Russia owns huge reserves, which are distributed unevenly over the area. Most of them are concentrated in the north, a smaller part in the south. The country has the longest coastline in the world, the total length of which is about 61 thousand km. In addition to the oceans and seas, there are more than two million rivers and the same number. All water resources actively used in economic activity states. In total, Russia is washed by 13 seas, 1 of which is closed, and the remaining 12 belong to the basins of the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific oceans. This article provides a list and short description all seas and oceans washing the territory of the Russian Federation.
Atlantic Ocean
The seas of the Atlantic Ocean wash the western coast of the state. These include the Azov, Black and Baltic seas. The length of the coastline is about 1845 km. The largest rivers flowing into these seas are Luga, Neva, Don, Matsesta and Ashe.
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean and the seas of its basin wash the northern part of Russia. The total length of the coastline is 39,940 km. The Arctic Ocean basin includes the Chukchi, Kara, East Siberian, White, Barents Seas, as well as the Laptev Sea. , flowing into the Arctic Ocean include the Lena, Yenisei, Ob, Northern Dvina and Pechora.
Pacific Ocean
The waters of the Pacific Ocean wash the territory of Russia from the east. The length of the coastline is 17,740 km. The Sea of Japan, Okhotsk and Bering Seas are located on the Asian coast of the country. The Amur and Anadyr are the largest rivers in the Pacific basin.
Map of the seas and oceans that wash the territory of Russia
As can be seen on the map above, the country's shores are washed by twelve seas. Another, the Caspian Sea, has an internal closed basin and is the largest enclosed body of water in the world. The seas of Russia differ in origin, temperature, maximum depth, bottom topography, degree of salinity and diversity of flora and fauna.
The seas of the Atlantic Ocean that wash Russia:
Sea of Azov
An inland sea in southwest Russia that is the shallowest in the world. The Sea of Azov can be considered a gulf of the Black Sea. The length from north to south is 231 km, and the maximum depth is up to 14 m. The reservoir freezes in winter, and warms up well in summer. Thanks to the predominantly positive temperatures, life is actively developing in the waters. 80 species of fish, including commercial ones, live here.
Black Sea
The waters of the Black Sea wash the southwestern borders of the country. Its length from north to south is 580 km. The maximum depth exceeds 2 thousand m. Most of the cyclones that occur throughout the year originate over the Atlantic. Numerous rivers significantly desalinate the coastal waters of the sea. Due to the high content of hydrogen sulfide in water bottom part uninhabited. At shallow depths, both Mediterranean and freshwater fish species are found: anchovy, horse mackerel, tuna, stingray, bream, pike perch, and ram.
Baltic Sea
The reservoir, located in the north-west of Russia, is 660 km long. It is an inland sea. Maximum depth Baltic Sea is 470 m. Cyclones that form near the Atlantic bring frequent rain and wind to the Baltic. Due to the abundance of precipitation, the water in the sea is slightly salty, so there is little plankton in it. Fish include smelt, herring, Baltic sprat, whitefish and many others.
The seas of the Arctic Ocean that wash Russia:
Barencevo sea
Sea waters wash part of the northern coast of the country. The length of the coastline is 6645 km. The maximum depth exceeds 590 m. The North Atlantic Current and Arctic air radically influence climatic conditions. Summer temperatures do not rise above +10ºС. In the northwestern part the ice does not melt all year round. The waters are rich in plankton. More than a hundred species of fish live here, some of them commercial, for example, halibut, haddock, and catfish. represented by seals, bears and beluga whales. They settled on the coastal rocky cliffs different kinds birds such as gulls, guillemots and guillemots.
White Sea
An inland sea washing the northern part of the state. The length exceeds 600 km, the maximum depth is 343 m. The White Sea is slightly larger than the Azov Sea. Winter time long and harsh, and summers are humid and cool. Cyclones dominate over the reservoir. The water is slightly salty on the surface. The world of zooplankton and phytoplankton is not very developed. There are about fifty species of fish, which is significantly less than in neighboring seas. This is due to the harsh climate and low salinity. Cod, smelt, Chinook salmon, pollock, and salmon are of great commercial importance. The fauna is represented by sea hares and beluga whales.
Kara Sea
Waters wash islands and archipelagos northern Russia. The length of the coastline is 1500 km, the maximum depth is 620 m. The average water temperature does not exceed 0°C. Throughout the year, a significant part of the sea surface is covered with ice. Salt water at river mouths becomes almost fresh. According to recent studies, there are oil and gas deposits on the shelves. Brown and red algae grow well in the sea. Fish resources are rich in navaga, flounder, chinook salmon, nelma and smelt. There are: sei whale and fin whale.
Laptev sea
A marginal reservoir of the Arctic Ocean, 1300 km long. The maximum depth is 3385 m. The sea is located near the Arctic Circle, which significantly affects the climate. Winter temperatures average -26°C. The region is affected by cyclones, bringing with them blizzards and winds. In summer the air warms up to +1ºС. Melting ice and runoff from Siberian rivers dilute the salt water of the sea. The flora is represented by a variety of algae and plankton. Near the coastal strip you can find sea urchins And . Large freshwater fish emerge from river mouths to feed. The fishery is not developed, since the sea is covered with ice most of the time. Among the mammals, beluga whales, walruses and seals do well.
East-Siberian Sea
The sea of the Arctic Ocean basin adjacent to the northern coast of Russia. The length of the coastline exceeds 3000 km, the greatest depth is about 900 m. The average air temperature in winter is -28°C. The reason is so low temperatures are the cold winds carrying air masses from Siberia. Summer air temperatures rise to +2ºС on average. The fauna is scarce due to the harsh climate. The ichthyofauna of the coastal zone includes whitefish and sturgeon. Large mammals include beluga whales, walruses, and polar bears.
Chukchi Sea
A marginal reservoir in the north of the country. Greatest depth 1256 m. Throughout the year the sea receives little sun rays. A sharp drop in temperature begins in the fall. Winter is characterized by strong winds and an average temperature of -28°C. Cover the reservoir with ice all year round. Grayling, char and cod are found in the Chukchi Sea. Phytoplankton serves as food for cetaceans. Polar bears live on drifting ice floes, forming an entire population.
The Pacific seas that wash Russia:
Bering Sea
The reservoir in the northeastern part of the Pacific coast has a coastline length of 13,340 km, a maximum depth of 4,151 m. There are numerous islands near the coast. in winter average temperature air does not rise above -23ºС. Summer temperatures average +10ºС. The Bering Sea is covered with ice almost all year round. The coast is indented with capes, bays and spits. The high banks are favored by seagulls, puffins, and guillemots. The aquatic world is famous for its diversity of salmon and flounder. The gently sloping shores have become home to walruses, sea otters and polar bears.
Japanese Sea
The waters of the Sea of Japan wash the eastern coast of Russia. The length of the coastline is 3240 km, the maximum depth is 3742 m. The location in temperate latitudes affects the local climate. IN winter period North-westerly winds blow over the surface. Typhoons often occur at this time. Inflow river waters minor. The coast is home to starfish of all sizes and colors, urchins, shrimp and sea cucumbers. The fishery covers cod, flounder, pollock and herring. After a storm, you can see relatively safe jellyfish on the shore.
Sea of Okhotsk
A semi-enclosed body of water washing the south-eastern coast of the country. The maximum depth is 3916 m. The monsoon climate prevails on the coast. January temperatures drop to -25°C. The summer maximum is +18°C. IN coastal zone inhabited by crabs, mussels and starfish. Mammals include killer whales, seals and fur seals. In the open sea, flounder, capelin, coho salmon and pink salmon are caught.
Closed seas that wash Russia:
Caspian Sea
The only endorheic sea in the southwest of Russia. The length of the coastline is 1460 km, the maximum depth is 1025 m. Based on some signs, the Caspian Sea should be called a lake. But the salinity of the water, its size and hydrological regime indicate that it is a sea. There are many islands along the coast. The waters of the Caspian Sea are unstable, they rise and fall. Winter temperatures average -1°C, and by mid-summer they rise to +25°C. More than a hundred rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, the largest of which is the Volga. In winter, the northern part of the sea freezes. Vegetable and animal world unique. Only endemic species live here, species that live only in the Caspian Sea. Near the coast you can find goby, herring, sturgeon, white fish, shrimp, pike perch and beluga. A unique mammal is the Caspian seal, the smallest representative of its family.
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Our state is rightfully recognized as a state with access to a large number of water areas. The seas and that wash Russia are located at different latitudes. So how many seas washes Russia?The number of reservoirs washing the Russian Federation
In total in space Russian Federation There are water spaces that belong to the waters of one inland sea and 12 more, belonging to the waters of the three largest oceans of the planet. The list of seas that wash Russia includes many objects whose waters our state shares with other countries.
The general list includes Arctic sea pool:
- Barentsevo;
- White;
- Karskoe;
- Laptev sea;
- East Siberian;
- Chukotka.
To the list of seas Atlantic Basin includes:
- Baltic;
- Black;
- Azovskoe.
Refer to Pacific Basin:
- Beringovo;
- Okhotsk;
- Japanese.
Attention! A special feature of our state is the inland Caspian Sea located on its territory. This list helps to understand which oceans wash Russia.
Caspian Sea
Oceans
In total, three of the four parts of the world's oceans wash the shores of Russia. Borders of Russia not in contact only with the Indian Ocean. Unless, of course, you count the presence of the division of the World Ocean into five parts. IN last years In world scientific practice, there is an opinion that it is necessary to separately identify the one located in the region South Pole planets of the southern waters. This division is accepted by analogy with the existence of the Arctic Ocean. But official science has not yet officially recognized such a division.
Taking into account this division, we can separately consider each object washing the shores of our state.
Atlantic
What ocean do you think the Baltic belongs to? This is a body of water that unites the borders of virtually all European states, belongs to the Atlantic Ocean. The Baltic Sea has always been the center of Eurasian civilization.
The unification by a single water space ensured the successful economic development of the Baltic countries. It is not for nothing that the largest Russian economic centers are located on the Baltic shores. Including the cities of St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Baltiysk and Vyborg.
At the same time, the Atlantic waters include the most saturated with hydrogen sulfide space in the Russian Federation - Black. Along with the Baltic, Chernoe is a major transport artery and an important resort area for the development of the country's economy. The bases of the Russian Armed Forces are located in its waters. They are in such major cities, like Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. There is no need to think about which ocean the Black Sea belongs to. It part of the Atlantic waters.
Comparing how many oceans wash Russia, should be included in the Atlantic waters also a miniature Sea of Azov. Its area is only 39 thousand square meters. It is too shallow for water transportation, so a special channel for ships was dug in it. Due to the convenient bottom topography, covered with sand and warm water, the Sea of Azov is recognized more as a resort than as a strategic site. There are numerous recreation centers on its banks. The resort center is the city of Yeysk.
Arctic
A huge area off the coast of the Russian Federation is occupied by the cold and dangerous Arctic. It includes big number seas. For example, the White Sea, which ocean does it belong to? It is part of the Arctic Ocean.
This part of the World Ocean includes the largest sea washing the territory of Russia, the Bering Sea. The area of the Bering Sea is 2,315,000 square kilometers.
Its depths are rich. The fields located at the bottom of the Chukotka region have the maximum natural oil reserves. Their potential is still known only theoretically. Active geological surveys are constantly being carried out at the bottom of Arctic reservoirs.
Attention! A logical feature of all Arctic waters is the very cold water, frozen for most of the year.
Quiet
The Pacific Ocean covers a large area of the planet's surface. The reservoirs included in its water area, belonging to the water space of Russia, as well as the water spaces of the Arctic, characterized by a harsh climate.
Only Japan has a relatively favorable climate, allowing the creation of resort areas on its shores. It is also the most “inhabited” region of Russia on the Pacific coast. Suffice it to recall such large and developed megacities as Vladivostok or Nakhodka.
The Pacific Ocean on the territory of Russia is a real center of water transport communications between the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. At the moment it is waterways messages are deleted with maximum attention when considering programs economic development territories.
Pacific Ocean
Development of coastal areas
Every body of water located on the territory of the Russian Federation must has large settlements
. The development of cities was gradual. Most ancient history, since the times of Ancient Rome and Greece, the Atlantic basins have been distinguished.
Unique. Occupying 1/7 of the entire landmass, it simultaneously has on its territory all possible natural landscapes and climatic zones. The main part of the length of its borders lies on the water, thus covering more than a dozen seas belonging to three oceans. At the same time, it is not so easy to understand how many seas wash Russia. Some scientists believe that our country borders on 12 such reservoirs. Some argue that there are 13 of them.
The struggle for maritime boundaries
This dispute did not arise out of nowhere. In all centuries, countries that had water borders were in an advantageous position. The military and merchant fleet, fishing, border protection, rich ports that regularly supplied hard cash to the treasury - these are just some of the advantages of access to the sea. Until the end of the century before last, one of the most honorable and coveted titles for many such states was the recognition of them as “Mistress of the Sea.” Since the 15th century, Spain, Portugal, Holland, England, Russia, and then Germany, which entered the world stage late, competed for the title. The struggle for Russia's seas was very difficult. Only under Peter the Great the once lost Baltic returned to us. And Russia was able to re-annex the Black Sea only a century and a half later, under Catherine the Great. And the struggle for it with its closest neighbors until the 20th century was very cruel. This can be understood just by looking at the numerous memorials on the Black Sea coast. Such, for example, as the monument to the dead sailors in Sevastopol.
What's the catch?
It would seem that it is very easy to answer the question of how many seas wash Russia: just open the map and look at it carefully. But... This is where the stumbling block lies. Scientists have been arguing about the number of Russian maritime borders for decades. How many are there? 12? Or is it still 13? Or maybe even 14?
The whole difficulty lies in what is considered seas. And world scientific thought still cannot come to an agreement on this issue. In general, the very concept of “sea” is quite vague. For example, the Mediterranean also includes the Aegean, which is separated only by bottom irregularities, and the Arctic Ocean is divided off the coast of Russia into a good dozen seas. But there are also colloquial designations... “Ladoga Sea”, “Glorious Sea - sacred Baikal”...
According to hydrologists
And yet, what is commonly called the sea in scientific circles?
1) This is the name of a part of the World Ocean, separated from it by land or an underwater mountain range, but having a connection with it. This classification is the most common. It includes most of the known seas. But in this case, the question remains open about “inland seas” that are in no way connected to any ocean.
2) According to the second tradition, any large salty pond, regardless of whether it has access to the ocean or not.
These disagreements are one of the reasons why scientists cannot agree on how many seas wash Russia. Should we consider the Caspian and Aral Seas, which currently have no connection with the World Ocean, as such? Or should we classify them as salty, but still lakes?
Water boundaries on the country map
The map impartially shows how many seas wash Russia and their names. We count. In the south - Black and Sea of Azov. Unfortunately, it is not known how long the latter will retain its status. Now it is becoming increasingly shallow, its maximum depth barely reaches 20 meters. So, perhaps, we will soon be poorer by one sea.
In the north, our country is washed by 7 seas, which belong to 2 oceans. Baltic - to Atlantic. Barents, Beloe, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukotka - to the Arctic.
To the east we are bordered by the USA and Japan by the Bering, Japan and Okhotsk seas, which belong to the Pacific Ocean.
Seas with disputed status
Thus, it turns out everything... But here the question of how many seas wash Russia again arises in full force. It turns out that there are 3 more water bodies whose status is still in question.
Caspian. Like many Russian seas, it belongs to the Atlantic Ocean, but only nominally. The fact is that it has no direct relationship to them. The Caspian Sea is a fragment of those times when they splashed on the site of present-day Siberia and China salty waters ancient ocean Tethys. Now the Caspian Sea is drainless, and only the commonality of animals and plant worlds. Long years Geographers cannot agree on whether it can be considered a sea by definition or should be classified as a salt lake. However, recently the Caspian sea status was officially returned.
Pechora. Another stumbling block. It is formed by uneven water relief and, strictly speaking, is just a coastal part of the Barents Sea, at the confluence of the Pechora River. Despite the fact that some scientists refuse to identify it as a separate object, it is officially present on the map of Russia.
Aral. Objectively speaking, the issue has long been considered closed. Just a few decades ago, there were heated debates about this drying up drainage reservoir. Like the Caspian Sea, it has no connection with the ocean; moreover, due to the shallowing of the rivers that feed it, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, it is receding every year. And despite the fact that many people habitually call the Aral Sea, legally it is a salty, endorheic lake.
On this table you can see how many seas wash our country.
| № | Name | Which ocean does it belong to? |
| 1 | Azovskoe | Atlantic |
| 2 | Baltic | Atlantic |
| 3 | Barentsevo | Arctic |
| 4 | White | Arctic |
| 5 | Beringovo | Quiet |
| 6 | East Chukotka | Arctic |
| 7 | Karskoye | Arctic |
| 8 | Caspian | Atlantic |
| 9 | Laptev | Arctic |
| 10 | Okhotsk | Quiet |
| 11 | Pechora | Arctic |
| 12 | Black | Atlantic |
| 13 | Japanese | Quiet |
Thus, through simple manipulations with the map, you can see that on the territory of our country there are 13 seas, belonging to three of the four existing oceans. An interesting fact is that almost all of Russia’s seas, related to the Atlantic (except for the Azov Sea) and the Pacific Ocean, are also a water border with other countries. While from time immemorial only Russian ships plied the coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean.
– country with big amount natural waters , a developed network of rivers and lakes. The country's water coast has a length of almost 60 thousand km.
However, abundant water reserves are divided very unevenly across its area. The largest number of rivers are located in cold and elevated regions, and the smallest in the southern regions.
Maritime boundaries
What waters wash the shores of the Russian Federation?
The lands of the Russian Federation are washed several seas connecting with the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
The deepest sea– Beringovo (4150 m). In winter, its temperature varies from -1.5 to +3 degrees, in the hot months from +4 to +11. The Sea of Japan has an average depth of 1535 m. Winter temperatures vary from 0 to +4 degrees, in summer from +18 to +25. The Sea of Okhotsk has a size of 3522 m. The temperature in the cold season is from -1 to +1, in the summer from +3 to +7 degrees.
Atlantic Basin
In this connection there are the Black, Baltic and Azov seas. They are located in the mainland zone, and communicate with the ocean thanks to a large number channels.
The Black Sea is the warmest of all the seas that are part of the Russian Federation. The degree of warmth in winter is from 0 to +7 degrees, in summer from +25 to +30 degrees. The greatest depth of the sea is 2210 m. The sea lies in the caldera earth's crust, next to which the mainland is located.
The Baltic Sea is the most western of all Russian seas. The depth is only 470 m. Winter temperatures range from -1 degrees, in summer from +18 to +20 degrees.
The Sea of Azov is the shallowest and small in area sea on Earth. The maximum depth is a ridiculous 13 m. Due to its size, the temperature in winter does not drop below 0 degrees; in summer, the waters heat up to +30 degrees.
Where is the Black Sea?
Black Sea coast in Russia is located in the coastal strip, starting from the eastern and southern coasts of Crimea to the Taman Peninsula. Most of coastal zone of the Black Sea coast is located in the subtropics, also located here greatest number resort areas.
Interesting facts: the warmest, smallest and largest water area on the lands of the Russian Federation
The warmest The Black and Azov seas are considered to be the seas of Russia.
The Black Sea coastal strip lies in the subtropics, which are softened by the presence of the sea - summers are usually hot and dry, and winters are mild and do not skimp on rain. Winds in the Black Sea in winter are dominated by northeastern winds, causing a significant drop in temperature. Normal temperature water in summer time+25, in winter +3.
The Sea of Azov is the smallest in the world. Water temperature in winter is from 0 to +6, in summer from +23 to +27. This sea is great for family vacation, since the chemical composition of the waters is rich in useful minerals and trace elements.
The Sea of Azov - in the following video:
The Bering Sea is considered the largest water area on the lands of the Russian Federation. The size of this sea is almost 2315 thousand square meters. km, average depth - 1600 m. The sea divides Eurasia and the United States in the North Pacific Ocean. It got its name from the researcher V. Bering. Long before his research, the sea was called Bobrovoe and Kamchatka.
Bering Sea located immediately in three climate zones. The Anadyr and Yukon rivers enter its waters. The sea is covered with ice for a significant part of the year.