Chaunskaya Bay

The Chaunskaya Bay or Chaun Bay (Russian: Чаунская губа) is an Arctic bay in the East Siberian Sea, in the Chaunsky District of Chukotka, northeast Siberia. There is Port of Pevek.

Chaunskaya Bay
Chaunskaya Bay
Location of the bay in Chukotka
LocationFar North
Coordinates69.3494°N 169.7736°E / 69.3494; 169.7736
Native nameЧаунская губа
River sourcesChaun River, Ichuveyem River, Palyavaam River, Lelyuveyem River, Pucheveyem River
Ocean/sea sourcesEast Siberian Sea
Basin countriesRussia
Max. length140 km (87 mi)
Max. width110 km (68 mi)
SettlementsPevek
Chaunskaya Bay

Geography

The bay is open to the north and is 140 km in length. Its maximum width is 110 km.[1] Its mouth is defined by Cape Shelagsky to the east and an unnamed part of Ayon Island to the west. It narrows where the Pevek Peninsula on the east approaches Ayon Island.

Owing to is northerly location Chaunskaya Bay is covered with ice most of the year.

This bay is the center of one of the larger lowlands in Chukotka. A number of rivers flow into the southeastern corner: Chaun River, Ichuveyem River, Palyavaam River, Lelyuveyem River and Pucheveyem River. There is a protected natural area in the southeast. Lake Elgygytgyn is about 160 km southeast and the town of Bilibino about 160 km southwest.

Chaunskaya Bay under ice. Ayon Island and the Pevek Peninsula visible. Wrangel Island to the northeast
View of Pevek at the mouth of the bay

History

The first Russian to reach the area was probably Mikhail Stadukhin in 1649.

References


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.