Avacha bay or bay is one of the largest in the world. It is able to accept a ship of any size, and even at the same time almost all merchant ships in the world, because its area is 215 square kilometers. It has two large ports in the cities of Vilyuchinsk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the bay of the same name with rocky high shores interrupted by small beaches. It is the base of the Russian Pacific Fleet.

The water here does not freeze even in winter, so ships sail all year round. The average temperature is higher than on land - 10-15 degrees Celsius. The local population loves to walk along the promenade. Start the route from the alley of the Fleet and continue to the ascent to Nikolskaya Sopka. It offers a panoramic view of the entire bay and even the opposite coast and Avachinsky volcano, and going down, you will find a pebble beach.

Ebb and flow of Avacha Bay

There is a large amount of water in the bay, the volume of which varies depending on the position of the moon and the season. The amount of the water mirror ranges from 208 to 230 square kilometers. The highest tides are observed from April to June. By autumn, this figure is significantly reduced. The maximum low tides occur in the morning and afternoon hours. It is estimated that two small and two large waters pass per day.

Avacha Bay on the map

Avacha Bay in Kamchatka occupies a large area of ​​the peninsula from the Pacific Ocean. Inland, it goes 20 km. Represents the shape of an oval that connects the Avacha Bay with the ocean. The name of this place comes from the Avacha river. She flows here along with Paratunka. There are many small bays scattered around the entire perimeter, such as: Seroglazka, Krasheninnikova, Seldevaya, Yagodnaya and others.

In addition to two large cities on the coast, Vilyuchinsk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, there are villages on the map: Rybachy, Sovetsky, Mokhovaya, etc. There is also a peninsula and the island of Starichkov. The width of the entrance is 3 km, which is located between Capes Bezymyanny and Mayachny. To enter from the sea, the captains navigate along Cape Stanitsky with a lighthouse installed.

Three brothers of Avacha Bay

The main and most recognizable attraction of the bay is the rocks "Three Brothers" or "Gate of the City". These stone pillars stand at the entrance 300 meters from the shore, and are often depicted as a symbol of the entire city. They were mapped in 1737. In the sea below them, a cave was formed at a depth of 13 meters. Also this place has a diverse underwater world with fish and marine animals.

There is a legend associated with the rocks. Once upon a time, there was a settlement on the coast that constantly suffered losses from strong waves. To prevent it from being completely washed away, three brothers volunteered to defend it. They went into the bay and stood up, covering the shore with themselves. They were so tall and strong that the water was up to their knees. The sea god didn't like it. He began to rage even more strongly, but nothing worked. Then turned the deity of the brothers into stone. Since then, they have been on guard, preventing storms from touching the land.

Walking and fishing on Avacha Bay

Fishing in Kamchatka requires a license, so you should go fishing in a tourist group. On a rented ship you will set off along the sea route from the port with several stops. The price usually includes lunch, excursion program, seafood tasting and fishing itself. In these places is found: salmon, sea bass, halibut, crab, greenling and other fish. They all come here to spawn in large numbers.

Tourists will also be interested in boat trips. During them you can see a large number of animals: killer whales, seals, fur seals and sea otters. Birds nest on small islands: puffins, gulls, cormorants, Steller's sea eagles and others. From the ship, you will notice several kekur stones inhabited by birds: Grandmother's Stone, Devil's Finger, Starichkov Island and the City Gate. You can’t land on them, but you can go diving in the caves and grottoes formed below. Here you will have the opportunity to enjoy the diversity of the underwater world. Such trips are held daily for 6-12 hours in the summer.

How to get to Avacha Bay

The entrance to Avacha Bay is located in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky between two capes: Mayachny and Bezymyanny. They are in the city. You can navigate by the sights "Three Brothers". Getting to Kamchatka is possible only by plane to the Yelizovo airport. Then you should go:

• to the bus station on routes No. 102 or 104;
• by taxi through the applications "Vazi", "Maxim" or "Yandex";
• by car through the North-Eastern highway with coordinates - 53.040581, 158.678133.

It will not be possible to go ashore from Vilyuchinsk. The city is closed, and to get into it you need a special permit. Here is the military base of the Russian fleet.

This is doubly true, since they happen 2 times more often. Due to the unique position of Avacha Bay, on the coast of which the city is located, both the Sun and the Moon influence the ocean during the day. In addition, this place has a rich history.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is more often known exclusively from the lessons of history. After all, to go on a trip here, it will take a lot of time and a sincere interest in nature. However, tourists who come to these parts for the first time often repeat the experience - this place seems so memorable and unusual.

Avacha Bay is located on the eastern part of the peninsula, being an inland closed water area. Avacha Bay, which belongs to the Pacific Ocean, has many small bays that go deep into the land, as well as 2 capes of considerable size - Bezymyanny and Mayachny. It is they who divide the entire area of ​​water into open (or external) and closed areas.

The last one is Avacha Bay. The geometry of the water surface is complex, but we can say for sure that the total area is more than 208 km 2. The average is larger, as it increases during high tide.

The geographical location is interesting and has advantages:

• Water does not freeze even in significant cold, which ensures constant uninterrupted communication by water transport.
• Protection, organized by natural ledges, allows you to smooth out the numerous bad weather that occurs in the ocean.
• The space between the “gates” provides an opportunity for large ships to enter the bay. The free distance from Cape Mayachny to Cape Bezymyanny is about 3 km.

The ebbs and flows in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky also add a "zest" to the area. The area of ​​the water surface varies significantly - from 10 to 15 km 2. This indicator is influenced by the time of year and time of day. On opposite sides are large cities - Vilyuchinsk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The first is military territory.

Nuclear submarines and ships of the Russian army are based here, and tourists are not allowed to enter. Only servicemen with their families live in the city. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the contrary, is the administrative center. On this part of the bay is located the highest point - Mount Rakovaya. A feature of the area is high seismic activity.

Due to the active volcano Vilyuchinsky, earthquakes occur here, the intensity of which reaches 9 points.

The road to the bay takes, depending on the point of departure, about a day. It will not be possible to choose railway or water transport - the nearest station is Vladivostok, and ships with passengers do not go. Therefore, you need to fly to Yelizovo, the travel time from Moscow will be no more than 9 hours.

Then by car or bus from the bus station you need to go to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, located 30 km from the landing site. The embankment is located in the center of the city, as well as the exit to the bay.

History of Avacha Bay

Many travelers have come to these parts. There is unspecified information about the records relating to the local beauties. Since the geography of the place is interesting and difficult to confuse with others, some historians suggest that the unofficial discovery happened earlier. But the history of Avacha Bay, recorded and documented, begins at the beginning of 1703.

During this period, the Cossack detachment was sent to the region to collect taxes in kind, which is mentioned in the annals that have survived to this day. It was possible to get to these places along one of the main rivers, which later gave the name to the bay. The name in the description was used unadapted, originating from the language of the indigenous people - Itelmens.

When read, it naturally transformed, turning into "Avacha", which can be translated as "father of the bays." Until 1725, on the lands belonging to the bay, periodic battles were fought between 2 local peoples and the advancing Cossacks. The latter were interested in the tax, and they did not describe the geography of the area.

Only 22 years later, an expedition led by Vitus Bering sets off here, which lasts 5 years. Since the main goals were not achieved, it is repeated again after another 3 years. This gives an idea of ​​more accurate geography, it turns out to make fairly accurate maps.

Ebb and flow in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has always been observed, however, the scientific justification for this phenomenon did not exist for quite a long time. In 1729, the first attempt was made to explore the coast in more detail. After one expedition, its leader draws up a report, which is sent back by Bering - the latter was not satisfied that the description was carried out from the shore.

Therefore, a second appointment is appointed a year before the death of the captain-commander and is entrusted to the proven navigator Elagin, who is familiar with Bering from the second expedition to these parts.

He not only describes more than 700 km of the coast, but also chooses a place for the first base, which will later become the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. From this period, at least a small military detachment was stationed here on a permanent basis, and on the maps the land was designated as belonging to the country.

The nature of the bay

The first detailed studies of the area were carried out in 1740 by the founder of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Elagin. The instruction was given by Vitus Bering shortly before his death. Then a detailed map of the depths was drawn up, small bays and capes of the coast were described.

The fauna interested researchers a little earlier - in 1738, Krasheninnikov, who made a huge contribution to the study of these lands, ordered to collect samples of animals and fish. Since then, on the territory of the bay, a small peninsula has been renamed in honor of this explorer, and the nature of the area and its living world have changed.

The climate is difficult to characterize by one type, as the geographic location and the presence of a non-freezing water source have an influence.

The latitude coincides with Samara and Penza, but the average temperature is lower. Summer is cool, in the warmest month - August - the figure does not exceed +15°C. Winters are mild and warm, with a recorded minimum of -31°C, but such frosts occurred over 100 years ago. The average indicator fluctuates up to minus ten.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located on the shore of a closed bay, so the water area is closed from almost all sides, not all fish and animals can get here, although the fauna is diverse. At the bottom there are sea urchins, cucumbers and stars, mollusks, jellyfish, several types of corals and algae. 32 species of fish are described that live here throughout the year.

But individuals of the king crab swim depending on the cycle of tides, and you can meet them only during spawning. Permanent inhabitants are 2 species of seals - sea lions and seals. They are often found on the coast, which delights tourists. The largest accumulation is observed in Mokhovaya Bay, where the fish factory is located.

At the gates of the bay you can see killer whales, but they are afraid to enter the fenced area itself. A large variety of birds, whose nests are located on rocky shores, is due to the inaccessibility to predators and humans. The largest number of species was recorded on Starichkov Island, where there are at least 50 thousand individuals. Their number increases during the arrival for wintering of several species of ducks.

The island is located in the Avacha Bay - excursions are organized here. Landing on land is prohibited, since the territory has been protected since 2003, access is open only to environmental scientists, so you can only view the coast from the board of an inflatable boat. The measure was forced, as people do not spare the local beauties, which affects the state of nature.

The main "blow" to the ecology of the area is caused by shipping. At the end of the last century, the intensity of escorting military and civilian ships was higher. Now the volumes have decreased significantly, and environmental organizations have been able to defend the interests of the area.

According to divers' research, there are at least 74 ships of various sizes at the bottom of Avacha Bay, most of them belonged to the army. These are just the ones that have been found. Their inspection is safe for divers. Despite the profitability of diving excursions, the issue of cleaning the bottom is being actively developed.

Ebb and flow of Avacha Bay

The tides in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky have a special character. During the day, the water level changes three or four times. Moreover, there is a difference between high or low water at different times. In the first half of the day, starting from midnight or before dawn, significant level fluctuations take place, which is noticeable to the naked eye with measuring instruments.

More often, before the onset of the morning, there is an ebb tide, which is characterized by an average drop of up to 1.5 m. After it, a gradual increase occurs - a large tide. This is the influence of the moon. And in the afternoon, the sun affects the water surface. The cycle is replaced by low water - low tide, and high tide up to a meter, although usually the level is even less - it fluctuates between 70-80 cm.

The tides in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky depend on the influence of the moon. Each season the timing of this process is different.

The increase in indicators usually occurs from mid-spring - April, to the beginning of summer - June. This is the period of maximum fluctuations. By the beginning of autumn, they decrease, so the afternoon changes are almost imperceptible, especially to tourists.

The natural anomaly does not affect the life and daily processes of the city to a large extent. No structures are built in the low tide. This is a large area that is simply not suitable for economic use. Unlike other mainland lands, the significance of the phenomenon is not felt in the city, since water does not cut off the path to important parts of the land.

Three brothers of Avacha Bay

An attraction that is known to many is the Three Brothers. Their image is found on souvenirs. Rocks in the form of even pillars are located at a distance of 300 m from the shore at the gates of Avacha Bay. This is a very interesting natural construction, called kekur by the local population.

Divers have discovered that under the vertical rocks there is a cave, the depth of which is at least 12 m. The volume has not yet been calculated. There is a legend that tells of three brothers-heroes. They, being local residents, stood up to protect the city from a severe natural disaster. For this, the ancient gods punished them, forcing them to protect their native land forever.

Kekurs, being a natural phenomenon characteristic of the area, are not surprising, but the shape and position seem unusual to tourists. The first documented evidence of the existence of the Three Brothers dates back to 1737, when they were first mapped. However, their real age, of course, is much greater.

Ebb and flow in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which occurs constantly, may well explain this form of rock formation. In Chukotka, for example, similar forms are characteristic of windy places, and in the bay, an intense stream does the same work of turning.

Walking and fishing

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is beautiful, tourists see unusual nature here, so organized walks are popular. In the first days after arrival, it is recommended to walk along the promenade. If you develop the route correctly, you can explore several small bays and see the hills in the pre-sunset hour.

Routes are also organized for viewing the heights, however, they involve either a small ascent or professional equipment and preliminary training of team members. Boat trips are organized to Starichkov Island.

This is a long trip that requires going out into the bay, so make sure you don't get seasick or stock up on medication first. Kamchatka is rich in fish, so people often come here just for fishing.

It is divided by seasons and places of fishing:

Type of fishing	What is characterized
On the lake	More often it is winter or ice fishing. Requires special gear, equipment for long sitting in the cold.
On the rivers	Boating and fishing during the spawning period are popular. The last option, as the professionals joke, does not require gear other than hands.
In the bay	Both coastal fishing and fishing from small boats are popular. However, you need to be well versed in the specifics of the area in order to identify fishing spots.

Regardless of the season, fishing requires a license. It is more convenient for tourists to buy a place on an excursion that involves fishing. Usually, in addition to food and transport, the right to pick up the catch is granted, however, you need to clarify the conditions with the specific operator providing the service. Ebb and flow in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Avacha bays affect the catch.

If the last option presented in the table is selected, for fishing it is worth choosing the coastal option and high tide hours. Many local amateurs and professionals have been feeding in the same place for years, so big water brings many individuals who want to feed, it is only important to know the exact coordinates.

Other interesting facts

In addition to those listed, Avacha Bay is famous for other attractions:

The entire Kamchatka Peninsula for the inhabitants of central Russia is one big attraction. The local nature seems unusual, and the frequency of the ebb and flow brings an additional sense of magic.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has an interesting climate, many tourists note a strong “winter” tan after visiting these places. It is worth coming here at least once in your life to know how diverse and amazing Russia is.

Video about Avacha Bay

Overview of Avacha Bay:

1

A brief hydrological description of the Avacha Bay is given. The calculation of the water balance is given. It is shown that the bay, as a water system, has a very dynamic character. The salinity of the Avacha Bay is determined mainly by water exchange with the Avacha Bay and the runoff of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers. River waters create a mixing zone only in the surface layer. Due to the structural features of the bay, water exchange in the bay is uneven. The surface layers exchange water much more intensively than the bottom ones. The waters of the Avacha Bay have a low average annual temperature. The annual course of water temperature in Avacha Bay is positive from April to November and negative from December to March. The annual variation in water salinity in the bay is significant. Constantly high salinity values ​​in the lower horizons of the bay are due to the influence of ocean water.

Avacha Bay

water balance

water exchange coefficient

temperature

salinity

1. Baranov I.F. Hydrometeorological regime of Avacha Bay and bays of southeastern Kamchatka. - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: GFD KUGKS, 1944. - 147 p.

2. Berezovskaya V.A. Avacha Bay: hydrochemical regime, anthropogenic impact. - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: KGARF, 1999. - 156 p.

3. Berezovskaya V.A. Water balance of Avacha Bay // Ecological and economic problems of rational environmental management of Kamchatka. Proceedings of KamchatGTU. - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: KSTU, 2001. - Issue. 12. - P. 32–36.

4. Bogdanov K.T. Tides of the Pacific // Proceedings of IOAN. - 1962. - T. 60. - S. 142-160.

5. Bogdanov K.T. Distribution of semidiurnal tidal waves in the Pacific Ocean // Oceanic Research. - 1962. - No. 5. - P. 5–18.

6. Kondratyuk V.I. Climate of Kamchatka. - M. : Gidrometeoizdat, 1974. - 202 p.

7. Lyandzberg R.A., Berezovskaya V.A. Seasonal changes in salinity and pH in mixing waters at the confluence of spawning rivers in Avacha Bay // Ways of development of enterprises of the fishing industry of Kamchatka. Tez. report sci.-tech. conf. - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 1985. - P. 31.

8. Resources of surface waters of the USSR. Kamchatka. - L.: 1973. - T. 20. - 367 p.

Avacha Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean off the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. It occupies a central position in the Avacha Bay, standing out among other bays for its large size, unique shape and relief. The length of the bay (without the strait) along the meridian is 24 km, the width along the parallel is 12 km. The total surface area of ​​the water mirror varies depending on the tide phase from 230 to 208 km2. The volume of water averages about 3.8 km3. The average depth is 18 m, the maximum is 28 m. In general, depths of 15-25 m predominate; they occupy 70% of the total area.

The shores of the bay are deep, indented and form a series of bays, many of which (Rakovaya, Petropavlovskaya, etc.) are convenient harbors, well protected from the winds by spurs of mountain ranges. The bottom is relatively flat. Its entire central part is covered with silt, closer to the coast - with sand, gravel and pebbles. The total annual flow of fresh water into the bay is about 6 km3; the maximum flow is observed in June, and the minimum - in March. The nature of the currents in the Avacha Bay is determined by the influence of tides, as a result of which the total currents periodically change their direction and speed.

At the minimum declination of the moon, two full and two low waters are observed per day, and in spring and autumn the height of two adjacent high and low waters is almost the same, i.e., there is a regular semi-diurnal tide course. In winter and summer, there is a large daily inequality in the heights of neighboring high waters, and the amplitude of the tide is small and does not exceed 80-85 cm.

As the declination of the moon increases, daily inequalities in the heights of adjacent waters grow rapidly, tides become diurnal with one high and one low water. Low water has a short standing time, while full waters with slight fluctuations in height have a standing time of up to 14 hours. The tide amplitude is the largest and can reach 160-180 cm.

The height of the tides is maximum in April-June. The difference between the syzygy and quadrature heights is pronounced. In almost all periods of spring cycles, the maximum low tides occur in the morning and afternoon hours and do not reach zero depth by more than 20–30 cm. By autumn, the difference between the heights of semidiurnal tides, as well as between the heights of full spring and quadrature low tides, is almost leveled. At the same time, periods of large spring tides move to the night hours. Consequently, in the warm season, the littoral biota experiences a strong drying effect and significant insolation.

The average long-term annual course of level fluctuations in the bay is 147 cm. From April to October, the fluctuation range is 141-144 cm. The maximum fluctuations equal to 157-158 cm are observed in December-January. The speed of currents on the surface of the bay reaches 35 cm/s during high tide and drops to 10 cm/s at low tide. Bottom currents are much weaker in speed than surface currents (10–12 cm/s), and, as a rule, they are opposite in direction. The maximum flow velocity is observed in the throat of the lip.

The river runoff is to a greater extent pressed towards the northwestern shore. At the northeastern coast, in the area from b. Mokhovaya to Cape Signalny, it forms a circulation, opposite in direction to the one that appears here during the change of the tidal current to the ebb. The water of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers flows into the bay mainly along the southwestern coast of the bay.

Of the rivers flowing into the bay, the largest is Avacha, which accounts for about 80% of the annual flow. The river originates in the spurs of the Ganalsky and Valaginsky ranges, has a length of 122 km and a catchment area of ​​about 4800 km2. Before confluence with the bay, it flows through a vast swampy plain, the left-bank part of which is limited by the foot of the Avachinskaya Sopka volcano, and the right-bank part by a low watershed with the basins of the Tikhaya and Paratunka rivers. The river bed is slightly winding, branched in some areas. The predominant width of the channel is 100-130 m, the depth is 2-5 m, the flow velocity is about 1.5 m/s. Tidal currents are observed in the estuarine area. The depth of the river at low water drops to 0.6-0.8 m. During high tides, the banks at the mouth area are almost completely flooded.

The water balance of the Avacha Bay was first calculated in the 1940s by I.F. Baranov. According to his data, the final water exchange of Avacha Bay is the result of a balance between the inflow of river water and precipitation, on the one hand, and the processes of evaporation and water exchange with the bay, on the other. He expresses the water balance equation of the lip as follows:

A + B = D + H,

where A is the inflow of river waters into the bay; B - the amount of precipitation falling on the surface of the bay; D - evaporation from the surface of the lip; H is the value of water exchange between the bay and the bay.

Taking the average inflow of river water into the bay equal to 5.25 km3 per year and the area of ​​the bay 238 km2, he obtained the thickness of the water layer brought by the rivers - 22.06 m. Taking into account the average annual precipitation (1.099 m) and evaporation (0.373 m) he calculated that an average of 5.42 km3 of water flows out of the bay into the bay during the year, which corresponds to a flow rate of 171.9 m3/s per second.

The calculation of the water balance of Avacha Bay, done by , is not entirely consistent with the data obtained by I.F. Baranov, since when compiling the water balance, all sources of water inflow into the bay and all items of water flow from it should be taken into account. Based on this, the equation for the water balance of Avacha Bay will have the following form:

W p + W os + W pr + W under + W st \u003d W g + W ex + W use + W fil ± H,

where Wp is the volume of water flow entering the bay; Wos is the volume of atmospheric precipitation falling on the lip mirror; Wpr is the volume of water entering the bay from the ocean at high tide; Wpod - the volume of groundwater entering the bay; Wst - the volume of wastewater entering the bay; Wg - constant water runoff into the ocean; Wrel - the volume of water leaving the ocean at low tide; Wisp - the volume of water evaporating from the bay; Wfil - the volume of water filtering from the bay into the ocean; H - discrepancy of water balance.

When determining the values ​​of all terms of the equation, it must be taken into account that the hydrology of the Avacha Bay is very dynamic. In this regard, we calculated the water balance based on long-term average data (2000-2009) of all water balance items.

Wр - volume of river water runoff. The average annual water consumption in the river. Avacha is 137 m3/s, and in the river. Paratunka - 45 m3 / s, with a maximum water flow in the flood of 542 and 259 m3 / s, respectively. Other small streams and rivers do not have a significant impact on the average annual water balance of the bay. Therefore, we take the volume of river water runoff approximately equal to the average annual runoff of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers. The average annual flow of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers is: Wр = (137 + 45)′60′60′24′365 = 5.74 km3/year.

Wos - the volume of atmospheric precipitation. The average annual layer of atmospheric precipitation is 1.1 m, and the area of ​​the water surface of the bay, depending on the tide phase, ranges from 208 to 230 km2, with an average value of 219 km2. Consequently, the amount of atmospheric precipitation falling on the mirror of the bay will be: Wos = 1.1′10-3′219 = 0.24 km3/year.

Wpr is the volume of water entering the bay from the ocean at high tide. Taking the average level change in the bay equal to 147 cm, we determine the amount of water entering the bay during high tide. It is equal to 0.32 km3 (1.47?10-3?219). For simplicity of calculation, we will assume that the tides in the bay are of a daily nature, then during the year the following volume of water will pass through the bay due to the tides: Wpr = 0.32′365 = 117.9 km3/year.

Wpod - the volume of groundwater entering the bay. We do not have data on this component, and it is not possible to take it into account. It should be noted that this component should not be large, since groundwater drains into the Avacha and Paratunka rivers from the west, and the ocean is located from the east, and groundwater can enter the bay only from the north from the side of the Avacha group of volcanoes and from the south.

Wst - the volume of wastewater entering the bay from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The total annual volume of wastewater discharged into Avacha Bay is about 0.12 km3/year.

Wg - constant water flow from the bay of water to the ocean. It consists of the water runoff of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers, the volume of atmospheric precipitation falling on the water surface of the bay, surface runoff (the volume of which will be small relative to other components and therefore we do not take it into account) and the volume of wastewater. From this it is necessary to subtract the volume of evaporated water (see below), which is 0.09 km3 / year: Wg \u003d 5.74 + 0.24 + 0.12-0.09 \u003d 6.01 km3 / year.

Wrel - the volume of water leaving the ocean at low tide. It is quite obvious that this volume for a sufficiently long period (for example, for a year) should be equal to the volume of water that entered the bay during high tide. Otherwise, a change in the level of the lip should be observed - either its increase or decrease in comparison with the ordinary one. Therefore, Wex = 117.9 km3/year.

Wisp - the volume of water evaporating from the water surface of the lip. The average long-term evaporation layer is 0.4 m, then the volume of evaporated water will be equal to: Wisp = 0.′10 -3 ′219 = 0.09 km3/year.

Wfil - the volume of water filtering from the bay into the ocean. This component of the water balance will be much less than the inflow of groundwater into the bay. This is due to the almost identical water level in the bay and in the ocean both at high tide and at low tide. For these reasons, this component can be ignored.

H - discrepancy of water balance. The water balance discrepancy can be either positive or negative. This is due to the inaccuracy of the available information and our assumptions. The total balance is shown in the table.

Water balance of Avacha Bay

As can be seen from the obtained data, the main component of the water balance of Avacha Bay is the volume of water entering the bay at high tide and the volume of water leaving the bay into the ocean at low tide. It should be noted that the calculation of the water balance given in this work does not quite coincide with those performed earlier. Fundamentally, it has not changed, but due to the decrease in the volume of wastewater, their share in the total income has somewhat decreased. So, in the 80s. 20th century it was 0.15%, and now it has decreased and is 0.1%. As a result, the proportion of the tide, the volume of which has not changed, slightly increased - up to 95.08%. Previously, it was 95.03%.

The water exchange coefficient of the bay (n), calculated based on the volume of the bay (3.8 km3) and the volume of water passing through it per year, will be equal to: n = 124.0:3.8 = 32.63 ≈ 33 times a year.

The water exchange coefficient shows that Avacha Bay as a water system has a very dynamic character. At the same time, it should be taken into account that, due to the structural features of the bay, the water exchange in the bay is uneven. The surface layers exchange water much more intensively than the bottom ones.

Every day, about 0.32 km3 flows into the bay due to the tide, and 0.34 km3 of water pours out. Thus, the average daily water consumption due to the constant water runoff from the bay is about 0.017 km3, and the average monthly is 0.51 km3. The constant runoff from the bay varies greatly throughout the year. From May to August it is about 3.40 km3, in September-November 1.40 km3, and in December-April 1.28 km3.

The annual course of water temperature in Avacha Bay is positive from April to November and negative from December to March. In the surface layer of water, the temperature transition through 0ºС usually occurs in the first half of April. In May and especially June, warming intensifies, and negative temperatures disappear at all horizons. The maximum temperatures on the surface are observed in July-August and range from 11-12 ºС to 21 ºС. At the same time, the temperature of the surface layer of water near the throat of the bay is always lower than in its central part.

From September, the cooling of the surface layer begins, and in the bottom layers and in shallow water, the temperature continues to rise. In October, the cooling of water masses covers the entire thickness, excluding the bottom layer in the center of the bay, where the water temperature, on the contrary, reaches its maximum values ​​(3.7-4 ºС).

In winter, due to the presence of ice, the temperature of the surface layer changes little. Its minimum values ​​are observed in February: in the bottom layer they are -0.3 ÷ -0.7 ºС, and on the surface -1 ÷ -2.0 ºС. The absolute minimum (-2.0 ºС) is observed almost annually.

The average annual water temperature of the Avacha Bay is 3.9 ºС.

The apex part of Avacha Bay is characterized by early ice formation; in some years, ice appears in this area in November. In the western region fast ice appears in December and stays until the end of March. In the central and eastern regions, a continuous ice cover, as a rule, does not form, since ice is constantly carried out into the ocean.

The salinity regime of Avacha Bay is determined mainly by water exchange with the Pacific Ocean and the runoff of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers. Constantly high salinity values ​​in the lower horizons of the bay are due to the influence of ocean water. River waters create a mixing zone only in the surface layer. The most freshened waters are in the northwestern, southern, and southwestern parts of the bay. As we move away from the mouths of the rivers, the freshening weakens, but even at Cape Uglovy, the salinity is much lower than at the opposite eastern shore of the throat.

The annual variation in water salinity in the bay is quite significant. The decrease in salinity begins in April due to an increase in coastal runoff. Its minimum values ​​are observed in July and remain at a low level until September. In the autumn months, salinity begins to rise. The formation of ice cover during the winter months further increases the salinity, and in January it reaches its maximum values. In the same period, its leveling occurs throughout the entire water column. A slight freshening of the surface layers of water can be observed in February. It is caused by the inflow of fresh water under the lower surface of the ice cover.

Based on the above, it can be summarized that Avacha Bay, as a water system, has a very dynamic character, but due to the peculiarities of its structure, water exchange in the bay is uneven and the surface layers exchange water much more intensively than the bottom ones. The salinity of Avacha Bay is determined mainly by water exchange with the Pacific Ocean (Avacha Bay) and the runoff of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers. Constantly high salinity values ​​in the lower horizons of the bay are due to the influence of ocean water. River waters create a mixing zone only in the surface layer. The average annual water temperature of the Avacha Bay is 3.9 ºС. The annual course of water temperature in Avacha Bay is positive from April to November and negative from December to March.

Reviewers:

Kuzyakina T.I., Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Chief Researcher of the Research Geotechnological Center of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky;

Serdan A.A., Doctor of Chemistry, Professor, Leading Researcher, Department of Petroleum Chemistry and Organic Catalysis, Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University M.V. Lomonosov, Moscow.

The work was received by the editors on September 2, 2014.

Bibliographic link

Potapov V.V. HYDROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AVACHA BAY // Fundamental Research. - 2014. - No. 9-10. – S. 2227-2231;
URL: http://fundamental-research.ru/ru/article/view?id=35302 (date of access: 12/14/2019). We bring to your attention the journals published by the publishing house "Academy of Natural History"

Avacha Bay is one of the most convenient and beautiful harbors in the world. The second largest on the planet (with an area of ​​​​about 215 sq. Km), it is able to accommodate the entire world fleet. Its waters hide ships that sank many years ago, and enterprises located on its shores regularly dump industrial and household waste into the bay.

What is the ecological situation in the Avacha Bay, the correspondent of "AiF-Kamchatka" found out from the specialists of the Kamchatka Department for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.

"... We will show everything, explain everything, teach you how to use a bathometer," the head of the laboratory of applied ecology of the KamGU named after I. Vitus Bering Ivan STASIY, while we (AiF-Kamchatka correspondent and three oceanologists) were driving to the boat on an UAZ-tablet.

Zero, ten, bottom...

Upon arrival, the ecologists smoothly and quickly load crates of empty bottles and scientific instruments onto the stern of the small vessel. With their help, once a month they take water samples in Avacha Bay. Exactly at 11 the boat leaves the pier, and after a few minutes we stop at the first point. About ten bottles are displayed in three rows at the stern, their numbers neatly recorded in a notebook. Ivan scoops water from the surface of the bay with a bucket, Vladimir Marushchak, head of the operational expeditionary group of the Hydrometeorological Service, lowers the first bathometer (a device for taking water samples from various depths. - Ed.) by 10 meters. A little later, the second bathometer goes to the bottom and stays there for a few minutes to record the temperature of the water. "Zero, ten, bottom" - at most points where the depth is several tens of meters, water samples are taken from the surface, from ten meters and from the very bottom. In the rest - only from the surface and from the bottom horizon. The contents of the bottles will be comprehensively studied in the laboratory a little later. Data on the content of phenols (decay products), synthetic surfactants (synthetic surfactants, such as powders and other detergents), oil products and oxygen saturation in the water give a complete picture of the ecological situation in the bay. By the way, in the last 5 years it began to improve. This allowed the Kamchatka UGMS in 2008 to transfer the waters of the Avacha Bay from the "polluted" class to the "moderately polluted" class - compared to 2007, the discharge of wastewater decreased by 20% ...

After the scientists poured water for analysis from the next point, our boat sets off again.

At this moment, a large oil slick appears on the port side, even in the fog, cheerfully shimmering with rainbow colors. “Usually, in such weather, the waste is drained - fog, nothing is visible, the spot will be carried away by the wind far from the place of discharge, and it is already impossible to prove anything. Judging by the direction of the wind, it will soon be on the shore, where the Paratunka flows into the bay, "- comments Vladimir Marushchak.

Valery Nikolayevich, the captain of the boat, reports the incident to his superiors - to the Kamchattekhmordirectorate, whose specialists are to look for the culprits. True, in Kamchatka it is almost impossible to find those who dumped waste into the water - there is no necessary equipment that would allow reliable analyzes. So most often, such emissions and oil slicks passing by are simply recorded in the reports.

dead plankton

Analysis of the oxygen content in water is considered one of the most difficult. This indicator is determined using several reagents and a filter unit.

In June, on the near-bottom horizon of the central part of the bay, as well as in the area of ​​the Krasheninnikov and Mokhovaya bays, scientists recorded extremely high water pollution (EHP). This means that the oxygen content was extremely low - less than 2 milligrams per liter of water. “At such values, plankton dies, fish do not survive, pollutants accumulate,” says Vladimir Olesevich. Scientists also call this phenomenon "red tides" - the color of dead plankton.

It is not uncommon for Kamchatka, but it is typical for the end of summer - the beginning of autumn. This year, nature has failed, the red tides began almost a block earlier than usual. Scientists attribute this to an abnormally warm June.

"We are located just in the center of the bay, and at this point the water must be taken very carefully - there is a possibility that the EVZ will repeat again," the scientist explains, sending the bathometer to the bottom. By the way, the water temperature at the bottom is about 3 degrees. But on the surface, the bathometer records the maximum temperature for this summer - 16.7 degrees. The boat is heading to the next point.

“In general, we used to go beyond the gates, to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Bering Sea, even reached the Kuro-Sivo Current, took measurements there, too,” oceanologists recall. "Latest technology. There was even satellite navigation. But in the 90s they began to be rented out to merchants ... Today, the boat for monthly research is provided by Kamchattekhmordirectoriya. The situation with financing has improved, but there is a huge problem with personnel: mostly people work in management There are very few oceanologists, meteorologists and hydrologists with education left. Young people do not go to Kamchatka, and here these specialists are not trained. So in a few years there will even be no one to predict the weather ... "

Harbor of sunken ships

Is it true that dozens of sunken ships languish at the bottom of the Avacha Bay?

A. Gromov, Petropavlovsk

According to the regulatory authorities, there are more than 70 sunken and abandoned ships of various displacements with a total weight of about 260,000 tons in the waters of the bay. Most of them (59 ships) previously belonged to the Navy. Sunken warships were once sold as scrap. The owners, as a rule, cut off only the surface part from them, and the ships themselves were allowed to go to the bottom.

“Once upon a time, a submarine floating base sank here,” Vladimir Marushchak, head of the operational expeditionary group of the Hydrometeorological Service, told our correspondent, “for several years sediments of sand and silt accumulated around it. When it was raised, the sand fell off, and the depth in this place changed - instead of 20 meters it became 12".

The arrested and confiscated fishing vessels pose an environmental hazard to Avacha Bay. Sometimes they accumulate up to 30 units at a time. These vessels, as a rule, have stocks of fuels and lubricants, freon, ammonia installations. At the same time, their safety is not ensured by the owners. Since the beginning of 2009 alone, three such vessels have sunk to the bottom of Avacha Bay, one of which, MRS-150 N 221, sank on February 27 right in the center of Petropavlovsk at the berth of the commercial port.

REFERENCE

In 2008, wastewater discharge into Avacha Bay amounted to 76.7 thousand cubic meters, including 18.8 thousand cubic meters without preliminary treatment and more than 500 thousand cubic meters - conditionally treated.

According to scientists, the excess of the established maximum permissible concentrations (MAC) of harmful substances is periodically observed in the bays of Krasheninnikov, Lake Bogorodskoye, the mouths of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers - that is, in areas of wastewater discharges, shipyards and in ship anchorages.

Avacha Bay is one of the most picturesque and convenient harbors on the Pacific coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Wide, perfectly protected from the ocean elements, at the same time it has a convenient communication with the sea.

Avacha Bay is represented by a deep-water closed gulf, rounded in shape, the total area of ​​which reaches 215 km2. It is connected to the Pacific Ocean by a narrow strait.

The bay has winding shores, indented by many small bays, the most famous of which are Krasheninnikova, Quiet, Petropavlovskaya, Malaya Lagernaya, Mokhovaya, Rakovaya, Bezymyannaya, Stanitskogo and Seldevaya. The latter is part of the Krasheninnikov Bay and is located in its southern part. The shipyard of the Navy is also located here.

Krasheninnikov Bay is located on the eastern coast of the peninsula, in the southern part of the bay. It got its name in honor of the explorer of Kamchatka S.P. Krasheninnikov. The second name is Tarja or Tarjinsky. There are 3 capes on its coast: Cape Entrance, Cape Kazak and Cape Nevodchikov and 3 large bays: Seldevy, Gorbushechiy and Yagodny.

Here the city of Vilyuchinsk found its shelter, which is the base point for nuclear submarines of the Pacific Fleet.

Quiet Bay is one of the most peaceful. Small and very cozy, it is all surrounded by rocks. This place is famous for its excellent fishing. In its waters, you can catch flounder and halibut of unprecedented sizes.

B. Malaya Lagernaya is also part of the water area of ​​Avacha Bay and is a favorite vacation spot for city dwellers. A lot of fish come here for spawning, so during the spawning season inspectors of the fish protection service come on duty. This place got its name in honor of the prison camp, which was located here in Soviet times.

Zavoyko Bay is also part of the coastline of Avacha Bay. It is heavily incised into the coastline and is surrounded by capes Zavoyko and Vilkov. The shores are low and only in a few places you can see reddish cliffs. It is famous for its breathtaking view of the gates of Avacha Bay. On the north side is the Zavoyko peninsula. It got its name from Vasily Zavoyko, the governor of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the 19th century. There is a residential area, a pier and a military unit.

The coastal part of Avacha Bay is of volcanic origin and mountain character. The western side is rich in picturesque Avacha and Paratunka rivers. The waters in the coastal strip are warmer than the air for most of the year, which affects the climate of nearby cities.

Going outside the city, you can see the diverse world of flora and fauna. The slopes of the hills are strewn with birch forest, cedar and alder elfin, mountain ash and herbs. Large mammals are represented by spotted seals and sea lions, and birds are found both from the family of ducks and gulls, and anseriformes. Along the banks, far from the cities, bears, foxes and other animals sometimes walk.

The main bird sanctuary is located on Starichkov Island. Entire colonies of waterfowl, red-faced cormorant, kittiwake, guillemot, hatchet, and ipatki live here, there are nests of the white-tailed eagle, as well as small rookeries of spotted seals. The island is a protected area, so only scientists are allowed to land on it, but you can take a fascinating boat trip to this small piece of land, and meet dolphins or killer whales along the way.

Avacha Bay or otherwise the bay is a great place for diving enthusiasts. The most convenient places for diving will be Srednyaya and Malaya Lagernaya, Silent, Stanitskogo and Bezymyannaya. At the entrance to the bay, its depth reaches 6-14 meters, and in the middle it is 25-28 meters. The water temperature on the surface in summer reaches 10-15 degrees, and going down to the bottom it decreases to 6. 10 m, and in summer at the entrance to the bay it reaches 15 m. The immersion depth can reach 40 m.

Solid ground is found at 10-12 meters, everything deeper is covered with loam. Brown algae make up the main surface of the underwater landscape, and sometimes they turn into real forests.

In shallow waters, the sea urchin is the dominant inhabitant, and you can also see sea anemones and sponges, starfish and crabs. At depths of up to 8 meters, mussel banks can be found. Permanent residents of the underwater world of the bay are 32 species of fish. Almost the whole year you can meet flounder, greenling, goby, sea bass and halibut here.

One of the problematic issues of the water area of ​​the Avacha Bay is hundreds of tons of ships resting at the bottom. Since Soviet times, ships that have outlived their time have been transported to Yuzhnaya Bay and sunk. Today, burials of this kind extend almost throughout the entire territory of the bay. Residents of the small town of Zavoyko say that even a German submarine has been sunk in their coastal zone.

Some time ago, an organized cleaning of the seabed began. In order to get and drink a ship of at least a couple of tons, more than one month is required. In the first few years, about 15 steamships and mountains of garbage were raised from the bottom. Plans are now being developed for the proper disposal of ships. This kind of project today has the status of a federal target program and is designed for 9 years.

The total number of ships lying at the bottom of the bay is just over 70 pieces. Among them there are also vessels of poachers from Asian and African countries.

Navigator

The first outlines of the bay on the map of Russia were drawn by I. Elagin in 1740, which was a kind of first sailing direction for navigators. Later, with the change of names and navigation, it underwent its own changes. At the moment, the main points in the composition of the Avacha Bay sailing directions are the Petropavlovsk rear and front; Avachinsky back with a red rectangular shield; Stanitsky with a white octagonal stone tower; Corner with a red tetrahedral metal pyramid; Shoals of Cape Zavoyko; Cape Western with a round metal column; Signal with a red round metal column; Mokhovaya Bay and the Krasheninnikov Peninsula; Shipunsky and others.

In connection with the global significance of the Avacha Bay as a marine object, certain rules for navigation of ships in the bay and on the approaches to it are established. Together with tide charts, this information is a public resource and can be purchased from a store or downloaded from the Internet. So, according to these rules, the restricted areas for visiting, as well as the entry of military ships are: Sarannaya Bay - from the line that connects Cape Saranny and Cape Dangerous; Salvation Bay, Zhirovaya, Krasheninnikova and Bogatyrevka on the western side of the line that connects Cape Kazak and Cape Kosa, Berezovaya, Zavoyko on the north side of the line that connects Cape Zavoyko, point 52°55.8" N, 158°41.1 "E and Zavoyko Island; Bay "Bogorodskoye Lake", Shitovaya, Ilyichev in the south-western side of the line Cape Vostochny - Cape Ilyichev;

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You can go on a ship along Avacha Bay on one-day excursions and in multi-day group tours