The Gulf of St. Lawrence (Eng. St. Lawrence) is located off the eastern shores of the North American mainland. It was formed as a result of the confluence of the river of the same name into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The bay is considered the largest estuary on the planet. Estuary - the mouth of a river that is funnel-shaped and widens towards the ocean.
Where the Gulf of St. Lawrence is located 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 significant area and cuts deep into the land, forming a semi-enclosed water area, which, in fact, can be considered a marginal sea.
Short description
The area of the bay is 263 thousand km2, the total volume of water is more than 35 thousand km3. The shape of the Gulf of St. Lawrence is similar to a triangle. It stretches from the southwest to the northeast for 820 km, and its width is more than 300 km. The bay carries its waters to the Atlantic Ocean through 3 straits: the southern Canso, the southeastern Cabota and northeastern Belle Isle. Each of them is quite wide, the average indicator of this value is 400 km. In the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, there are two large islands: Anticosti and Prince Edward Island. There are also small island archipelagos: in the central part of the bay - the Magdalen Islands, in the western part - the Chipegan Islands.
What washes?
The bay washes the east coast of Canada, the Labrador Peninsula and Nova Scotia, about. Newfoundland. The northern, western and eastern coasts are hilly and steep. Island shores are low. In addition to the main river St. Lawrence, smaller rivers flow into the bay: Miramichi, Humbera, Margari, Restigoush and others.
Depth
The depth of the bay varies depending on the mainland close to them. The southern part of the bay is flat and shallow. The maximum figure in this area is 60-80 m. In the northern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the bottom has a variable character, where shallow water is replaced by deep trenches. The average depths of this part range from 400-500 m. The maximum depth of the bay is the Laurens Trough (572 m).
Water, salinity and temperature
Two currents in the bay (Gaspé and Cabota) form a cyclonic circulation moving counterclockwise. The water in the bay has three tiers, which differ in their temperature and salinity. The top one is the most unstable. Its variability is influenced by climatic conditions.
The water temperature here ranges from +2 °С to +20 °С. From December to March, the surface layer can be covered with ice, icebergs form. The layer thickness is from 18 m - in summer, up to 54 m - in winter. Salinity - 32-34 ‰. The second layer of water passes at a depth of 50-100 m. The 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 - more than 35 ‰. Warm water is supplied to the lower layer by the Labrador Current, which turns into the bay as a small spur.
Geological sphere
The St. Lawrence River washed a canal along the bottom of the central part of the bay. It reaches the eastern borders. Due to the large flow of river water in the bay, the biota of the reservoir has changed significantly over several decades.
Geologically, the Gulf of St. Lawrence has a heterogeneous origin. It was found that the northern part of the bottom of the bay is the edge of the Precambrian Canadian Shield. And in the south, the bay is limited by the Appalachian mountains, represented by rocky rocks that developed in the Lower Paleozoic. The bottom of the southern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence is represented by Devonian granites and deformed sediments of volcanic rocks. There are also inclusions of sedimentary rocks of the Carboniferous, Triassic and Permian age. There are no sedimentary minerals at the bottom of the bay.
Deep trenches in the water area indicate that the bottom was formed under the influence of the Ice Age. Significant ice pressure deepened the bottom of the bay. that this area was subjected tothe influence of glaciers, says 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 Lavrentiya Bay in the city of Lavrentiya is subarctic and has a monsoonal character. The air temperature on average does not rise above +15 °C and rarely falls below -10 °C. The coldest month of the year is February and the hottest month is August. Due to the monsoonal nature of the climate, northwest winds blow in winter, bringing cold, and in summer - southwest, saturating the air with warmth and high humidity.
Seismic activity
The Appalachian mountain system also influenced the seismic characteristics of the region. The bottom of the relief of the bay differs significantly from other water bodies of the eastern margin of North America. 45 km - this is the thickness of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The location of an object greatly affects its activity. The earth's crust here is composed of layers consisting of longitudinal waves of the Carboniferous period. More dense rocks lie in the lower layers, and the upper ones are represented by carbonaceous rocks. This suggests that in the past this region was seismically active, but at the moment this activity has faded. Although, according to the results of research, high-speed longitudinal waves (about 8.5 km / s) are periodically felt in the area of the Gaspé Peninsula.
Shipping
Currently, the Gulf of St. Lawrence is a place where activeshipping develops. And the shelf zone is suitable for commercial fishing. The most common species in the bay are haddock, halibut, flounder, sea bass, herring. Oil fields are also being developed offshore.
On the coast of the Labrador Peninsula there is a large port of the bay - Sete Ile. Another port is located at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River - the city of Quebec, the capital of the Canadian province.
Parks and reserves
The Gulf of St. Lawrence is a protected ecological region of North America. Part of the coast, including small islands, is a protected area. Several amazing national parks are located here: Prince Edward National Park, Saguenay-Saint-Laurent Marine Park, Gros Morne, Kuchibokwak and Cape Breton Highlands parks. In addition to them, small provincial ones can be found everywhere on the coast. The Government of Canada encourages and supports the operation of all national parks.
First settlements
The coast of the bay, as well as the islands located in the bay, are inhabited by residents. Natural conditions are quite favorable for life. The first population to settle on the coast and islands was the indigenous people of Canada, the Migmau tribes. In the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries (XVI century), French and Portuguese fishermen landed on the islands, who began to actively engage in fishing off the coast of the bay.
City of Lawrence
This settlement is located in the southern part of the bay of the same name. Belongs to the Chukotka Autonomousdistrict, is the center of the district. Although some 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 settlement is developing well. There is a hospital, school, library. There is also 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. This commodity cost more than precious metals, and therefore the animal population declined sharply in the first decades after the resettlement. Now the catch of walruses, whales and sturgeons is limited.
The sea world, in addition to various fish, is also represented by large mammals. There are many of them here: more than 14 species. Among them are blue whales, harp and gray seals, beluga, fin whales. Small islands are a place where a large number of birds winter. And along the coasts of the bay, moose, black bears, coyotes, martens, deer, foxes, etc. are found in the forests.
Name
Before talking about the hydronym, it is necessary 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 discoverers of Canada. In the period from 1534 to 1540. 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, the Roman archdeacon. Opening day - August 10, that's when the memory of the Saint is honored.
What is St. Lawrence Bay? It is also an interesting place intourism sector. The largest mammals on the planet, whales, live here. Excursions are held annually from May to October, sailing into the open sea on boats in order to see firsthand how the whales make their grandiose jumps. You should definitely visit this area, because after the trip you will have an unforgettable experience for a lifetime. No tourist will regret being here.
