The world around us is fraught with many mysteries and secrets, which is probably why people like to explore it so much. Of particular interest are the inaccessible regions located close to the North. Since ancient times, adventure lovers and researchers have created expeditions to explore these mysterious places, which often tragically ended for their participants. Today, with the development of technology and scientific achievements, a lot of new and previously unknown has been discovered. There is an intensive study of the bottom topography of the seas located in the north of Russia. Climatic conditions, flora and fauna of these regions are also investigated. Of particular interest is the Yenisei Gulf of the Kara Sea, into which the famous Yenisei River flows .
Discovery story
The study of these places was done by Russian explorers back in the 14-17th centuries. The great northern expedition, led by Lieutenant Ovtsin, navigator Minin and sub-navigator Sterlegov, began at the beginning of the 18th century (1737). They made the map with the description of the banks of the Yenisei River and the Yenisei Gulf.
The Academy of Sciences and the Russian Geographical Society became interested in the studies of the North Seas at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. They organized an expedition led by Lopatin and Schmidt, which described the Yenisei Gulf and gave more accurate data on the topography of the coast and the geological structure. Studies of these areas were carried out until October 1917. After the change of government at the state level, no one dealt with this issue, and only lone enthusiasts went to the mouth of the Yenisei in search of adventure.
In the 70s of the twentieth century, only geographers studied these places. They studied the zoobenthos of the Yenisei Gulf of the Kara Sea, the soil, flora and fauna of the surrounding areas.
The uniqueness of the Kara Sea
In the North of Russia there are 4 Siberian seas belonging to the Arctic Ocean:
- Chukchi.
- East Siberian.
- Kara.
- Laptev.
Among them, Karskoye is distinguished by a unique hydrological feature. The two largest waterways of Russia - the Ob and the Yenisei - flow into it. River water is carried into the sea, which is why a large area of its surface becomes freshwater. The thickness of this layer is about 2 meters.
The Kara Sea has a winding coastline. The largest bays are located in its eastern part:
- Yenisei.
- Gydansky.
- Pyasinsky.
Description of the Yenisei Gulf
The Yenisei Gulf is located between the mainland of the Eurasian continent and the Gydansky Peninsula. It received its name in honor of the river of the same name. The bay is approximately 225 km long and the widest part is 150 km. The maximum depth of the reservoir is 20 m. For 9 months, the Yenisei Gulf is icebound, and it only thaws in the summer. The port of Dikson is located on the eastern coast of the Kara Sea . It is located at the entrance to the bay.
In these regions, fishing is developed, as well as hunting for marine life, seals and belugas.
A sea route passes through the bay to the ports of Igarka and Dudinka, which are located on the Yenisei River. This water artery desalinates the Kara Sea.
The smaller rivers of Siberia also flow into the Yenisei Gulf:
- Golchikh.
- Sariha.
- Hag.
- Jung Yam.
- Mezenkina.
- Miketl.
- Volgina.
- Juro.
- Dorofeeva.
Two islands are located in the bay: Oleniy and Sibiryakova.
Reservoir inhabitants
Bentos of the Yenisei Gulf is mixed. Some forms refer to freshwater species, while for other inhabitants only salty sea water is suitable. These factors influence the distribution of living organisms in the region.
The northern part of the bay in its hydrological indicators is very similar to the sea, so here you can find species of fauna that are well adapted to salt water. These include Ophiura nodosa, a representative of the echinoderm family. In fresh water, there is an active development of crustaceans and sea cockroaches, belonging to the class of crustaceans. Joldia arctica is a mollusk of the Yenisei Gulf of the Kara Sea. They live in this reservoir in large numbers. The southern region is relatively poor in the bottom population, as it is highly desalinated.
The waters of the bay are rich in both freshwater fish and species that live in salt water. Here you can meet flounder, pollock, smelt. Commercial fishes live in the gulf:
- perch;
- whitefish;
- nelma;
- herring;
- vendace and others.
The Yenisei Gulf has become for them a place of pasture and feeding.