The smallest and most beautiful northern sea of Russia is the White Sea

One of the most beautiful northern seas of Russia is the White Sea. The pristine nature, unspoiled by civilization, a rich and unique fauna, as well as fantastic underwater landscapes and outlandish sea inhabitants attract more and more tourists to the harsh northern regions.

The White Sea is one of the smallest in Russia. Its area is 90 thousand square meters. Km. This includes numerous small islands, and the most famous among them - the Solovetsky, an area of 90.8 thousand square meters. The average depth of the sea is 67 m, and the maximum depth is 340 m.

From the Kola Peninsula (Cape Holy Nose) to the peninsula of Kanin (Cape Kanin Nos) lies the conditional border that separates the White Sea from the Barents Sea. On the coast of the White Sea there are many ports, the main of which are Arkhangelsk, Severodvinsk, Belomorsk, Onega, Kem, Kandalaksha and Mezen.

During the summer period, the surface layers of water in the bays and in the central part warm up to an average of 15 ° C, but in Gorl and Onega Bay the water temperature does not exceed 9 ° C. In winter, the water temperature drops to minus signs - from -0,5 ° С to -1,7 ° С.

Despite the low water temperature even in summer, there are quite a few people who want to admire the beauty of the sea world, so diving in the White Sea is one of the most popular types of recreation. Underwater rocks are home to many marine creatures: soft corals, anemones, sponges, bryozoans, hydroids, etc. These creatures grow right on the rocks, creating with their various colors and forms the most beautiful underwater landscapes. In the crevices of the rocks are hidden starfish, crabs, ophiuroids, shrimps and hermit crabs. Richly White Sea and a variety of species of fish - here you can meet cod, navaga, goby, catfish, sea bass, flounder and fish-pinhole.

From August to October, divers, making night dives, are lucky enough to watch another fantastic picture - a glowing plankton. Flocks of small crustaceans, comb combs, bryozoans and branches of hydroid polyps poured in the dark depths of the sea with an unearthly, fantastic emerald light. The beauty of this action is truly unforgettable, therefore tours to the White Sea during this period enjoy the greatest popularity among tourists.

The relief in the places where the dives are carried out is diverse - it can be sheer cliffs that go deep into the sea for several tens of meters, and flat sections of the seabed, located at a depth of 15 to 40 meters. Fans of extreme diving can receive a dose of adrenaline on areas with tidal currents, the speed of which reaches from two to four meters per second. Divers in a fast current "fly" over a rocky bottom, admiring the thickets of purple, kelp and colorful sponges.

In summer, visibility in the water is 10-15 meters, in October it rises to 20-30 meters, and in winter it increases to 30-40 meters.

The main attraction of the islands located in the White Sea are noisy bird markets. In these places nests of eiders, cormorants, gulls and terns.