Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Gulf of Finland

A southward view of The Gulf of Finland in Espoo. Author Drefer.WIKIMEDIA

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about the Gulf of Finland

The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean, which is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain. This Gulf extends between Finland to the north and Estonia to the south.

Saint Petersburg in Russia borders it to the east, while the river Neva drains into it. More major cities which lie around the gulf include Tallinn and Helsinki. Russia owns the eastern parts of the Gulf of Finland.

There are some of Russia’s most important oil harbours that are located farthest in, near Saint Petersburg which includes Primorsk. The Gulf of Finland has always been and continues to be of considerable strategic importance to Russia. There have been several proposals for a huge tunnel to be made through the gulf of Finland.

Being at a strategic location and bordering some countries, there have been some environmental problems affecting the Baltic Sea which are pronounced in the shallow gulf. The Gulf of Finland has an area of 30,000 km², the length is 400 km, the width varies from 70 km near the entrance to 130 km on the meridian of Moschny Island and decreases to 12km in Neva Bay.

Here are the Top 10 Fascinating Facts about the Gulf of Finland:

1. The Gulf Freezes Completely in Some Seasons

Frozen Gulf of Finland as seen from Uutela, Vuosaari, Helsinki, Finland. Author Simo Räsänen. WIKIMEDIA

The Gulf of Finland has varying water temperatures over the seasons. Its average water temperature is close to 0⁰C during the winter season. Furthermore,  15 to 17 ⁰C during summer at the surface and 2 to 3 ⁰C at the bottom.

Some parts of the Gulf can completely freeze from late November to late April. The freezing usually starts in the east and gradually proceeds to the west.

This freezing usually occurs by late January and may also occur during mild winters. There are also frequent strong western winds which might cause waves, surges of water and floods.

2. The Gulf of Finland has More than 5 Islands

The gulf has several other features that make it an amazing and unique area to visit. It has several banks, skerries and multiple islands.

One of the largest Islands on the Gulf of Finland is Kotlin Island which has the city of Kronstadt. This city is inhabited by forty-two thousand, eight hundred people.

The other islands in the Gulf include the Beryozovye Islands, Lisiy Island, and Maly Vysotsk which has a nearby city, Vysotsk with a population of 1706. There are also Gogland, Moshtchny, Bolshoy Tyuters, Sommers, Naissaar, Kimitoon, Seskar, Pakri Islands and many more.

3. Russia Constructed 19 Artificial Islands in 1700

The Gulf of Finland which runs through Russia has been very significant over the years. In 1700, Russia constructed several important islands along the gulf for protection.

Russia constructed 19 artificial islands with fortresses in the gulf. They aimed to defend the country from maritime attacks, especially during the Great Northern War of 1700 to 1721. Some of the fortresses included Fort Alexander, Krasnaya Gorka, Ino, Totleben and Kronshlot.

4. Major Port Cities are along the Gulf of Finland

Cargo ship Karin Lehman in the Gulf of Finland. Author Jari Sjölund.WIKIMEDIA

The Gulf of Finland borders several countries and cities as it stretches across. The major countries that the gulf goes through include Russia, Finland and Estonia.

Several major port cities go through the gulf of Finland. They include Russia; Saint Petersburg, Kronstadt, Lomonosov, Vyborg, Primorsk and Vysotsk.

In Finland, Helsinki, Hanko, Turku, Kilpilahti and Skoldvik. In Estonia, Tallinn, Palfiski and Sillamae. The gulf is also part of the Volga-Baltic waterway and White Sea-Baltic Canal. It is majorly used to import goods from various destinations across the world.

5. Two Pipeline Construction Agreements were Signed in 2005

Several important natural resources are being mined from the gulf of Finland. One of them is gas and Petroleum.

In September 2005, there an agreement was signed on the construction of the Nord Stream offshore gas pipeline on the Baltic Sea. This pipeline begins from Vyborg to the German city of Greifswald.

The first line was laid in May 2011 and inaugurated on 8th November 2011. The second line was inaugurated on 8th October 2012 and completed by September 2021. However, this has not entered into service yet.

6. The Bottom of the Gulf is One of the World’s Largest Ship Cemeteries

Ermak in the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Finland. Author elektron. WIKIMEDIA

The Gulf of Finland was earlier on used as a major trade route. However, several of the ships that operated this route went missing as they used to sink.

At the bottom of the Gulf, there is a large ship cemetery. The Gulf of Finland is one of the world’s largest ship cemeteries. Because of the low salinity, cold waters and no shipworms, the ships are well preserved.

In the 6th century and onwards, about three thousand tonnes of silver were transported through the gulf. This made it busier and more ships got sunk.

7. About 5,000 Submerged Objects were Identified in the Gulf

As technology continued advancing, more researchers were interested in getting to find out the contents of the wrecks in the Gulf of Finland. By the end of 1996, close to five thousand submerged objects were identified in the Russian section of the Gulf.

They included 2,500 ships, 1,500 aeroplanes and small items such as boats, anchors, tanks, cars, tractors, cannons, naval mines, aerial bombs and other ammunition. These ships belonged to Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland and other countries.

8. The Gulf has a Wide Range of Vegetation

Other than being majorly used for economic benefits, the gulf is also home to flora and fauna. There are huge areas covered with vegetation dominated by a mixture of coniferous and deciduous forests and treeless coastal meadows and cliffs.

Some of the trees include pine, spruce, birch, willows, rowan, aspen, common and grey alder. There are also marshy areas that contain bullish, reeds and other aquatic plants.

9. Several Species of Fish are Found in the Gulf

Within the waters of the gulf is a large area full of fish. There are several species of fish in the gulf which are fished during spring and autumn.

Some of the gulf fish species include Atlantic salmon, viviparous eelpout, gobies, loach, European Chub, common minnow, silver bream and many others.

10. The Gulf of Finland has been Polluted and Contaminated by Various Ions

The Gulf of Finland has not been pure and clean since mining began. Ecological conditions have been majorly affected at the Neva Bay and Neva River.

The contamination has been brought about by ions of mercury and copper, organochlorides pesticides, phenols, petroleum products and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Cleaning of the wastes has been in progress but 100% purification has never been achieved.