Around seventy (70%) percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water.
This includes the oceans and seas, the lakes and rivers, and the ponds, streams, creeks, and puddles.
Also, a part of this number includes icecaps and glaciers.
There is also a fair amount of water in the air as water vapor. Each body of water has a name and an important history.
Among these bodies of water is the Kara Sea.
If you would like to learn some new information about the Kara Sea, you have come to the right place.
Keep reading for a whole list of fun facts about the Kara Sea!
Kara Sea Facts for Kids
- The Kara Sea is a part of the Arctic Ocean and is located to the north of Siberia.
- Because of the low temperatures and colder water currents, the Kara Sea remains frozen for three-quarters (3/4) of the year.
- Even though the Kara Sea if frozen for so much of the year, it is still an important and popular fishing area.
- There are many islands in the Kara Sea, but only one is glaciated Ushakov Island. The word glaciate is a verb and means “to convert into or cover with a glacier; to produce glacial effects”.
- Ten (10) nuclear reactors and six (6) nuclear submarine reactors as well as other nuclear waste were dumped into the Kara Sea between 1965 and 1988 by the former Soviet Union.
- Because of all of the nuclear waste that was dumped into the Kara Sea, there are concerns that it will have a negative impact on marine life.
- The Great Arctic State Nature Reserve was established in 1993 and is the largest of its kind in Russia. The Kara Sea is a part of this reserve, this includes a section of the Kara Sea Islands measuring four thousand (4,000) square kilometers
- While there are quite a few exports that are shipped out of the Kara Sea, there are a few that that stand above the rest. These exports are timber, furs, building materials, and food products. During the two months that the Kara Sea is not frozen over, one of the main exports is fish.
- Near Ob and Yensey, reserves have been found of petroleum and natural gas. Because of the interest in these two natural resources, the Russian Government is looking into removing the nuclear waste from the Kara Sea.
- The Kara Sea is around nine hundred and seventy (970) kilometers wide which is equal to about six hundred and three (603) miles. It is approximately one thousand four hundred and fifty (1,450) kilometers long which is equal to a little over nine hundred (900) miles.
- Freshwater runs into the Kara Sea. It flows mainly from the Pyasina River, Yenisei River, Tamyra River, and the Ob River. This feed of freshwater means that the salinity of the Kara Sea varies greatly. Freshwater simply means it is not salt water like the ocean.
- Other names for the Kara Sea include Karakoy, Karskoe, and Kaskoji More.
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Question: What are the main ports of the Kara Sea?
Answer: Novy Port and Dikson Port
Question: What is the largest group of islands in the Kara Sea?
Answer: The Nordenskiold Archipelago which contains over ninety (90) islands in five (5) subgroups.
Question: Approximately how deep is the Kara Sea?
Answer: Six hundred and twenty (620) meters which is equal to approximately two thousand and thirty-four (2,034) feet.
There are many amazing things about the Kara Sea and this has been only a very few of the amazing facts surrounding it.
As with many things, there is always something new to learn. In this case, one other important aspect of the Kara Sea is the abundance of wildlife.
Hopefully, you have learned something new and interesting!