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Why did the White Sea be called White? History

Who among us in childhood did not ask himself the question: why did the seas call White, Yellow and Red? Even children know that the water has a color from azure to a saturated blue, so the strange names of the seas for a long time do not go out of the children's mind. But over time, curiosity runs low, and the information that was received is forgotten. Today we decided to recall why the White Sea was called the White Sea. And also tell about the origin of the names of some other seas on our planet.

The location of the White Sea on a geographical map

This pond is one of the smallest, washing the territory of our country. It is located in the north of the European part of the Russian Federation. It is interesting that the sea, on the one hand, cuts very deep into the land, but on the other hand it refers to the basin of the Arctic Ocean. The fact that most of the reservoir goes beyond the Arctic Circle and is embedded in land, affects what the White Sea is rightly called the warmest of all the northern water areas of our country.

Short description of the White Sea

Hydrologists consider this reservoir to be very interesting, because the relief of the bottom here is not homogeneous, which makes the water area unique and unique in its kind. In the White Sea there are a lot of islands, the most famous are the Solovetsky.

Scientists divide the water area into several parts:

  • Pool (it is the deepest);
  • Throat (narrow part connecting with the Barents Sea);
  • funnel;
  • Lips - Mezenskaya, Dvinskaya and Onega;
  • The Gulf of Kandalaksha.

It is interesting that the climate within the White Sea combines several features:

  • Marine;
  • Continental;
  • Oceanic;
  • Continental.

All of the above facts make the flora and fauna of this water area unique. But they do not give an opportunity to answer the question of why the White Sea was called the White Sea. Therefore, we will continue searching for truthful information in the following sections of the article.

The first chronicle mentions of the White Sea

If you are wondering why the White Sea was called White, history and chronicles will help find information that sheds light on this topic. Scientists say that the first mention of the northern pond was mentioned in the eleventh century. Novgorod merchants very quickly estimated the possibilities of developing trade through the White Sea, moreover, these lands were rich in a fur animal, and water - a fish. All together began to attract people here, so the coastal areas began to develop rapidly.

In the fourteenth century, the first large settlement, Kholmogory, was established, which served as an international port. The merchants equipped numerous merchant ships to Denmark for two centuries. But the foreigners first entered the water area of the White Sea only in the sixteenth century.

Since that moment trade between England and Russia began to develop along this waterway, later trade relations with other foreign powers have also been established.

But over time the White Sea (which, however, was not yet White) lost its importance to the northern waterway. The construction of St. Petersburg significantly reduced the attractiveness of this region for traders. Most merchant ships began to walk through the Baltic.

Perhaps you will ask, where is the answer to the question about why the White Sea was called the White Sea? Facts and information on this subject, we will certainly cite. Do not hurry.

White Sea: why so called and when

Scientists know that until the seventeenth century the reservoir changed several names. At one time he was called Studen, and it's no wonder. After all, more than six months a year the sea is completely covered with ice, and life around it freezes. This was one of the main reasons for the transfer of the northern trade route to the waters of the Baltic Sea. In fact half a year is a very big break in trade during which many favorable offers and opportunities are lost.

Sometimes the sea was called Solovetsky in honor of the largest islands in its basin. Historians know of the mention of this sea as the North. This is due to its location and characteristics, because the reservoir is located in the most severe place of our country.

In some chronicles it was noted that the sea was called Spokoiny. And this too was a very accurate description of it - it is difficult to expect storms and storms, when more than six months the water is icebound. But still, why did the White Sea be called the White Sea? And when did this happen? In this account, scientists have only one version.

Near the end of the sixteenth century the North Sea acquired two well-established names. Scandinavians called it - Gandwick (Bay of Beasts), and the Slavs - White. On ancient maps, there is one and the other designation. But still after a hundred years in everyday life there was only a Slavic name - the White Sea. Under it, the reservoir hit all the geographical maps of that time and retained its name to this day.

Why did the White Sea be called White?

Unfortunately, in the scientific world there is no unity about the origin of the name of the White Sea. Nowhere in the chronicles, this fact is not reflected, but each of the following versions is quite viable in itself, and all of them in the aggregate:

  • The name is given by ice. Since more than half a year the sea is in ice chains, it looks like a continuous white strip. It is not surprising that our ancestors characterized the sea in color, which it has most of the year.
  • Reflection of the sky. Many hydrologists say that even in summer the color of the water of the White Sea is milky. The same color and the northern sky, reflected in the pond. Therefore, they began to call it in honor of the shade, which is so characteristic of these places.
  • The value is white. Despite the fact that this version can not be confirmed, it seems plausible to many people. For people, each color carries certain information. For example, red symbolizes beauty, but white - this is the divine beginning. It was in the north, according to many scientists, was the birthplace of all the Slavs - the country of Hyperborea. Its inhabitants were endowed with numerous talents, abilities and knowledge. This allowed the Hyperboreans to become the most powerful people on the planet. But as a result of natural disasters their country was lost, but the sea in memory of their ancestors began to be called White.

It is not known which version is the most truthful, but one can choose from them one that more closely matches his world view. And what do we know about other seas? How were their names formed?

Red, Black and Yellow Seas: the origin of names

No less interesting are the stories and other famous seas of the planet. For example, the Black Sea derives its name from hydrogen sulphide, which is rich in its depths. Even in ancient times, sailors noticed that almost any object that is in the water for a long time is covered with a dense black coating.

On the origin of the name of the Red Sea, there are several hypotheses:

  • The waters of the sea are rich in microscopic algae, which at certain intervals acquire a brown color. During this period, the sea water resembles the color of blood.
  • Some scientists claim that the name of the sea was given by the rocks that surround it. They have brown color and a bright red tint on the fracture.
  • Another hypothesis about the name of the sea is associated with the biblical Moses. After all, according to history, leading the Jews from Egypt, he managed to push the waters of the Red Sea and uncover his bottom, by which all Jews moved to that shore. But the Egyptian warriors were buried under the water when she, at the command of Moses, closed their heads. At that moment the waters of the sea were painted brown in color from the blood of the dead. Since then, the name of the reservoir has been assigned to him.

The Yellow Sea has very clay shores, so periodically, blurring from the tides, they stain the water in a yellow tint. Ancient people noticed this and gave the sea an appropriate name.

On our land there are many places with unusual names, which sometimes reveal an interesting history of local lands and reservoirs.

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