreign countries.

The largely studied Sea of ​​Okhotsk still needs to solve various natural problems. In terms of their hydrological aspects, an essential place is occupied by studies of the water exchange of the sea with the Pacific Ocean, general circulation, including vertical movements of waters, their fine structure and eddy-like movements, ice conditions, especially in the prognostic direction of the timing of ice formation, the direction of ice drift, etc. The solution of these and other problems will contribute to the further development of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTO:
Team Nomads
http://tapemark.narod.ru/more/18.html
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Shamraev Yu. I., Shishkina L. A. Oceanology. L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1980.
Lithosphere of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk
The Sea of ​​Okhotsk in the book: A. D. Dobrovolsky, B. S. Zalogin. Seas of the USSR. Moscow publishing house. un-ta, 1982.
Leontiev V.V., Novikova K.A. Toponymic Dictionary of the North-East of the USSR. - Magadan: Magadan book publishing house, 1989, p 86
Leonov A.K. Regional oceanography. - Leningrad, Gidrometeoizdat, 1960. - T. 1. - S. 164.
Wikipedia site.
Magidovich I. P., Magidovich V. I. Essays on history geographical discoveries. - Enlightenment, 1985. - T. 4.
http://www.photosight.ru/
photo: O.Smoly, A.Afanasiev, A.Gill, L.Golubtsova, A.Panfilov, T.Selena.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is one of the largest and deepest seas in Russia. Important sea routes pass here, connecting Vladivostok with the northern regions of the Far East and the Kuril Islands. Major ports on the coast of the mainland - Magadan and Okhotsk; on Sakhalin Island - Korsakov; on the Kuril Islands - Severo-Kurilsk.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk was discovered by Russian explorers I. Yu. Moskvitin and V. D. Poyarkov in the first half of the 17th century. From 1733, work began on the Second Kamchatka Expedition, whose members made up detailed maps almost all of its coasts.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk, also called the Lamsky or Kamchatka Sea, is a semi-enclosed sea in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. It washes the shores of Russia and Japan (Hokkaido Island).

From the west, it is bounded by the mainland Asia from Cape Lazarev to the mouth of the Penzhina River; from the north - the Kamchatka Peninsula; from the east by the islands of the Kuril chain and from the south by the islands of Hokkaido and Sakhalin.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is connected to the Pacific Ocean through the Kuril Straits. There are more than 30 such straits and their total width is more than 500 kilometers. It has communication with the Sea of ​​Japan through the Nevelskoy and La Perouse straits.

Characteristics of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk

The sea is named after the river Okhota, which flows into it. The area of ​​the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is 1603,000 square kilometers. Its average depth is 1780 meters, with a maximum depth of 3916 meters. From north to south, the sea stretches for 2445 kilometers, and from east to west for 1407 kilometers. The approximate volume of water enclosed in it is 1365 thousand cubic kilometers.

The coastline of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is slightly indented. Its length is 10460 kilometers. Its largest bays are: Shelikhov Bay, Sakhalin Bay, Udskaya Bay, Tauyskaya Bay and Academy Bay. The northern, northwestern and northeastern shores are high and rocky. At the confluence of large rivers (Amur, Uda, Okhota, Gizhiga, Penzhina), as well as in the west of Kamchatka, in the northern part of Sakhalin and Hokkaido, the coasts are predominantly low.

From October to May-June, the northern part of the sea is covered with ice. The southeastern part practically does not freeze. In winter, the water temperature near the sea surface ranges from -1.8 °C to 2.0 °C, in summer the temperature rises to 10-18 °C.

The salinity of the surface waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is 32.8-33.8 ppm, while the salinity of coastal waters usually does not exceed 30 ppm.

Climate of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is located in the monsoon climate zone of temperate latitudes. For most of the year, cold dry winds blow from the mainland, cooling the northern half of the sea. From October to April, negative air temperatures and a stable ice cover are observed here.

In the northeastern part of the sea, the average temperature in January - February ranges from -14 to -20 ° C. In the northern and western regions, the temperature varies from -20 to -24 ° C. In the southern and eastern parts of the sea, it is much warmer in winter from -5 up to - 7 ° С.

Average temperatures in July and August, respectively, wound 10-12 ° C; 11-14°C; 11-18 ° C. The annual amount of precipitation in different places of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is also different. So in the north, 300-500 mm of precipitation falls annually; in the west up to 600-800 mm; in the southern and southeastern parts of the sea - over 1000 mm.

According to the composition of organisms living in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, it is more of an arctic character. Due to the thermal effect of oceanic waters, species of the temperate zone are predominantly inhabited by the southern and southeastern parts of the sea.

Numerous settlements of mussels, littorinas and other mollusks, barnacles, sea urchins, and many crabs are noted in coastal zones.

A rich fauna of invertebrates has been discovered at great depths of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Glass sponges, holothurians, deep-sea corals, decapods live here.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is rich in fish. The most valuable are salmon species: chum salmon, pink salmon, coho salmon, chinook salmon and sockeye salmon. There is an industrial catch of herring, pollock, flounder, cod, navaga, capelin and smelt.

Large mammals live in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk - whales, seals, sea lions and fur seals. There are many sea birds that arrange noisy "bazaars" on the coasts.

The UN recognized the enclave of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk as part of the Russian shelf

Inessa Dotsenko

The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf recognized the enclave of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk with an area of ​​52,000 square kilometers as part of the Russian continental shelf.

According to ITAR-TASS, this was stated by Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Sergei Donskoy.

We have officially received a document from the UN Commission on the Continental Shelf on the satisfaction of our application to recognize the enclave in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk as the Russian shelf. This is an event that has actually taken place, so I would like to congratulate everyone on this,” he said.

The commission's decision, according to the minister, is unconditional and has no retroactive effect. Now the enclave is fully subject to Russian jurisdiction.

According to ITAR-TASS, Donskoy also said that Russia's application for the expansion of the continental shelf in the Arctic will be ready this fall.

All the resources that will be found there - everything will be mined exclusively within the framework of Russian legislation, - said Donskoy. He said that, according to geologists, the total volume of hydrocarbons discovered in this area exceeds one billion tons.

Magadan Governor Vladimir Pecheny believes that the recognition of the enclave in the middle of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk as part of the Russian continental shelf opens up new prospects for the economy of Kolyma and the entire Far East. First of all, it will relieve the fishermen of the region from numerous administrative barriers.

Firstly, fishing for fish, crabs, shellfish can be carried out freely anywhere in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Special permits from the border service will not be required both when going to sea and upon returning. Secondly, when not only the 200-mile zone, but the whole sea becomes Russian territory, we will get rid of poaching by foreign fishermen in our waters. It will be easier to preserve the unique environment, - the press service of the regional government quotes the words of Pecheny.

Reference

In the center of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk there is an elongated enclave of considerable size. Previously, all of it was considered "open sea". Vessels of any state could freely move and fish on its territory. In November 2013, Russia managed to prove the rights to 52,000 square kilometers of water in the center of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. For comparison, this is more than the area of ​​Holland, Switzerland or Belgium. The center of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk ceased to be part of the World Ocean and became completely Russian. After approval at the UN session, the process of legally assigning the enclave to the Russian continental shelf can be considered fully completed.

Sea of ​​Okhotsk modern map Russia is of great economic and environmental importance. Due to the difficult political situation in relations with Japan, the importance of the sea for ensuring the security of the borders of the Russian Federation is also growing.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk on the map of Russia is an inland water body of the Pacific basin, deeply embedded in the mainland, framed by the shores of the Asian continent, the Kamchatka Peninsula, the islands of Hokkaido, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.

Research history

Russian explorers V.D. Poyarkov and I.Yu. Moskvitin, who explored the lands of the Far East with Cossack squads, in the middle of the 17th century described the new sea they discovered.

The study of climatic features, hydrography of rivers, nature, lifestyle of the local population, wildlife and mapping of the coast were carried out in the period from 1733 to 1743 during a research expedition led by Vitus Bering.

In 1805, a description of the east coast of about. Sakhalin was made by the expedition team led by I.F. Kruzenshtern, who made a round-the-world trip with the crew of the Nadezhda ship.

In the period from 1849 to 1855, the expedition led by G.I. Nevelskoy explored the shores in the south-west of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, the place where the river flows into the strait. Amur and determined that Sakhalin is an island. Convenient harbors and bays for parking of ships were plotted on geographical maps, and the natural resources of the lower reaches of the river were described. Amur, Ussuri region and about. Sakhalin, where coal reserves have been discovered.

1894 was marked by the compilation of the first complete report on the hydrology of the sea by the naval commander and admiral S.O. Makarov, who analyzed numerous ocean water samples taken by many vessels, including those in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

In Soviet times and in the recent history of Russia, research expeditions were carried out for many years with the involvement of special scientific ships and scientists, including the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, to study hydrography, weather and resources of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

Sea characteristics: salt level, area, depth

The total area of ​​the water sea surface is 1 million 600 thousand km 2, the average depth of the reservoir is about 820 m, the deepest place is more than 3900 m. in the east - a narrow basin with considerable depth along the Kuril Islands.

The salinity values ​​of the sea water are different:

• near the coast - less than 30% (influence of the runoff of numerous rivers);
• on the surface - up to 33.8%;
• intermediate layers - 34.5% (infusion of a significant mass of salty waters of the ocean with the help of deep currents);
• at great depths - up to 33.4%.

Water temperature by months

The temperature of the water in the sea varies depending on the water layer and the currents or flows of local rivers that act on them.
The average values ​​of the temperature of the surface sea layer are given in the table (the top line is months; the lower one is the average temperature value, o C):

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
+2,4	+0,3	-0,4	0	+1,3	+2,1	+5,3	+6	+10	+8,1	+4,5	+3

Resources

The natural resources of the Okhotsk Sea basin are currently significantly depleted as a result of poaching in the 1990s. This has led in our days to the introduction of restrictions on the catch of certain types of fish, the production of fur seals.

The region has significant explored reserves of coal, oil, gas, nickel, silver and gold. There are placers of beautiful Kamchatka amber.

Flora and fauna of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk

On the harsh shores of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bOkhotsk, representatives of the animal world of the northern strip and Arctic representatives live:

• wolves;
• foxes;
• wolverines;
• the Bears;
• white partridges.

In the depths of the sea live:

In addition to fish resources, in the waters of the sea there are:

• sea ​​urchins;
• sea ​​stars;
• mussels;
• shrimps;
• jellyfish;
• crabs.

The bird world is represented by numerous colonies:

• seagulls;
• petrels;
• cormorants;
• geese;
• guillemots.

Seaweed harvested and used for food:

• red, brown and green;
• kelp;
• sea ​​grass - zostera.

Which cities are washed by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk

The following cities and large settlements operate directly next to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk:

Name	Population (thousand people)	The main occupation of the inhabitants
Magadan	over 92.7	mechanical engineering, helicopter repair, mining equipment production, fish processing, timber processing, coal shipment, gold mining, seaport
Korsakov (Aniva Bay, Sakhalin Island)	about 33.2	seafood extraction and processing, gas processing plant, seaport
Kholmsk	about 28	ship repair, seafood harvesting and processing, woodworking, tourism, sea ​​port
Poronaysk (Patience Bay, Sakhalin Island)	about 15.3	power generation, fish harvesting and processing, building materials production, seaport
Yuzhno-Kurilsk	over 7.7	fish extraction and processing, geothermal power plant, gold exploration and mining, sea ​​port
Okhotsk	over 3.3	mining and processing of gold and silver, industrial fishing and processing, seaport
Kurilsk (Iturup Island)	over 1.6	extraction and processing of seafood, seaport
Evensk	about 1.5	reindeer herding, fishing, berry picking
Chumikan (Udskaya lip)	about 1	artel mining of gold, catching and processing of fish, hunting of animals
Ayan	less than 0.9	local crafts

Importance of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk for Russia

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk occupies an important place on the map of Russia, showing the fishing grounds for fish and seafood in the Far East. A large number of different species of salmon fish, several varieties of crabs and shrimps, whales, fur seals, seals, sea lions make up the food potential of this region and the strategic reserve of Russia.

Important for the life support of coastal settlements and other territories of the Far East Territory have maritime shipping routes.

A large volume of cargo consumed by the adjacent regions and exported is handled by the ports of Magadan, Korsakov, Okhotsk, Poronaysk, and Yuzhno-Kurilsk.

Development of transport infrastructure, strengthening of border lines, modernization of outposts located on the islands of the Kuril ridge and about. Sakhalin, in last years is one of the priorities in Russian policy. This is due to the growing threat from the US military bases stationed in Japan.

Economic use

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is on the map an economic and trade zone of 2 countries - Russia and Japan, which it washes.

They conduct industrial fishing for many species of fish and shellfish in sea waters:

• salmon
• sockeye salmon;
• pink salmon;
• coho salmon;
• saffron cod;
• pollock;
• cod;
• herring;
• capelin;
• shrimp;
• crabs.

Hydrocarbon deposits have been explored on the Sakhalin, West Kamchatka and Magadan shelves, which are produced on drilling platforms with the participation of foreign companies.

Transport shipping routes to the ports of the north of the Far East and Kamchatka (Magadan, Okhotsk, Severo-Kurilsk, Korsakov) pass through the sea. Navigation is hampered by the presence of large ice fields (freeze lasts up to 10 months a year) and prolonged storms (up to 7-10 days in time with wave heights up to 10-11 m).

Industry

Industrial production in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk basin is focused on ensuring the extraction of marine fish resources: port facilities, ship repair plants, factories for processing caviar, fish and seafood (state and commercial). Fish and seafood products are popular not only in Russia, but also abroad.

Oil and gas production enterprises of offshore fields have received significant development, which in recent years have been merged with processing plants that supply their products to many countries in the Pacific basin (Japan, China, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam).

The region has developed complexes for the processing of timber, copper-nickel, silver and gold ores, and the production of building materials is developing.

gulfs

The sea, as a result of long geological processes, has formed several remarkable bays on the coastline:

• Shelekhov in conjunction with the Gizhiginskaya Bay (the mouth of the Gizhiga River) and the Penzhina Bay (the mouth of the Penzhina River);
• Sakhalin;
• Uda Bay (mouth of the Uda River opposite the Shantar Islands);
• Taui Bay (confluence of 4 rivers and several small bays);
• Tugursky;
• Aniva;
• Patience;
• Odessa (on Iturup Island).

Straits

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk on the map of Russia, when considering its location, draws attention to the presence of more than 30 straits that connect it with the Pacific Ocean.

The most significant of them:

The narrow and shallow straits of Nevelskoy and La Perouse lead to the Sea of ​​Japan past the northern and southern extremities of about. Sakhalin.

Bottom and coastline

About 22% of the seabed is the shelf and continental shallows (Kamchatka, Asian, Sakhalin). About 70% are continental slopes, deep depressions and elongated gutters (depth from 200 m to 1500 m). A narrow deep (more than 2500 m) trench stretches along a series of Kuril Islands of various sizes, constituting the remaining 8% of the bottom.

In the middle water area of ​​the sea, two ridges were formed by tectonic forces: the Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Oceanology, which conditionally divide the sea basin into significant natural depressions:

The coastline of the reservoir is different:

• in the northern coastal zones - indented by small bays with high cliffs and weathered rocks;
• in the region of the northeastern zones - the high shores of the large Shelekhov Bay with the Penzhinskaya and Gizhiginskaya bays;
• in the east - almost flat, without pronounced bays, low coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula;
• in the west - a small rocky coast of the Sakhalin Bay and the Shantar Sea;
• in the south - the gentle bays of Aniva and Patience;
• on about. Iturup - Odessa Bay, high rocky shores of other islands of the ridge.

Water exchange

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk on the map of Russia, when considering water exchange processes and currents, draws the attention of researchers to the small in width and depth of the La Perouse and Nevelskoy straits, which does not allow for an intensive exchange of water masses with the warmer Sea of ​​Japan.

A large number of straits of the Kuril chain (the total amount of their width is about 500 km) and their relatively large depth (Bussol - more than 2300 m, Krusenstern - more than 1900 m) contribute to a more intensive exchange of water masses of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk with the Pacific Ocean.

Straits northern islands The Kuriles are passed into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk with currents by the surface waters of the ocean; middle straits work in both directions, pumping water currents at different levels; southern ones, on the contrary, drain more sea water into the Pacific Ocean.

Ecological problems

The presence of environmental problems in the Okhotsk Sea basin is associated with human economic activities: the entry into the sea of ​​oil and gas processing products, industrial and domestic wastewater, pollution from passing ships and fishing trawlers.

The greatest pollution is observed in the waters of about. Sakhalin and Shelekhov Bay in the area of ​​large seaports. Unfavorable factors contributing to the widespread distribution of dirty waters are natural ebbs and flows.

In addition to sea water pollution, there is an increase in emissions of harmful gases into the air from the combustion of hydrocarbons at production sites and from industrial enterprises of large processing centers in the region, in addition, frequent eruptions of local volcanoes add harmful impurities to the air over the sea area.

Interesting facts about the Sea of ​​Okhotsk

Significant and indisputable facts about the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are:

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk occupies unique place on the map of Russia by the presence in its water area and on the adjacent shores of significant reserves of various kinds of resources: mineral, biological and natural. Maritime transport is of exceptional importance due to the insignificant development of the railway and road transport in the region.

Article formatting: Mila Fridan

Video about the Sea of ​​Okhotsk

Documentary film "Golden Mining of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk":

The area of ​​the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is 1.603 million square meters. km. The average depth is 1780 m, the maximum depth is 3521 m. The western part of the sea has a shallow depth and is located on the continental shelf. In the center of the sea are the Deryugin depressions (in the south) and the TINRO depression. In the eastern part there is the Kuril basin, in which the depth is maximum.

From October to May-June, the northern part of the sea is covered with ice. The southeastern part practically does not freeze.

The coast in the north is strongly indented, in the northeast of the Sea of ​​​​Okhotsk there is its largest bay - Shelikhov Bay. Of the smaller bays of the northern part, the most famous are the Eyriney Bay and the bays of Shelting, Zabiyak, Babushkin, Kekurny, Odessa Bay on Iturup Island. In the east, the coastline of the Kamchatka Peninsula is practically devoid of bays. In the southwest, the largest are Aniva and Patience bays.

Fishing (salmon, herring, pollock, capelin, navaga, etc.).

Main ports: on the mainland - Magadan, Ayan, Okhotsk (port point); on the island of Sakhalin - Korsakov, on the Kuril Islands - Severo-Kurilsk.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk is named after the Okhot River, which in turn comes from the Even okat - "river". The Japanese traditionally called this sea "Hokkai" (北海), literally "North Sea". But since this name now refers to the North Sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean, they changed the name of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bOkhotsk to "Ohotsuku-kai" (オホーツク海), which is an adaptation of the Russian name to the norms of Japanese phonetics.

The sea is located on the Okhotsk subplate, which is part of the Eurasian plate. The crust under most of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is of continental type.