Sea of Okhotsk

Description

The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean. It is located between the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia) on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, the island of Hokkaido (Japan) on the south, the island of Sakhalin along the west, and a stretch of eastern Siberian coast along the west and north. The northeast corner is the Shelikhov Gulf. The sea is named after Okhotsk, the first Russian settlement in the Far East. The maximum depth is about 3,372 m, while its estimated average depth is about 859 m. The continental shores along the Sea of Okhotsk are relatively high and rocky and are dissected by many large rivers. Some of these significant rivers include Amur, Gizhiga, Okhota, Penzhina, Tugur, and Uda rivers. A huge amount of freshwater outflow from the Amur River drains into the Sea of Okhotsk and lowers the salinity levels, leading to the formation of ice floes which in turn hamper navigation in the seawater during the winter months. Climate The Sea of Okhotsk is considered to be one of the coldest seas in entire Eastern Asia. Due to its proximity to the Asian continent, the northern and western portions of the sea face extreme climatic conditions during the winter season. The southern part of the sea, which is situated close to the Pacific Ocean, experiences a relatively mild marine climate. The warm waters carried by the Pacific currents into the Sea of Okhotsk make the eastern parts of the sea comparatively warmer than the sea’s western portions. January and February are the coldest months while July and August are the warmer months in the sea. Wildlife Among all the seas in the world, the Sea of Okhotsk is considered to be one of the richest seas in terms of biological productivity. The aquatic flora in the sea is represented by algae and seaweeds. Some of the commercially important fish that are found in the sea include cod, capelin, flounder, herring, pollack, salmon, and smelts. In addition to this, various crabs, shrimp, crayfish, sea mussels, sea urchins, and polyps are also found. Marine mammals like the Northern fur seal, sea lions, porpoises, seals, and whales are also found in the Sea of Okhotsk. Numerous seabirds like the crested auklets, murres, puffins, and Steller’s sea eagle use the uninhabited islands of the sea as breeding grounds.