Facts about East Siberian Sea
- 10
Indigenous Yupik and Chukchi peoples have inhabited the coastlines of the East Siberian Sea for thousands of years, relying on its marine mammals for subsistence.
- 09
Discovered in 2003, the underwater New Siberian Polynya in the East Siberian Sea remains one of the Arctic's most mysterious recurring open-water phenomena, covering up to 30,000 square kilometers during peak seasons.
- 08
Polynyas, or recurring open water areas, form in the East Siberian Sea due to tidal currents and wind patterns, creating critical breathing holes for marine mammals during winter months.
- 07
Navigational records show the East Siberian Sea contains extremely sparse shipping traffic, with fewer than five commercial vessels annually traversing its waters due to ice conditions and remoteness.
- 06
Approximately 2,160 kilometers of coastline border the East Siberian Sea, making it a critical habitat for polar bears, walruses, and ringed seals throughout the year.
- 05
During winter months, pack ice in the East Siberian Sea drifts northward at an average rate of 4 to 8 centimeters per second due to prevailing winds and ocean currents.
- 04
The East Siberian Sea's Lena River delta discharges approximately 540 cubic kilometers of freshwater annually into Arctic waters, significantly affecting regional salinity and ice formation patterns.
- 03
Shallow continental shelf waters of the East Siberian Sea experience complete ice coverage for approximately nine months annually, with maximum thickness reaching 2 meters by spring.
- 02
Methane hydrate deposits beneath the East Siberian Sea's seafloor contain an estimated 1,400 gigatons of carbon, making it a significant potential source of greenhouse gas release.
- 01
Covering approximately 901,000 square kilometers, the East Siberian Sea is the second-largest sea in the Russian Arctic after the Barents Sea.