To the south seas Russian Federation include the Caspian, Azov and. These seas are combined into one group, since they have a close geographical position and they are relatively close to each other. These seas are of tectonic origin and are the "descendants" of the Tethys Ocean, which currently no longer exists.

The South Seas were formed by periodic uplift and subsidence. Similar movements were observed in all southern territories. The formation of these seas also contributed to the periodic increase in either salty waters of the ocean or fresh river waters. A similar formation of the southern seas led to their separation from the oceans. completely isolated, and Black and partially isolated from .

The waters of the southern seas have a peculiar chemical composition. Their waters contain a large amount of chlorides, but they are less than in ocean water. But the content of carbonates exceeds oceanic indicators. One more characteristic feature waters of the southern seas is low. In these seas, most of the water balance consists of river waters. The content of fresh water in is one eighth of the total. The share of river waters is large (although much less than that of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov) near the Black and.

The southern seas are characterized by continental features. But each sea has its own specific climatic features. Features of the continental climate are most clearly seen in the northern part of the Caspian Sea. In the Sea of ​​Azov and the northwestern zone of the Black Sea, continentality is not so clearly seen.

Caspian Sea

In the southern seas, they are almost not observed. Only in the Black Sea does the water level fluctuate due to the tidal nature. Changes in the water level are 7 - 8 cm. All the southern seas are characterized by surge processes, which reach their greatest strength in the northern regions of the Caspian and Azov Seas and near the Black Sea. The significance of surge and surge is especially great for the vertical exchange of waters in the Black Sea.

In the southern seas, seiches are clearly manifested, which occur as a result of a rapid change over the body of water. Due to the fact that the Caspian Sea does not have access to the waters of the World Ocean, long-term changes in the water level are observed in this sea. in different historical periods the degree of filling of the basin of the Caspian Sea was different. Currently, there is a decrease in the amount of continental waters as a result of human activity and change.

In the southern seas, scientists distinguish between two regional types: estuary-shelf and oceanic. The Sea of ​​Azov, the northern part of the Caspian Sea and the northwestern Black Sea belong to the estuary-shelf type. They are characterized by: great depth water, high content fresh water, the strong influence of processes. In connection with these features, these seas react very quickly to natural and anthropogenic changes, which in turn affects the chemical composition of the waters and their biological conditions. In sea waters of this type, an ice cover forms every year, but during the winter its presence is irregular.

The deep-water parts of the Caspian and belong to the oceanic type. Due to the fact that these areas of the seas are characterized by a huge amount, there are minor changes caused by external factors. The features of these basins are determined, first of all, by the processes that occur during the internal exchange of water. In these areas of the seas, a constant chemical composition of water masses is observed.

As a result of human activity in the southern seas, there is a deterioration in the ecological state. The following factors contribute to water pollution: the widespread development of shipping and an increase in the number of seaports, the operation of industrial enterprises, soil dumping, runoff of urban polluted waters, etc.

Black Sea, breakwater (photo by Anastasia Chernikova)

A large amount of pollutants enter the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov along with the waters of the rivers Kuban, Mius and other small ones. In the waters of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, which belong to the territory of Russia, at the end of the 90s of the last century, there was a decrease in pollution.

The waters of the Black Sea, which belong to the Russian Federation, are classified as "Moderately polluted". There is a low oxygen content here, which negatively affects the flora and fauna of the sea. Periodically, oil products also enter the waters of the Black Sea, due to accidents on ships and together with industrial effluents. The ecological state of the resort areas is constantly deteriorating, as a result of the strong impact of human activities. It is necessary to build a large number of water protection facilities.

The most polluted areas of the Black Sea are located near the cities of Sochi, Novorossiysk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk. It is possible to improve water quality by applying a number of measures: the active introduction of treatment facilities, the timely renewal of sewerage networks, and strict control over the treatment of storm water. The increase in the number of ships that serve the port, the activities of the ships of the military fleet, which is based in the port of Novorossiysk, negatively affects the ecological state of the Black Sea waters.

The greatest environmental damage to the waters of the Caspian Sea is caused by the river runoff of polluted waters, wastewater that enter the sea from enterprises. periodically produce emissions of toxic substances. The waters of the Caspian Sea are polluted with oil products, phosphorus, and an increase in the content of phenols is observed here. At the end of the 90s of the last century, the highest levels of nitrogen content were noted. Among the districts of Dagestan, the following are “contaminated”: Lopatin, Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Izberbash and Derbent, as well as the mouths of the Sulak and Samur rivers. The waters of the Terek River (in the coastal area) are classified as "dirty".

The Atlantic Ocean occupies a huge area - 91 million square meters. km, and is the second largest after the Pacific Ocean. It contains 25% of all water on our planet. Let's get acquainted with short list seas of the Atlantic Ocean, each of which has its own character traits and features.

Atlantic Ocean basin

The Atlantic Ocean is the most important component of the World Ocean, the average depth of its waters is about 4 kilometers, and the salinity of the waters varies within 35%.

The Atlantic Ocean is characterized by a strongly indented coastline with a pronounced division into water areas. The seas of the Atlantic are of great scientific interest, since they occupy 16% of the total ocean area, that is, approximately 14.7 million square meters. km.

Rice. 1. Atlantic Ocean.

Many seas of the Atlantic are not directly connected to the ocean, and the connection between the basins occurs through bays and seas located nearby. Features of the geographical location and climatic conditions have a great influence on the animal and vegetable world seas of the Atlantic Ocean, which are very diverse.

The Atlantic Ocean was named after a mythical hero Ancient Greece- Atlanta, who held the entire sky on his mighty shoulders.

Seas of the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic basin includes 28 large and small seas, each of which has its own unique features.

TOP 2 articleswho read along with this

• Sea Labrador - the northernmost sea of ​​the Atlantic, the surface of which in winter is almost completely under ice. Huge icebergs are often found in the water expanses of this sea. Despite the extremely cold climate, the Labrador coast was inhabited by northern tribes as early as the 5th century BC. e.
• - a very unusual sea, which has no analogues anywhere in the world. It is the only sea that has no shores, since its boundaries are sea currents. In addition, 90% of the area of ​​the Sargasso Sea is occupied by Sargasso - long brown algae, the accumulation of which is visible even from space.

Rice. 2. Sargasso Sea.

• caribbean sea - a warm sea separating South and Central America. In ancient times it was called Antilles, but later it was renamed in honor of the Caribs - ancient Indian tribes. In the Middle Ages, the Caribbean was given over to pirates.

The seas of the Atlantic basin, washing Russia, include the Baltic, Black and Azov seas. All of them are deep in the mainland, and their interaction with the ocean is carried out through straits and other seas. Such remoteness from oceanic waters determines their very peculiar hydrological regime.

• North Sea - is of great transport importance, since its water area is the intersection of almost all the most important sea routes on the planet.
• - an inland sea that divides Turkey into two parts: Asian and European. This is the oldest sea, formed several million years ago.

Rice. 3. Sea of ​​Marmara.

What have we learned?

When studying the topic "The Seas of the Atlantic Ocean", we learned how many seas are in the Atlantic Ocean, what is their main feature. We also briefly got acquainted with the characteristics of the most interesting seas belonging to the Atlantic, found out which seas of the Atlantic Ocean wash the shores of Russia.

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Part of the World Ocean, bounded by Europe and Africa from the east and North and South America from the west. The name comes from the name of the titan Atlas (Atlanta) in Greek mythology.

It is inferior in size only to the Quiet; its area is approximately 91.56 million km2. It is distinguished from other oceans by the strong indentation of the coastline, which forms numerous seas and bays, especially in the northern part. In addition, the total area of ​​river basins flowing into this ocean or its marginal seas is much larger than that of rivers flowing into any other ocean. Another difference Atlantic Ocean is a relatively small number of islands and a complex bottom topography, which, thanks to underwater ridges and uplifts, forms many separate basins.

States of the coast of the Atlantic Ocean-49 countries:

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Gabon, Haiti, Guyana, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Iceland , Spain, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint -Lucia, Suriname, USA, Sierra Leone, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, France, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa.

NORTHERN ATLANTIC OCEAN

It is divided into northern and southern parts, the border between which is conditionally drawn along the equator. From an oceanographic point of view, however, the equatorial countercurrent, located at 5–8° N latitude, should be attributed to the southern part of the ocean. The northern boundary is usually drawn along the Arctic Circle. In some places this boundary is marked by underwater ridges.

Borders and coastline

in the northern hemisphere has a heavily indented coastline. Its narrow northern part is connected to the Arctic Ocean by three narrow straits. In the northeast, the Davis Strait, 360 km wide, connects it with the Baffin Sea, belonging to the Arctic Ocean. In the central part, between Greenland and Iceland, there is the Danish Strait, with a width of only 287 km at its narrowest point. Finally, in the northeast, between Iceland and Norway, is the Norwegian Sea, approx. 1220 km. East of Atlantic Ocean two water areas deeply protruding into the land are separated. The more northern of them begins with the North Sea, which to the east passes into the Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. To the south there is a system of inland seas - the Mediterranean and the Black - with a total length of approx. 4000 km.

In the tropical zone in the southwest of the North Atlantic are the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, connected to the ocean by the Strait of Florida. The coast of North America is indented by small bays (Pamlico, Barnegat, Chesapeake, Delaware and Long Island Sound); to the northwest are the Bays of Fundy and St. Lawrence, Belle Isle, Hudson Strait, and Hudson Bay.

CURRENTS

Surface currents in the northern part Atlantic Ocean moving clockwise. The main elements of this large system are the warm current of the Gulf Stream directed to the north, as well as the North Atlantic, Canary and Northern Equatorial (Equatorial) currents. The Gulf Stream follows from the Strait of Florida and the island of Cuba in a northerly direction along the coast of the United States and at about 40 ° N. latitude. deviates to the northeast, changing its name to the North Atlantic Current. This current divides into two branches, one of which follows the northeast along the coast of Norway and further into the Arctic Ocean. The second branch turns south and further southwest along the coast of Africa, forming the cold Canary Current. This current moves to the southwest and joins the North Equatorial Current, which heads west towards the West Indies, where it merges with the Gulf Stream. To the north of the North Equatorial Current is an area of ​​stagnant water, abundant in algae and known as the Sargasso Sea. Along the North Atlantic coast of North America, the cold Labrador Current passes from north to south, following from the Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea and cooling the coast of New England.

ISLANDS of the Atlantic Ocean

The largest islands are concentrated in the northern part of the ocean; these are the British Isles, Iceland, Newfoundland, Cuba, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Puerto Rico. On the eastern edge Atlantic Ocean there are several groups of small islands - Azores, Canaries, Cape Verde. There are similar groups in the western part of the ocean. Examples include the Bahamas, Florida Keys and Lesser Antilles. The archipelagos of the Greater and Lesser Antilles form an island arc surrounding the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea. In the Pacific Ocean, such island arcs are characteristic of regions of crustal deformations. Deep-water trenches are located along the convex side of the arc.

Many seas wash the shores of one or more countries. Some of these seas are huge, others are very small... Only the inland seas are not part of the ocean.

After the Earth formed from a bunch of gas and dust 4.5 billion years ago, the temperature on the planet dropped and the vapor contained in the atmosphere condensed (turned into liquid when cooled), settling on the surface in the form of rain. From this water, the world ocean was formed, subsequently divided by the continents into four oceans. These oceans include numerous coastal seas, often interconnected.

The largest seas of the Pacific Ocean

Philippine Sea
Area: 5.7 million km2, located between Taiwan in the north, the Marianne Islands in the east, the Caroline Islands in the southeast and the Philippines in the west.

coral sea
Area: 4 million km 2, bounded in the west by Australia, Papua New Guinea in the north, Vanuatu in the east and New Caledonia

South China Sea
Area: 3.5 million km 2, located between the Philippines in the east, Malaysia in the south, Vietnam in the west and China in the north

tasman sea
Area: 3.3 million km 2, washes Australia in the west and New Zealand in the east and separates the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Bering Sea
Area: 2.3 million km 2, located between Chukotka (Russia) in the west and Alaska (USA) in the east.

Japanese Sea
Area: 970,000 km 2, located between the Russian Far East in the northwest, Korea in the west, and Japan in the east.

Major seas of the Atlantic Ocean

Sargasso Sea
Area: 4 million km 2, located between Florida (USA) in the west and the northern Antilles in the south.

Composition of sea water

Sea water is approximately 96% water and 4% salt. Apart from the Dead Sea, the saltiest sea in the world is the Red Sea: it contains 44 grams of salt per liter of water (against 35 grams on average for most seas). Such a high salt content is due to the fact that in this hot region, water evaporates faster.

gulf of guinea
Area: 1.5 million km 2, located at the latitude of the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Mediterranean Sea
Area: 2.5 million km 2, surrounded by Europe in the north, Western Asia in the east and North Africa in the south.

Antilles Sea
Area: 2.5 million km 2, located between the Antilles in the east, the coast South America in the South and Central America in the West.

Gulf of Mexico
Area: 1.5 million km 2, it is adjacent to the southern coast of the United States from the north and Mexico from the west.

Baltic Sea
Area: 372,730 km 2 , washes Russia and Finland in the north, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the east, Poland and Germany in the south and Denmark with Sweden in the west.

North Sea
Area: 570,000 km2, bordered by Scandinavia to the east, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France to the south, and Great Britain to the west.

Major seas of the Indian Ocean

Arabian Sea
Area: 3.5 million km 2, washes the Arabian Peninsula in the west, Pakistan in the north and India in the east.

bay of bengal
Area: 2.1 million km 2, located between the coasts of India in the west, Bangladesh in the north, Myanmar (Burma) in the northeast, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the southeast and Sri Lanka in the southwest.

Great Australian Bight (Australian Bight)
Area: 1.3 million km 2, extends along the southern coast of Australia.

Arafura Sea
Area: 1 million km 2, located between Papua New Guinea in the northwest, Indonesia in the west and Australia in the south.

mozambique channel
Area: 1.4 million km 2, located near Africa, between the coasts of Mozambique in the west and Madagascar in the east.

The largest seas of the Arctic Ocean

Barents Sea
Area: 1.4 million km 2, washes the coast of Norway in the west and Russia in the east.

Greenland Sea
Area: 1.2 million km 2, bounded by Greenland in the west and the island of Svalbard (Norway) in the east.

East-Siberian Sea
Area: 900,000 km 2, washes the coast of Siberia.

The largest seas of Antarctica

inland seas

Inland, or closed, seas are completely surrounded by land. Black and Caspian Sea- the largest of them.

Black Sea
Area: 461,000 km2. It is surrounded by Romania and Bulgaria to the west, Russia and Ukraine to the north, Georgia to the east and Turkey to the south. It communicates with mediterranean sea through Marble.

Bellingshausen Sea
Area: 1.2 million km 2, located near Antarctica.

Caspian Sea
Area: 376,000 km2, located between Azerbaijan in the west, Russia in the northwest, Kazakhstan in the north and east, Turkmenistan in the southeast and Iran in the south.

Ross Sea
Area: 960,000 km2, located north of Antarctica.

Weddell Sea
Area: 1.9 million km 2, located between the South Orkney Islands (UK) and the South Shetland Islands (UK) in the north and Antarctica in the south.

The Dead Sea is so salty that there are no living organisms in it.

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest in its size. It has more than 100 bays and seas. Its northern waters are bordered by Iceland and Greenland, to the south by Antarctica, to the west by Eurasia and Africa, and to the east by the continents of the New World. The total coastal length of the ocean is 111,966 km.

currents

The Labrador, East Greenland and Norwegian currents flow in the upper ocean basin. The circular warm North Equatorial and South Equatorial currents are located on the upper and lower zones from the equator, respectively.

The seas, currents and bays of the Atlantic Ocean will be discussed below.

The North Equatorial Current is divided into the northern branch and the Florida Current, from which the Gulf Stream is formed, and later the North Atlantic Current.

The South Tradewind Current forms the Guiana Current in the north, and the Brazilian Current in the south, which passes into the Benguela Current.

Swimming pool

The seas and bays of the Atlantic Ocean with a volume of 330.1 million square meters. km cover a quarter of the world's oceans. 14.90 sq. km of its territory, is included in

South ocean, and the remaining 76.76 million square meters. km fall on the basin itself, 1/8 of which is occupied by seas, bays and straits.

The average value of its depth is 3736 m, and the greatest depth of 8742 m is observed on the border of the Caribbean Sea - in the Puerto Rico trench.

Salinity

The salinity of the ocean at the equator is 35‰, in the tropics and subtropics - 37.25‰, near Antarctica up to 33.6‰-33.8‰, off the coast of Canada and Greenland - 32‰, in the northeast - 35.5‰. The Atlantic Ocean is considered the most saline ocean in the world - its average value is 35.3‰.

Temperature

At the equator there is a large part of the ocean, where the temperature exceeds 20°C. In the subequatorial zone, the temperature is +10°C and +20°C in winter and summer, respectively.
In temperate latitudes, the temperature in winter drops to -10°C, and in summer it is 10-15°C. In winter, in temperate latitudes, uniform precipitation is observed, and in the tropics and subtropics - heavy rains and tropical cyclones.

Major seas of the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean basin includes 30 seas, which can be divided into several types. Among them, there are several main seas that have an important transport, recreational and industrial role.

Baltic

Washes the Scandinavian Peninsula, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, as well as Germany and Denmark. The volume of the sea is 21.5 thousand cubic meters. km, and the area - 419 thousand square meters. km, of which 4 thousand square meters. km are islands. The deepest part of the sea is observed in the Landsort depression - 470 m. The depth is 51 m.

It is rich in ferromanganese minerals, deposits of oil and amber. It is of great transport importance. The water temperature in the center of the sea ranges from 14°C to 17°C in summer and from 0.4°C to 5.8°C in winter. The salinity of the sea decreases with moving inland - on the border with the North Sea, it is 20%.

The sea is inhabited by shrimps, barnacles, mussels, porpoise, varieties of seals, perch, eel, salmon, bondage, cod, pike perch, burbot, pike. Fucus, kelp, polysiphonia, rhodomela grow on the territory of the pool.

caribbean

Washes South and Central America in the south and west, respectively. The northeastern part is separated by the Antilles. Its area is 2.574 million square meters. km, and the volume is 6860 thousand cubic meters. km. The greatest depth is in the Cayman Basin - 7686 m, and the average - 2491 m. It has more than 700 islands, caves and reefs.

Sea turtles, species of sharks and whales, flying fish, seals, dolphins, parrot fish and sperm whales live in the sea. The oil reserves of the Caribbean Sea exceed 13 billion tons, and gas - 8.5 trillion. cube m.

The sea temperature in summer is stable around 28°C. And in winter it is 23°C in the north and 27°C in the south. The salinity of the water does not exceed 36 ‰. From June to November, up to a dozen tropical hurricanes are observed in the north of the sea.

Labrador

The sea is named after the nearby Labrador Peninsula. It is located in the temperate zone and borders Canada and Greenland. The area is 840 thousand square meters. km, and the volume is 1.596 million km³. The average depth is 1898 m, and the maximum depth is 4316 m.

Temperatures in the northeast range from -4°C to -6°C and in the northwest from -16°C to -18°C. In the south, the air temperature varies from -2°C to -10°C, and in the central part - from -8°C to -10°C. It often storms in autumn and winter, and 2/3 of its area is occupied by ice.

The lowest salinity of the waters is observed on the northern shores of Greenland and Labrador - from 30‰ to 32‰, and the highest reaches 36‰, on the border with the ocean and the Sargasso Sea. The fauna of the basin is rich in squid, shrimps, dolphins, whales, flounder and even sharks.

Lazareva

The sea is located near Antarctica and washes Queen Maud Land. The basin does not have clear boundaries, but occupies an approximate area of ​​929 thousand square meters. km. The average depth of the sea is 3000 m, and the maximum depth is 4500 m. Seals, killer whales, white-blooded fish, penguins and sea leopards live on its territory.

All year round The sea is covered with ice, which gradually breaks off in summer, forming icebergs. In February, the temperature drops to -10°C, and in August it fluctuates from -10°C to -26°C. With strong winds, the temperature drops to -50°C. The salinity of the water varies slightly relative to the seasons - in summer 34 ° C, and in winter 33.5 ° C.

Sargasso

The seas and bays of the Atlantic Ocean include a basin covered with algae - the Sargasso Sea. It is devoid of shores and is located in the east of the Florida peninsula. In the south, it borders on the North Trade Wind, in the north on the North Atlantic, and in the west - the Canary Currents. Its area is about 6-7 million square meters. km, the average depth is 5000 m, and the maximum depth is 6905 m.

The area between the Florida peninsula, Bermuda and Puerto Rico is referred to as the Bermuda Triangle. Its territory is determined magnetic storms and gravitational anomalies. The temperature in winter ranges from 24°C to 18°C, and in winter it reaches 26°C. Its central part has a salinity of 37‰, and the outskirts - 36‰.

The sea was named after the algae - sargasso, which cover its surface. Their total mass is more than 10 million tons. The sea is home to anchovies, tuna, tiny crabs, small fish and sharks. The sea is visited by European and American eels for spawning. The meager world of fauna owes a small amount of plankton.

Northern

The sea washes Western Europe, Central Europe and the Scandinavian Peninsula. Its area is 565 thousand square meters. km, and the depth varies from 40 m to 725 m. More than half of the sea is no deeper than 100 m, and its average depth does not exceed 95 m.

Winds constantly blow over its basin, which is why fog and rain are often observed. In summer, the surface temperature reaches from 12°C to 18°C, and in winter it does not fall below 2°C. The average salinity of the water is 35‰, but on the border with the Baltic Sea it falls relatively.

More than a fifth of the total world maritime cargo traffic is transported through the sea. Rich in shrimps, halibut, cod, horse mackerel, Antantic herring, anchovies. The shelf zone is rich in oil and gas, the deposits of which provide the UK, Germany, France, Norway and Belgium with fuel. Oil reserves are 3 billion tons.

skosha

It is located on the coast of Antarctica, between the South George, Orkney and Sandwich Islands. Its area is 1.247 million square meters. km, the average depth reaches 5100 m, which makes it the deepest sea in the world. Its bottom reaches 6022 m.

The air above the sea is dry and cold. Storms and storms are often observed. The surface of the sea is often covered with icebergs. Salinity is relatively the same throughout the territory - 34%. The surface temperature drops to -1°C, and the average values ​​vary from 5°C to 7°C.

The development of fishing is facilitated by the presence of ice pike, whale, southern blue whiting, grenadier, mullet, hammerhead fish. Walruses, sperm whales, seals live here. In total, the pool has about 100 species of fish.

mediterranean

Divides the northern part of Africa from the southern part of Europe and in some places washes Western Asia. It has great importance in modern tourism and transportation. The seas and bays, or rather half of their names in the Atlantic Ocean, fall on the Mediterranean Sea.

The International Hydrographic Organization includes 7 basins in the inland seas of the Mediterranean Sea:

• Ligurian (15 thousand sq. km);
• Alboran (53 thousand sq. km);
• Balearic (86 thousand sq. km);
• Adriatic (138.6 thousand sq. km);
• Ionian (169 thousand sq. km);
• Aegean (214 thousand sq. km);
• Tyrrhenian (275 thousand sq. km).

The unrecognized seas include:

• Marble;
• Cretan;
• Tyrrhenian;
• Icarian;
• Levantine;
• Cypriot;
• Sardinian;
• Libyan;
• Myrtoian;
• Thracian;
• Cilician.

The total sea area is 2.5 million square meters. km, and the volume - 3.839 million cubic meters. m. Its deepest point is the Deep Basin, with a mark of 5121 m. The average depth is 1541 m.

The temperature on the surface drops as you approach the ocean. In summer, the temperature in the eastern part is 27-30°C, in the center it is 25°C, and in the west - from 19°C. In the east and in the central parts in winter, the temperature rises from south to north from 17°С to 8°С, respectively, and in the west - in the region from 11°С to 15°С.

because of high temperatures in the west, less water evaporates and its salinity is 36°C, and in the east it exceeds 39°C.

A meager amount of fish is isolated by a small amount of plankton. Animal world includes crayfish, white-bellied seals, sea turtles, anchovies, mullets, rays. Of the invertebrates, squids, octopuses, jellyfish, spiny lobsters, sponges and corals live in the sea.

Wedell

It is isolated from the east by the Coates Land, and from the west by the Antarctic Peninsula. Its area is 2.92 million square meters. km, and the volume is 329.7 thousand cubic meters. km. The deepest point is located in the northern part of the sea and is 6820 m, and relative shallow water is observed in the south and southwest - 500 m.

The average depth is about 3000 m. In the south, 1/7 of the territory is occupied by the Ronne and Filchner glaciers. During most of the year it is covered with ice due to a temperature of -1.8°C.

Black

Connected to the Sea of ​​Marmara through the Dardanelles. The coastline of 3400 km washes Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Romania, Abkhazia and Bulgaria. Its area is 422 thousand square meters. km, and the volume exceeds 555 thousand km³. The average depth is 1240 m, and the maximum reaches 2210 m.

The temperature in the north in winter drops to -3°С, and in summer it is +23°С, +25°С. The southern part has a milder climate, and its temperature drops to +7°C in winter and rises to +23°C in summer. The northwestern part receives up to 300 mm of precipitation per year, and the Caucasian part exceeds this figure by 5 times.

Of the algae in the pool, cystorhiza, cladophora, and phyllophora grow. Of the fish live mackerel, beluga, horse mackerel, herring, anchovy. More than 500 types of crustaceans, 200 types of molluscs. Due to the large amount of hydrogen sulfide at a depth of 150-200 m, only anaerobic bacteria function. The high salinity of the sea also affected the scarcity.

Major gulfs of the Atlantic Ocean

The seas and bays of the Atlantic Ocean were formed due to the large indentation of the coast - once Pangea split into Laurasia and Gondwana. There are not only individual bays of the ocean, but also bays of the seas.

Bay of Biscay

It washes the territory from the city of Brest to Cape Ortegal. Stretches for 400 km. It borders on the north with France and Italy. It occupies an area of ​​223 thousand square meters. km. ITS average depth is 15-17 m, and the maximum is 4735 m.

In winter, the wind speed reaches 113 km/h. The northern part in summer has a temperature of 10 ° C, and in summer it drops by 2 times. The water temperature in the southern part is 12°C in winter and 22°C in summer. The salinity of the water is 35‰. Of the crustaceans that live in the sea sea ​​urchins, crabs, shrimps. Beluga whales, stingrays, dolphins, whales and several species of sharks live.

Gulf of Bothnia

The bay is located north of the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Finland. It is separated from the south by the Aland Islands. Covers an area of ​​117 sq. km. The average depth is 60 m and the deepest is 295 m. Its maximum width is 240 km and its length is 668 km.

Water freezes in 5 out of 12 months. In winter, the water temperature does not fall below 0°C, and in summer it rises to 9-13°C. The water in the north has a salinity of 1-3‰, and in the south 4-5‰. Precipitation falls 550 mm per year. The vegetation of the bay is sparse. Of the fish, there are pike, pike perch, grayling, trout, sprats, salmon, perch and whitefish. Of the endangered species, there are otter, guinea pig and ringed seal.

bristol bay

The bay was formerly known as the Severn Sea and separates South West England from South Wales. considered a channel. It has a width of 50 m and a length of 135 m. At the mouth of the channel, the depth does not reach 10 m, and the coastline on both sides exceeds 1500 km. Gulls, fulmars, linnets, robins live in the reserves of its territory.

gulf of guinea

It is located at the intersection of the prime meridian and the equator. It is isolated by capes Palmeirinhas and Palmasi. It has an area of ​​1.533 million square meters. km. Its maximum depth is 6363 m, and the average is 2579 m. It is divided into the bays of Biafra and Benin. The bay is rich in oil. Piracy is developed on its territory.

Temperature surface water does not fall below 25°C. Precipitation falls a record amount for Africa - 9000 mm. Closer to the ocean, the waters have a salinity of 35 ‰. In the mouths of the rivers, this figure drops to 20-30 ‰. Live in the pool different types sharks, crabs, shrimps, crustaceans, stingray, swordfish, tuna, sailfish.

Gulf of Maine

Located between Nova Scotia and Cape Cod. It has an area of ​​95 thousand square meters. km. The average depth is 227 m. Its maximum depth is 329 m. In February and March, the water temperature reaches 2 °C. Maximum temperature on the surface of the bay it is observed in August - 21 °С.

Gulf of Saint Lawrence

It is the mouth of the river of the same name. It is considered the largest estuary and semi-enclosed sea. Washes the coast of Canada. In the north it borders with the Labrador Peninsula. It is bounded to the south and east by the islands of Cape Breton and Newfoundland. To the west is North America.

Its area is 226 thousand km². Volume - 34500 km³. The southern part has a depth of 60-80 m. The northern part is 400-500 m. The average depth is 152 m and the maximum depth is 530 m.

It has a monsoon climate. The water temperature in summer reaches 15°C, and in winter it drops below -1°C. The western part of the bay has a salinity of 12-15‰, and in the northeast it reaches 32‰. The bottom has a temperature of 5°C and a salinity of 35‰. At a depth of 100 m, the temperature is kept at 0°C, and the salinity is 32‰.

Gulf of Mexico

The seas and gulfs of the Atlantic Ocean include the largest gulf in the world, the Gulf of Mexico. Often referred to as the American Mediterranean Sea and considered inland. Its area is 1.543 million square meters. km, and the volume is 2.332 km³.

It washes the south of the United States, the northeast of Mexico and the western part of the Cuban Island. The maximum depth is 4384 m, and the average is 1615. The coastline with the United States and Mexico extends for 4500 km.

The intensely heated surface serves as energy for Hurricanes and storms. To a depth of 2000 m, salinity reaches 36.9‰. Deeper - 35‰. Precipitation is 1000-12000 mm. average temperature in summer it is 29°С, and in winter it drops from 25°С to 18°С from north to south. Tropical climate.

Rich in oil and gas. It serves as an important shipping point for neighboring countries. After the disaster in 2010, it became significantly contaminated - more than 760 million tons of oil fell into the bay and resulted in the death of hundreds of birds and animals.

There are lobsters, shrimps, bluefish, tuna, marlin, menhaden, swordfish, flounder, Antantic tarpons, whose weight is 50-150 kg, and the Mexican filamentous stingray, which lives only in these waters.

Gulf of Riga

Gulf of the Baltic Sea. Its southern part washes Latvia, and the northern borders with Estonia. Separated from the Baltic Sea by the Moonsund Archipelago. The area of ​​the bay is 18.1 thousand square meters. km. The maximum depth is 67 m, and the average is 26.

In winter, the bay is covered with ice - the water temperature drops to -1°C. In summer the water heats up to 18°C. Salinity is relatively low - 3.5-6‰. On the banks, the water is 26-28‰, and in the center 22-23‰.

The Gulf of Finland

The bay washes the shores of Estonia, Russia and Finland. It occupies the eastern part of the Baltic Sea. The area is 29.5 thousand square meters. km. The average depth of the basin does not exceed 38 m, and the deepest point is at a depth of 121 m.

In winter, the temperature drops to 0°C, and from the end of November to the end of April it freezes. In summer the temperature fluctuates around 15-17C°C. The water surface has a salinity of 0.2‰ and increases by 9 units. The bottom is relatively higher, from 0.3‰ to 11‰. With Western Winds, the basin causes floods in St. Petersburg. Autumn storms are observed.

On the south coast, there are Kotelsky, Lebyazhy, Gostilitsky and Kurgalsky wildlife preserves. Ringed and gray seals listed in the Red Book live on its territory. Of the endemic fish, the Baltic cod and herring are found. Eel, crucian carp, lamprey, flounder, pike, ruff, cod are found in its pool.

Despite the fact that the Atlantic Ocean is in many ways inferior to the Pacific, its seas and bays have broken world records in some criteria:

• The Gulf of Mexico is the largest bay in the world;
• the Wedell Sea is the cleanest and most transparent sea;
• The Sargasso Sea is the calmest sea;
• The West Wind Current is the largest current in the world.

Article formatting: Mila Fridan

Video about the seas and bays in the Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean: