Sea of ​​Okhotsk

Sea of ​​Okhotsk

Today we are going to talk about a sea that bathes the coasts of the states of Russia and Japan. Its about Sea of ​​Okhotsk. It is located in the northwest of the Pacific Ocean on the coasts of Northeast Asia. It is a sea that has been shaped in a curious way and is economically important today.

In this article we are going to tell you about all the characteristics, formation and importance of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

Key features

Sea of ​​Okhotsk in Russia

It is a sea that bathes the coasts of the states of Russia and Japan. Its total area is 1.6 million square kilometers and it is located in the northwest of the Pacific Ocean. It has the limits defined by the northern part of the Siberian coastline, to the west by the island of Sakhalin, to the east by the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands. The northern coast of the Japanese island of Hokkaido is the southern limit of this sea.

The formation has been quite curious since it was formed in the last two million years as a result of successive ice ages. The continuous freezing and thawing has been generating enough flow in the rivers of the continents to end up bathing these coasts. The seabed is lower in the north and west but it acquires a bit more depth as we go south. In the shallow part we find averages of only 200 meters. As we go to the southern part we find the deepest point that is located in the Kuril Trench. This deepest area is about 2.500 meters.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk It stands out for having continental coasts with high and rocky characteristics. They are usually like cliffs with a lot of rockiness and height. Large rivers that feed it flow into these coasts, which are the Amur, the Tugur, the Uda, the Okhota, the Gizhiga and the Penzhina. We will talk about the first later since it is the main tributary and the one in charge of adding more water to the sea.

On the other hand, on the coasts of the islands of Hokkaido and Sakhalin the characteristics are somewhat lower. The cliffs are smaller and less rocky in appearance. This determines that the salinity is lower in the coastal waters of the north and northwest. The movement of the currents of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is counterclockwise. This usually happens since it is located in the northern hemisphere. The warm water snows from the Sea of ​​Japan towards the northern part passing through the Strait of Tartary. This strait is in charge of separating Sakhalin from the continent.

These waters also pass through the Strait of the Perouse located between Sakhalin and Hokkaido. Another part that feeds into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is the temperate marine waters that come from the Pacific through the channels of the Kuriles.

Climate of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk

frozen sea

Let's see what the climate of this sea. It is the coldest in all of East Asia. During the winter season, the climate and thermal regime are very similar to that of the Arctic seas. That is, it is as if it were a sea located at the north pole. Low temperatures prevail throughout the year. The regions that are located Northeast, North, and West experience severe weather during winter. This is due to the influence that the Asian continent has on the climate. Already in the months of October to April we find quite low temperatures with averages below 0 degrees. These temperatures continuously and sustained over time make the sea freeze.

In the southern and southeastern part it has a milder marine climate as it is closer to the Pacific Ocean. Average annual rainfall is 400 mm in the north, 700 mm in the west and about 1.000 mm in the south and southeast. Although the northern part has less rainfall, its temperature is much lower and the sea freezes.

Economic aspect of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk

kuril island

As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, this sea is not only important from a biological point of view but also from an economic point of view. Let's first analyze the biodiversity that this sea has. It is one of the most productive seas in the world. And it is that it has a river drainage that helps to drain large amount of water loaded with nutrients that favors the proliferation of life. In addition, it has an intense exchange of marine currents and an upwelling of deep ocean waters that are loaded with nutrients and are favorable factors for the development of biodiversity.

The flora is represented mainly by numerous kinds of algae. These algae are of good commercial interest for a multitude of products. In its fauna, mussels, crabs, sea urchins, among others, stand out. As for the fish species of great commercial importance, we have herring, pollock, cod, salmon, etc. Although smaller in proportion, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is also inhabited by some marine mammals, including whales, sea lions and seals.

Fishing catches are important to Russia's economy. Regular shipping connecting the eastern ports of Russia takes place through the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The winter ice that covers this frozen sea is an obstacle to marine traffic, while in summer it is the fog. Although it has a great commercial interest, it is dangerous to navigate these areas. Another of the dangers that we can have when navigating this sea are the strong currents and submerged rocks. They can lead to boat breakages and very unwanted accidents.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and its characteristics.


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