Gulf of St. Lawrence: description, history and interesting facts

The Bay of St. Lawrence (English St. Lawrence) is located on the eastern shores of the North American continent. It was formed as a result of the confluence of the river of the same name in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The bay is considered the largest estuary on the planet. The estuary is the mouth of the river, which has a funnel-like shape and expands to the ocean.

Where the St. Lawrence Bay is located, it will be clear from the further context. The width of the mouth of the St. Lawrence River is more than 150 km. The bay has a considerable area and cuts deep into the land, forming a semi-enclosed water area, which, in fact, can be considered a marginal sea.

a brief description of

The bay area is 263 thousand km ² , the total volume of water is more than 35 thousand km ³ . In form, the Bay of St. Lawrence looks like a triangle. It stretched from the south-west to the northeast by 820 km, and its width - more than 300 km. In the Atlantic Ocean, the bay carries its waters through 3 straits: southern Canso, southeastern Cabot and northeastern Bell Isle. Each of them is quite wide, the average of this value is 400 km. In the water area of St. Lawrence Bay there are two large islands: Antichosti and Prince Edward Island. Also there are small island archipelagoes: in the central part of the bay - the islands of Magdalena, in the western part - the Chipegansky Islands.

What washes?

The bay is washed by the eastern coast of Canada, the Labrador Peninsula and New Scotland, Fr. Newfoundland. The northern, western and eastern coasts have hilly terrain and steep slopes. Island banks are low. In addition to the main river. St. Lawrence, the smaller rivers flow into the bay: Miramichi, Humber, Margary, Restigush and others.

Depth

The depth of the bay varies depending on the mainland part approached to them. The southern part of the bay is flat and shallow. The maximum indicator in this area is 60-80 m. In the northern part of the St. Lawrence Bay, the bottom has a variable character, where shallow water is replaced by deep gutters. The average depths of this part range from 400-500 m. The maximum depth of the gulf is Lorentz trough (572 m).

Water, salinity and their temperature

Two currents in the Gulf (Gaspe and Cabot) form a cyclone cycle, moving counter-clockwise. The water in the bay has three tiers, which differ in their temperature and salinity. The uppermost unstable. Its variability is affected by climatic conditions.

The water temperature here ranges from +2 ° C to +20 ° C. From December to March, the surface layer can be covered with ice, icebergs are formed. The thickness of the layer from 18 m - in the summer, up to 54 m - in the winter. Salinity is 32-34 . The second layer of water passes at a depth of 50-100 m. Temperature is about 0 ° C, salinity is slightly reduced - up to 30-32 . The lower layer of water has a temperature of about +5 ° C and high salinity is more than 35 . Warm water to the lower layer is given by the Labrador Current, which is wrapped in a small spur.

Geological sphere

The St. Lawrence River washed along the bottom of the central part of the Gulf Canal. It reaches the eastern borders. Due to the large flow of river water in the bay for several decades, the biota of the reservoir has significantly changed.

Geologically, the Gulf of St. Lawrence has a diverse origin. It is found out that the northern part of the bottom of the bay is the edge of the Precambrian Canadian shield. And in the south the gulf is confined to the Appalachian Mountains, represented by rocky rocks formed in the Lower Paleozoic. The bottom of the southern part of St. Lawrence Bay is represented by Devonian granites and deformed sediments of volcanic rocks. Also there are inclusions of sedimentary rocks of the Carboniferous period, Triassic and Permian age. Sedimentary minerals at the bottom of the bay there.

Deep troughs in the water area indicate that the bottom was formed even under the influence of the glacial period. Significant pressure of ice deepened the bottom of the bay. The fact that this area was exposed to glaciers is indicated by the fact that the water area can freeze annually from January to March-April.

Climate

Currently, the climate of such a water body as the Lavrenty Bay in the city of Laurence, subarctic, has a monsoon character. The average air temperature does not rise above +15 ° C and rarely falls below -10 ° C. The coldest month of the year is February, the hottest is August. Because of the monsoon nature of the climate, northwest winds blowing in the winter bring cold, and in the summer - south-west winds, saturated with warm and high humidity air.

Seismic activity

The Appalachian mountain system also affected the seismic characteristics of the region. The bottom of the relief of the bay differs significantly from other water bodies in the eastern edge of North America. 45 km - this is the index of thickness is the Bay of St. Lawrence.

The location of the object greatly affects its activity. The earth's crust here is composed of layers consisting of longitudinal waves of the Carboniferous period. The denser rocks lie in the lower layers, while the upper ones are represented by carbonaceous rocks. This indicates that in the past this region was seismically active, but at the moment this activity has faded. Although, according to research, in the area of the Gaspe Peninsula, high velocity longitudinal waves are periodically felt (about 8.5 km / s).

Shipping

Currently, the Gulf of St. Lawrence is a place where shipping is actively developing. A shelf zone is suitable for commercial fishing. The most common species in the bay are haddock, halibut, flounder, sea bass, herring. Also in the shelf are oil fields.

On the coast of the Labrador Peninsula is a large port of the bay - Set Ile. Another port is in the mouth of the St. Lawrence River - the city of Quebec, the capital of the Canadian province.

Parks and reserves

The Bay of St. Lawrence is a protected ecological region of North America. Part of the coast, including small islands, is a nature protection zone. There are several amazing national parks here: Prince Edward National Park, Saguenay-Saint-Laurent Marine Park, Gros-Morne Park, Kuchibokwak Park and Cape Breton Highlands. In addition to them, everywhere on the coast you can find small provincial. The Government of Canada encourages and supports the work of all national parks.

The First Settlements

The Gulf Coast, as well as the islands in the Gulf are inhabited by residents. The natural conditions are quite favorable for life. The first population, settled on the coast and islands, are the indigenous people of Canada, the migmau tribes. In the era of the Great Discoveries (XVI century), French and Portuguese fishermen landed on the islands, which began to actively engage in fishing activities off the coast of the bay.

The city of Lawrence

This settlement is located in the southern part of the same name bay. Refers to the Chukotka Autonomous District, is the center of the district. Although some people call it a city, Lavrentia has the status of a village. The origin of such a beautiful name is directly related to the bay. Currently, this town is developing well. There is a hospital, a school, a library. Also there is a museum, created almost 50 years ago.

Animal world

In addition to a large number of fish, walruses and whales were sent to Europe from the bay. It cost this product more precious than precious metals, and therefore the animal population declined sharply in the first decades after the relocation. Now the catch of walruses, whales and sturgeon is limited.

The marine world, in addition to various fish, is also represented by large mammals. There are many of them: more than 14 species. Among them are blue whales, Greenland and gray seals, beluga, fin whales. Small islands - a place where a large number of birds winter. And near the coasts of the bay in the forests there are American moose, black bears, coyotes, martens, deer, foxes, etc.

Name

Before talking about hydronym, you need to remember from the course of history who discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The name of the bay was given by the first explorer of these territories, the French navigator Jacques Cartier. It is this man who is considered one of the pioneers of Canada. In the period from 1534 to 1540 years. Cartier made three trips to the shores of Canada, discovered the bay and the islands in it. The navigator gave the water area the name of St. Lawrence - a Roman archdeacon. The opening day is August 10, then the memory of the Holy One is honored.

What is St. Lawrence Bay? It is also an interesting place in the tourist sphere. Here live the largest mammals of the planet - whales. Every year, from May to October, excursions are conducted, sailing to the open sea by boats in order to see firsthand how the whales are making their grandiose jumps. It is necessary to visit this area, because after the trip will remain unforgettable sensations for life. No tourist will regret that he was here.