The island of Saaremaa (Estonia) partially separates it from the rest of the Baltic Sea. The main connection between the gulf and the Baltic Sea is the Irbe Strait.
The Gulf of Riga as seen from Jūrmala, Latvia (January 2018).
The International Hydrographic Organization defines the Gulf of Riga's western limit as "A line running from Lyser Ort (57°34'N), in Latvia, to the South extreme of Œsel Island, through this island to Pammerort (22°34'E), thence to Enmast Point, the S extreme of Dagö, through Dagö to Takhkona Point, the North extreme thereof, and on to Spithamn Point in Estonia".[3]
Islandsedit
Major islands in the gulf include Saaremaa, Kihnu, and Ruhnu, which are all controlled by Estonia. Kihnu covers an area of 16.4 square kilometres (6.3 sq mi).[4] Saaremaa island is responsible for the brackish water of the Gulf of Riga, as it is partially "shielded" from the Baltic Sea. The Baltic itself is already less salty than the global oceanic average, but this effect has a north–south and east–west gradient.[5][6]
The freshwater runoff entering the Baltic sea accounts for two percent of its volume.[4] A narrow connection to the North Sea means that water stays in the Baltic for an average of 30 years. These two characteristics work to make the Baltic Sea one of the largest brackish bodies of water in the world. The Gulf of Riga has an average salt concentration for the Baltic Sea, which is around six to ten parts per thousand. Freshwater has a concentration of 0.5 parts per thousand, and seawater is about 30 parts per thousand.[4]
Winteredit
In winter, most or all of the Bay occasionally freezes. This is due to low salinity and the calming effect of the partial closure of the entrance of the gulf. During the winter, many people walk over the bay. The thickest recorded ice was 90 centimetres (2 ft 11 in) thick in the winter of 1941–42.[7] Ice hole fishing has been a traditional source of winter food, and remains a common activity. The ice usually melts between March and April. In late March 2013, when the ice started to melt, 200 people had to be rescued from ice floes.[8]
^"Gulf of Riga | Baltic Sea". Encyclopedia Britannica.
^"Old Kolka lighthouse". visit.dundaga.lv. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
^(PDF). International Hydrographic Organization. 1953. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
^ abcC.Michael Hogan. 2011. Gulf of Riga. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. P.Saundry & C.J.Cleveland. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC.
^Kniebusch, Madline; Meier, H.E. Markus; Radtke, Hagen (2019). "Changing Salinity Gradients in the Baltic Sea as a Consequence of Altered Freshwater Budgets". Geophysical Research Letters. 46 (16): 9739–9747. Bibcode:2019GeoRL..46.9739K. doi:10.1029/2019GL083902. S2CID 199856860.
^Lehmann, Andreas; Myrberg, Kai; Post, Piia; Chubarenko, Irina; Dailidiene, Inga; Hinrichsen, Hans-Harald; Hüssy, Karin; Liblik, Taavi; Meier, H. E. Markus; Lips, Urmas; Bukanova, Tatiana (2022). "Salinity dynamics of the Baltic Sea". Earth System Dynamics. 13 (1): 373–392. Bibcode:2022ESD....13..373L. doi:10.5194/esd-13-373-2022. S2CID 246912171.
^"Estonica.org - The Gulf of Riga". www.estonica.org.
^Riga, Associated Press in (29 March 2013). "Latvia rescues 220 people stranded on ice floes in Gulf of Riga". the Guardian.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gulf of Riga.
The Gulf of Riga 12 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine (Estonica)
February 18, 2024
gulf, riga, riga, gulf, livonia, latvian, rīgas, līcis, estonian, liivi, laht, livonian, piški, meŗ, small, russian, Рижский, залив, baltic, between, latvia, estonia, location, northern, europe, locationeuropecoordinates57, 500primary, inflowsdaugava, pärnu, l. The Gulf of Riga Bay of Riga or Gulf of Livonia Latvian Rigas licis Estonian Liivi laht Livonian Piski meŗ lit Small Sea Russian Rizhskij zaliv 2 is a bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia Gulf of RigaLocation in Northern Europe Gulf of RigaLocationEuropeCoordinates57 45 N 23 30 E 57 750 N 23 500 E 57 750 23 500Primary inflowsDaugava Parnu Lielupe Gauja SalacaSurface area18 000 km2 6 900 sq mi Average depth26 m 85 ft Max depth54 m 177 ft 1 Water volume424 km3 344 000 000 acre ft Residence time30 yearsFrozenMost or all during winterSettlementsRiga Jurmala Parnu Kuressaare Salacgriva Saulkrasti AinaziThe island of Saaremaa Estonia partially separates it from the rest of the Baltic Sea The main connection between the gulf and the Baltic Sea is the Irbe Strait The Gulf of Riga as a sub basin of the Baltic also includes the Vainameri Sea in the West Estonian archipelago Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Extent 1 2 Islands 1 3 Cities 2 Salinity 3 Winter 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksGeography editExtent edit nbsp The Gulf of Riga as seen from Jurmala Latvia January 2018 The International Hydrographic Organization defines the Gulf of Riga s western limit as A line running from Lyser Ort 57 34 N in Latvia to the South extreme of Œsel Island through this island to Pammerort 22 34 E thence to Enmast Point the S extreme of Dago through Dago to Takhkona Point the North extreme thereof and on to Spithamn Point in Estonia 3 Islands edit Major islands in the gulf include Saaremaa Kihnu and Ruhnu which are all controlled by Estonia Kihnu covers an area of 16 4 square kilometres 6 3 sq mi 4 Saaremaa island is responsible for the brackish water of the Gulf of Riga as it is partially shielded from the Baltic Sea The Baltic itself is already less salty than the global oceanic average but this effect has a north south and east west gradient 5 6 Cities edit Notable cities around the gulf include Riga Parnu Jurmala and Kuressaare The main rivers flowing into the gulf are Daugava Parnu Lielupe Gauja and Salaca Salinity editThe freshwater runoff entering the Baltic sea accounts for two percent of its volume 4 A narrow connection to the North Sea means that water stays in the Baltic for an average of 30 years These two characteristics work to make the Baltic Sea one of the largest brackish bodies of water in the world The Gulf of Riga has an average salt concentration for the Baltic Sea which is around six to ten parts per thousand Freshwater has a concentration of 0 5 parts per thousand and seawater is about 30 parts per thousand 4 Winter editIn winter most or all of the Bay occasionally freezes This is due to low salinity and the calming effect of the partial closure of the entrance of the gulf During the winter many people walk over the bay The thickest recorded ice was 90 centimetres 2 ft 11 in thick in the winter of 1941 42 7 Ice hole fishing has been a traditional source of winter food and remains a common activity The ice usually melts between March and April In late March 2013 when the ice started to melt 200 people had to be rescued from ice floes 8 See also editBattle of the Gulf of Riga Parnu BayReferences edit Gulf of Riga Baltic Sea Encyclopedia Britannica Old Kolka lighthouse visit dundaga lv Retrieved 20 July 2023 Limits of Oceans and Seas 3rd edition PDF International Hydrographic Organization 1953 Archived from the original PDF on 8 October 2011 Retrieved 28 December 2020 a b c C Michael Hogan 2011 Gulf of Riga Encyclopedia of Earth Eds P Saundry amp C J Cleveland National Council for Science and the Environment Washington DC Kniebusch Madline Meier H E Markus Radtke Hagen 2019 Changing Salinity Gradients in the Baltic Sea as a Consequence of Altered Freshwater Budgets Geophysical Research Letters 46 16 9739 9747 Bibcode 2019GeoRL 46 9739K doi 10 1029 2019GL083902 S2CID 199856860 Lehmann Andreas Myrberg Kai Post Piia Chubarenko Irina Dailidiene Inga Hinrichsen Hans Harald Hussy Karin Liblik Taavi Meier H E Markus Lips Urmas Bukanova Tatiana 2022 Salinity dynamics of the Baltic Sea Earth System Dynamics 13 1 373 392 Bibcode 2022ESD 13 373L doi 10 5194 esd 13 373 2022 S2CID 246912171 Estonica org The Gulf of Riga www estonica org Riga Associated Press in 29 March 2013 Latvia rescues 220 people stranded on ice floes in Gulf of Riga the Guardian External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gulf of Riga The Gulf of Riga Archived 12 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine Estonica Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gulf of Riga amp oldid 1173653824, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
