The tides ebb and flow in Avacha Bay. Avacha Bay
A brief hydrological description of Avachinskaya Bay is given. The calculation of water balance is given. It is shown that the lip, as a water system, has a very dynamic character. The salinity of Avacha Bay is determined mainly by water exchange with 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 lip, water exchange in the lip is uneven. The surface layers exchange water much more intensively than the bottom layers. The waters of Avacha Bay have a low average annual temperature. The annual variation of water temperature in Avacha Bay has positive values from April to November and negative values 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 south-eastern 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 KamchatSTU. – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: KSTU, 2001. – Issue. 12. – pp. 32–36.
4. Bogdanov K.T. Tides of the Pacific Ocean // Proceedings of IOAN. – 1962. – T. 60. – P. 142–160.
5. Bogdanov K.T. Distribution of semidiurnal tidal waves over 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 into Avachinskaya Bay // Ways of development of fishing industry enterprises in Kamchatka. Abstract. report scientific-technical conf. – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 1985. – P. 31.
8. Surface water resources of the USSR. Kamchatka. – L.: 1973. – T. 20. – 367 p.
Avachinskaya 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 due to its large size, unique shape and relief. The length of the lip (without strait) along the meridian is 24 km, the width along the parallel is 12 km. The total surface area of the water surface varies depending on the tidal 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 prevail; they occupy 70% of the total area.
The shores of the bay are deepened, indented and form a number 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 shore - 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 currents in Avacha Bay is determined by the influence of ebbs and flows, as a result of which the total currents periodically change their direction and speed.
At the minimum declination of the moon, two high and two low waters per day are observed, and in spring and autumn the heights of the two adjacent high and low waters are almost the same, i.e., the correct semidiurnal cycle of tides takes place. 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 quickly increase; the tides become diurnal with one high and one low water. Low water has a short duration of standing, while high water with slight fluctuations in height has a standing duration of up to 14 hours. The amplitude of the tide is the greatest and can reach 160-180 cm.
The height of the tides is maximum in April-June. The difference between syzygy and quadrature heights is pronounced. In almost all periods of spring cycles, 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 out. 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 variation in level fluctuations in the bay is 147 cm. From April to October, the range of fluctuations is 141-144 cm. 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 water and drops to 10 cm/s at low water. 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 rate is observed in the throat of the lip.
The river flow is more pressed towards the northwestern coast. Off the northeastern coast, in the area from b. Mokhovaya to Cape Signalny, it forms a gyre, opposite in direction to the one that appears here during the change of tidal current to 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 ridges, has a length of 122 km and a drainage area of about 4800 km2. Before flowing into the bay, it flows through a vast swampy plain, the left bank of which is limited by the foot of the Avachinskaya Sopka volcano, and the right bank by a low watershed with the basins of the Tikhaya and Paratunka rivers. The river bed is slightly tortuous and branched in some areas. The prevailing width of the channel is 100-130 m, depth 2-5 m, current speed is about 1.5 m/s. Tidal currents are observed in the estuary area. The depth of the river in low water drops to 0.6-0.8 m. During high tides, the banks in the mouth area are almost completely flooded.
The water balance of Avacha Bay was first calculated in the forties by I.F. Baranov. According to his data, the final water exchange of Avacha Bay is the result of a balance between the influx of river water and atmospheric precipitation, on the one hand, and the processes of evaporation and water exchange with the bay, on the other. He expresses the lip water balance equation as follows:
A + B = D + N,
where A is the influx of river water into the bay; B is the amount of precipitation falling on the surface of the bay; D - evaporation from the surface of the lip; N is the amount of water exchange between the bay and the bay.
Taking the average influx of river water into the bay equal to 5.25 km3 per year and the area of the bay to be 238 km2, he obtained the thickness of the water layer brought by the rivers to be 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 from the bay into the bay during the year, which corresponds to a second flow rate of 171.9 m3/s.
The calculation of the water balance of Avachinskaya Bay, carried out, is not entirely consistent with the data obtained by I.F. Baranov, since when compiling a water balance, all sources of water entering the bay and all items of water consumption from it should be taken into account. Based on this, the water balance equation for Avacha Bay will be as follows:
W r + W os + W pr + W under + W st = W g + W exc + W used + W fil ± H,
where Wр is the volume of water flow entering the lip; Woc - the volume of precipitation falling on the lip surface; Wpr is the volume of water entering the lip from the ocean during high tide; Wsub is the volume of groundwater entering the bay; Wst is the volume of wastewater entering the bay; Wg - constant water flow into the ocean; Wtl - the volume of water that goes into the ocean at low tide; Wisp is the volume of water evaporating from the lip; Wfil - the volume of water filtered from the bay into the ocean; N - water balance mismatch.
When determining the values of all terms of the equation, it is necessary to take into account that the hydrology of Avacha Bay is very dynamic. In this regard, we calculated the water balance using average long-term data (2000-2009) for all items of the water balance.
Wр - volume of river water flow. Average annual water flow in the river. Avacha is 137 m3/s, and in the river. Paratunka - 45 m3/s, with maximum water flow during flood 542 and 259 m3/s, respectively. The remaining 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 flow approximately equal to the average annual flow 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.
Woc - volume of precipitation. The average annual layer of atmospheric precipitation is 1.1 m, and the area of the bay's water surface, depending on the tidal phase, ranges from 208 to 230 km2, with an average value of 219 km2. Consequently, the amount of precipitation falling on the lip of the bay will be: Woc = 1.1′10-3′219 = 0.24 km3/year.
Wpr is the volume of water entering the lip from the ocean during high tide. Taking the average change in level in the lip equal to 147 cm, we determine the amount of water entering the lip during high tide. It is equal to 0.32 km3 (1.47?10-3?219). To simplify the calculation, we assume that the tides in the bay are diurnal, 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.
Wsub is the volume of groundwater entering the bay. We do not have data on this component, and there is no way to take it into account. It should be noted that this component should not be large, since from the west groundwater drains into the Avacha and Paratunka rivers, and from the east there is an ocean, and groundwater can only enter the bay from the north from the Avacha group of volcanoes and from the south.
Wst is 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 is the constant water flow from the bay into the ocean. It consists of the water runoff of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers, the volume of 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 we must subtract the volume of evaporated water (see below), which is 0.09 km3/year: Wg = 5.74+0.24+0.12-0.09 = 6.01 km3/year.
Wtl is the volume of water that goes into the ocean at low tide. It is quite obvious that this volume over a fairly long period (for example, 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 compared to normal. Therefore, Wrel = 117.9 km3/year.
Wisp is 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: Wsp = 0.′10 -3 ′219 = 0.09 km3/year.
Wfil is the volume of water filtered from the bay into the ocean. This component of the water balance will be much less than the flow of groundwater into the bay. This is explained by almost the same water level in the bay and in the ocean both during high and low tides. For these reasons, this component can be ignored.
N - water balance mismatch. 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 data obtained, the main component of the water balance of Avacha Bay is the volume of water entering the bay during high tide, and the volume of water leaving the bay into the ocean during low tide. It should be noted that the calculation of the water balance given in this work does not exactly coincide with those performed earlier. It has not changed fundamentally, but due to a decrease in the volume of wastewater, its share in the total influx has decreased somewhat. So, in the 80s. XX century it was 0.15%, and has now decreased and is 0.1%. As a result, the share of the tide, the volume of which did not change, increased slightly - 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 Avachinskaya Bay as a water system has a very dynamic character. At the same time, it must be taken into account that, due to the structural features of the lip, water exchange in the lip is uneven. The surface layers exchange water much more intensively than the bottom layers.
Every day, an average of about 0.32 km3 of water flows into the bay due to the tide, and 0.34 km3 of water flows out. Thus, the average daily water consumption due to constant water flow from the bay is about 0.017 km3, and the monthly average is 0.51 km3. The constant flow 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 variation of water temperature in Avacha Bay has positive values from April to November and negative values 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, the heating intensifies, and negative temperatures disappear on all horizons. Maximum surface temperatures are observed in July-August and range from 11-12 ºС to 21 ºС. At the same time, at the throat of the lip, the temperature of the surface layer of water is always lower than in its central part.
In September, cooling of the surface layer begins, and in the bottom layers and shallow waters 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 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 every year.
The average annual water temperature of Avacha Bay is 3.9 ºС.
The apex of Avachinskaya Bay is characterized by early ice formation; in some years it appears in this area in November. In the western region, fast ice appears in December and lasts until the end of March. In the central and eastern regions, continuous ice cover, as a rule, does not form, since the ice is constantly carried 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 desalinated waters are in the northwestern, southern and southwestern parts of the bay. As you move away from the river mouths, the desalination weakens, but even at Cape Uglovoy the salinity is significantly lower than at the opposite eastern shore of the throat.
The annual change in water salinity in the bay is quite significant. The decrease in salinity begins in April due to increased coastal runoff. Its minimum values are observed in July and remain low until September. During the autumn months, salinity begins to increase. The formation of ice cover in the winter months further increases salinity, and in January it reaches its maximum values. During 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 influx of fresh water under the lower surface of the ice sheet.
Based on the above, it can be summarized that Avachinskaya Bay as a water system has a very dynamic character, but due to the peculiarities of its structure, water exchange in the lip is uneven and the surface layers exchange water much more intensively than the bottom layers. 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 Avacha Bay is 3.9 ºС. The annual variation of water temperature in Avacha Bay has positive values from April to November and negative values 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 Chemical Sciences, Professor, Leading Researcher at the Department of Petroleum Chemistry and Organic Catalysis, Faculty of Chemistry, Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov, Moscow.
The work was received by the editor on September 2, 2014.
Bibliographic link
Potapov V.V. HYDROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AVACHI LAY // Fundamental Research. – 2014. – No. 9-10. – P. 2227-2231;URL: http://fundamental-research.ru/ru/article/view?id=35302 (access date: 12/14/2019). We bring to your attention magazines published by the publishing house "Academy of Natural Sciences"
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 can 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.
AiF-Kamchatka correspondent found out what the environmental situation is in Avacha Bay from specialists of the Kamchatka Department for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.
“...We’ll show you everything, explain everything, teach you how to use the bathometer,” the head of the laboratory of applied ecology at KamSU named after. Vitus Bering Ivan STASY, while we (AiF-Kamchatka correspondent and three oceanologists) were driving to the boat in a UAZ tablet.
Zero, ten, bottom...
Having arrived at the site, ecologists harmoniously and quickly load boxes with 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. At exactly 11 a.m. the boat departs from the pier, and a few minutes later we stop at the first point. About ten bottles are displayed in three rows at the stern, their numbers neatly written down in a notebook. Ivan scoops up water from the surface of the bay with a bucket, Vladimir Marushchak - the head of the operational expedition group of the Hydrometeorological Service - lowers the first bathometer (a device for taking water samples from various depths - Ed.) to 10 meters. A little later, the second bathometer is sent to the bottom and lingers there for several minutes to record the water temperature. “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 thoroughly studied in the laboratory a little later. Data on the content of phenols (rotting products), surfactants (synthetic surfactants, for example, powders and other detergents), petroleum products and oxygen saturation in the water provide a complete picture of the ecological situation in the bay. By the way, it has begun to improve in the last 5 years. This allowed the Kamchatka UGMS in 2008 to transfer the waters of Avachinskaya Bay from the “polluted” class to the “moderately polluted” class - compared to 2007, the discharge of wastewater decreased by 20%...
After scientists have spilled water for analysis from the next point, our boat sets off again.
At this moment, a large oil slick appears on the left side, cheerfully shimmering with the colors of the rainbow even in the fog. “Usually in such weather the waste is dumped - it’s foggy, you can’t see anything, the wind will carry the stain far from the dumping site, and it’s impossible to prove anything. Judging by the direction of the wind, it will soon end up on the shore, where the Paratunka flows into the bay,” - Vladimir Marushchak comments.
Valery Nikolaevich, the captain of the boat, reports the incident to his superiors - to the Kamchattekhmordirektsiya, whose specialists must 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 to be carried out. So, most often, such emissions and oil spills floating by are simply recorded in 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 bottom horizon of the central part of the bay, as well as in the area of Krasheninnikov and Mokhovaya bays, scientists recorded extremely high water pollution (EWP). 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, and pollutants accumulate,” says Vladimir Olesievich. Scientists also call this phenomenon “red tides” because of the color of dead plankton.
It is not uncommon for Kamchatka, but is typical for late summer - early autumn. This year, nature went wrong, red tides began almost a block earlier than usual. Scientists attribute this to the abnormally warm June.
“We are located right in the center of the bay, and at this point we need to take the water extremely carefully - there is a possibility that the EVE will happen again,” explains the scientist, 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, into the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea, we even reached the Kuro-Sivo current, took measurements there too,” the oceanologists recall. “HMS had its own vessels: “Pluto”, “Vadim Popov”, equipped with the latest technology. There was even satellite navigation. But in the 90s they began to be rented out to merchants... Today, a boat for monthly research is provided by the Kamchattekhmordirektsiya. The funding situation has improved, but there is a huge problem with personnel: the management consists mainly of people retirement age. There are very few oceanologists, meteorologists and hydrologists with education left. Young people do not go to Kamchatka, and these specialists are not trained here. So in a few years there will be no one even to predict the weather..."
Wreck Harbor
Is it true that there are dozens of sunken ships languishing at the bottom of the Avacha Bay?
A. Gromov, Petropavlovsk
According to regulatory authorities, in the bay’s waters there are more than 70 sunken and abandoned ships of various displacements with a total weight of about 260 thousand tons. Most of them (59 ships) previously belonged to naval units. Sunken warships were once sold as scrap. The owners, as a rule, cut off only the surface part of them, and the ships themselves were sunk to the bottom.
“Once upon a time, a submarine floating base sank here,” Vladimir Marushchak, head of the operational expedition group of the Hydrometeorological Service, told our correspondent. “For several years, sediment from 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".
Arrested and confiscated fishing vessels pose an environmental threat to Avacha Bay. Sometimes they accumulate up to 30 units at a time. These ships, as a rule, have reserves of fuels and lubricants, freon, and ammonia plants. 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 Avachinskaya 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, exceeding the established maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) of harmful substances is periodically observed in the bays of Krasheninnikov, Bogorodskoe Lake, the mouths of the Avacha and Paratunka rivers - that is, in areas of wastewater discharge, ship repair yards and in ship mooring areas.
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 often familiar solely from history lessons. After all, to travel here, you will need a lot of time and a sincere interest in nature. However, tourists who come to these regions for the first time often repeat the experience - this place seems so memorable and unusual.
Avachinskaya Bay is located on the eastern part of the peninsula, being an internal closed water space. Avachinsky Bay, which belongs to the Pacific Ocean, has many small bays that go deeper into the land, as well as 2 significant capes - Bezymyanny and Mayachny. They are the ones 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 higher because it increases during high tide.
The geographical location is interesting and has advantages:
- The water does not freeze even in extreme cold, which ensures constant uninterrupted communication by water transport.
- The protection organized by natural protrusions makes it possible to smooth out numerous bad weather events that occur in the ocean.
- The space between the “gates” allows large ships to enter the bay. The free distance from Cape Mayachny to Cape Bezymyanny is about 3 km.
The ebb and flow of tides 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 there are large cities - Vilyuchinsk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The first is a military area.
Nuclear submarines and Russian army ships are based here, and tourists are prohibited from entering. Only military personnel and their families live in the city. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the contrary, is the administrative center. The highest point is located on this part of the bay - Mount Rakovaya. A feature of the area is high seismic activity.
Due to the active Vilyuchinsky volcano, 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 Elizovo; 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 city center, as is the access to the bay.
History of Avacha Bay
Many travelers have come to these regions. 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 occurred earlier. But the history of Avacha Bay, recorded and documented, begins at the beginning of 1703.
During this period, a Cossack detachment was sent to the region to collect a tax in kind, which is mentioned in chronicles that have survived to this day. We managed 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 - the Itelmens.
When read, it naturally transformed, becoming “Avacha,” which can be translated as “father of the bays.” Until 1725, periodic battles between two local peoples and the advancing Cossacks took place on the lands belonging to the bay. 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 was sent here, which lasted 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, and it turns out to make fairly accurate maps.
Ebbs and flows in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky have always been observed, however, a scientific basis 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, the second one is appointed a year before the death of the captain-commander and is entrusted to the trusted navigator Elagin, who is familiar with Bering from the second expedition to these parts.
He not only describes more than 700 km of coastline, 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 maps indicated the land as belonging to the country.
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 compiled, 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 the collection of samples of animals and fish. Since then, a small peninsula on the territory of the bay has been renamed in honor of this researcher, and the nature of the area and its living world have changed.
The climate is difficult to characterize by one type, since it is influenced by geographic location and the presence of an ice-free water source.
The latitude coincides with Samara and Penza, but the average temperature is lower. Summer is cool, in the warmest month - August - the indicator does not exceed +15°C. Winters are mild and warm, with a recorded minimum of -31°C, but such frosts occurred more than 100 years ago. The average fluctuates up to minus ten.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located on the shore of a closed bay, so the water area is closed on 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 have been described that live here throughout the year.
But individual king crabs swim depending on the tide cycle, and you can only meet them during spawning. The permanent inhabitants are 2 types 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.
You can see killer whales at the gates of the bay, but they are afraid to enter the fenced space itself. The wide variety of birds whose nests are located on rocky shores is explained by their inaccessibility to predators and humans. The largest number of species has been recorded on Starichkov Island, where there are at least 50 thousand individuals. Their number increases when several species of ducks arrive for winter.
The island is located in the Avacha Bay - excursions are organized here. Landing is prohibited, since the territory has been protected since 2003, access is open only to environmental scientists, so you can only inspect the shore from an inflatable boat. The measure was forced, since people do not spare the local beauty, which affects the state of nature.
The main “blow” to the ecology of the area comes from 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 the opportunity to defend the interests of the area.
According to divers' research, at the bottom of Avachinskaya Bay there are currently no less than 74 vessels of various sizes, most of them belonged to the army. These are just the ones that were discovered. Their inspection is safe for divers. Despite the profitability of diving excursions, the issue of cleaning the bottom is being actively developed.
Ebbs and flows of Avacha Bay
The ebb and flow of 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 the pre-dawn hours, there are significant level fluctuations, which are noticeable to the eye not armed with measuring instruments.
More often, before morning, the tide goes out, which is characterized by a drop of up to 1.5 m on average. After it, a gradual increase occurs - a large tide. This is the influence of the Moon. And in the afternoon, the water surface is influenced by the Sun. The cycle is replaced by low water - low tide, and high tide up to a meter, although usually the level is even less - fluctuates between 70-80 cm.
The ebb and flow of tides in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky depend on the influence of the moon. Each season the timing of this process is different. An increase in indicators usually occurs from mid-spring - April, until early summer - June. This is the period of maximum changes. By the beginning of autumn they decrease, so the afternoon changes are almost invisible, especially to tourists.
The natural anomaly does not significantly affect the life and daily processes of the city. No structures are built in the low tide zone. 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 souvenir products. Rocks in the form of smooth pillars are located at a distance of 300 m from the shore at the gates of Avacha Bay. This is a very interesting natural structure, called kekur by the local population.
Divers 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 about three hero brothers. 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, do not cause surprise, 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 is, of course, much greater.
The ebb and flow of tides in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which occur constantly, may well explain this form of rocky formation. In Chukotka, for example, similar forms are typical for windy places, and in the bay the same work of grinding is done by an intense flow.
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 embankment. 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 to explore the heights, but they require either a low altitude 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 you need to make sure you are not seasick or stock up on medications first. Kamchatka is rich in fish, so people often come here specifically for fishing.
It is divided by season and fishing location:
| Type of fishing | What is it characterized by? |
| On the lake | More often this is winter or ice fishing. Requires special gear and equipment for sitting in the cold for a long time. |
| On the rivers | Boating and fishing during the spawning season are popular. The last option, as professionals joke, requires no gear other than hands. |
| In the bay | Both shore fishing and fishing from small boats are popular. However, you need to have a good understanding of 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 transportation, the right to pick up the catch is provided, but you need to clarify the conditions with the specific operator providing the service. The ebb and flow of tides in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Avacha Bay affect the catch.
If you select the last option presented in the table, you should choose the coastal option and tide hours for fishing. Many local amateurs and professionals have been feeding in the same place for years, so high water brings many individuals wanting to feed; it is only important to know the exact coordinates.
Other interesting facts
In addition to those listed, Avachinskaya Bay is famous for other attractions:
The entire Kamchatka Peninsula is one big attraction for residents of central Russia. The local nature seems unusual, and the frequency of ebb and flow adds an additional feeling of magic.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has an interesting climate; many tourists note a strong “winter” tan after visiting these places. It’s worth coming here at least once in your life to know how diverse and amazing Russia is.
Video about Avacha Bay
Review of Avachinskaya Bay:
Avachinskaya Bay is one of the most picturesque and conveniently located harbors on the Pacific coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Wide, perfectly protected from the ocean elements, at the same time it has convenient communication with the sea.
Avachinskaya Bay is represented by a deep-water closed bay, round in shape, the total area of which reaches 215 km2. It is connected to the Pacific Ocean by a narrow strait.
Guba has winding shores, indented by many small bays, the most famous of which are Krasheninnikova, Tikhaya, Petropavlovskaya, Malaya Lagernaya, Mokhovaya, Rakovaya, Bezymyannaya, Stanitsky and Seldevaya. The latter is part of Krasheninnikov Bay and is located in its southern part. The Navy ship repair plant is also located here.
Krasheninnikov Bay is located on the eastern shore of the peninsula, in the southern part of the bay. It got its name in honor of Kamchatka explorer S.P. Krasheninnikova. The second name is Tarya or Tarinskaya. On its coast there are 3 capes: Cape Vkhodnoy, Cape Kazak and Cape Nevodchikov and 3 large bays: Seldevy, Gorbushechiy and Yagodny.
The city of Vilyuchinsk, which is a base for nuclear submarines of the Pacific Fleet, found its shelter here.
Tikhaya Bay is one of the calmest. Small and very cozy, it is completely surrounded by rocks. This place is famous for its excellent fishing. In its waters you can catch flounder and halibut of unprecedented size.
B. Malaya Lagernaya is also part of the Avachinskaya Bay water area and is a favorite vacation spot for city residents. A lot of fish come here to spawn, so fisheries inspectors are on duty during the spawning season. This place got its name in honor of the prison camp that was located here during Soviet times.
Zavoiko Bay is also part of the coastline of Avachinskaya Bay. It is strongly cut into the coastline and is surrounded by capes Zavoiko and Vilkova. The banks are low and only in a few places you can see reddish cliffs. It is famous for its breathtaking view of the gates of Avachinskaya Bay. On the northern side is the Zavoiko Peninsula. It received its name from Vasily Zavoiko, governor of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the 19th century. There is a residential area, a pier and a military base here.
The coastal part of Avacha Bay is of volcanic origin and mountainous in nature. The western side is rich in the most picturesque rivers Avacha and Paratunka. The waters in the coastal strip are warmer than the air most of the year, which affects the climate of nearby cities.
Going outside the city limits you can see a diverse world of flora and fauna. The slopes of the hills are strewn with birch forest, cedar and alder dwarf trees, 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, as well as anseriformes. Bears, foxes and other animals sometimes walk along the banks, far from cities.
The main refuge for birds is on Starichkov Island. Entire colonies of waterfowl, red-faced cormorant, kittiwake, guillemot, hatchet, and puffin live here, as well as white-tailed eagle nests, as well as small sealed seal rookeries. The island is a protected area, so only scientists are allowed to land on it, but you can take an exciting boat trip to this small piece of land, and meet dolphins or killer whales along the way.
Avachinskaya Bay or otherwise the bay is a great place for diving enthusiasts. The most convenient places for diving will be Srednyaya and Malaya Lagernaya, Tikhaya, Stanitskogo and Bezymyannaya. At the entrance to the bay its depth reaches 6-14 meters, and in the middle it is 25-28 m. The water temperature on the surface in summer reaches 10-15 degrees, and going down to the bottom it decreases to 6. Visibility at the bottom changes sharply at depths of 7- 10 m, and in summer at the entrance to the bay it reaches 15 m. Immersion depth can reach 40 m.
Solid ground is found at 10-12 meters, everything deeper is covered with loam. The main surface of the underwater landscape is made up of brown algae, and sometimes they turn into real forests.
In the shallow waters, the dominant inhabitant is the sea urchin, and sea anemones and sponges, starfish and crabs can also be seen. At depths of up to 8 meters you can find mussel banks. The permanent inhabitants of the underwater world of the bay are 32 species of fish. Almost all year round you can find flounder, greenling, goby, sea bass and halibut.
One of the problematic issues in the waters of Avachinskaya Bay is the hundreds of tons of ships resting on the bottom. Since Soviet times, ships that had outlived their useful life were transported to Yuzhnaya Bay and sunk. Today, such burials extend almost throughout the entire territory of the bay. Residents of the small town of Zavoiko say that even a German submarine was sunk in their coastal area.
Some time ago, organized cleaning of the seabed began. It takes more than one month to get a vessel weighing at least a couple of tons and cut it. 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 seagoing vessels. 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. Among them there are also poaching vessels from countries in Asia and Africa.
To the seafarer
The first outlines of the bay on the map of Russia were drawn by I. Elagin in 1740, which was a kind of first navigational guide for seafarers. Later, with changes in names and shipping, it underwent its own changes. At the moment, the main points in the Avacha Bay pilotage are Petropavlovsky rear and front; Avacha rear with a red rectangular shield; Stanitsky with a white octagonal stone tower; Corner with red tetrahedral metal pyramid; Shoals of Cape Zavoiko; Western Cape with a round metal column; Signal with a red round metal column; Mokhovaya Bay and Krasheninnikov Peninsula; Shipunsky and others.
Due to the global significance of Avacha Bay as a marine facility, certain rules for the navigation of ships in the bay and on the approaches to it are established. Together with tide maps, this information is a public resource and can be purchased in a store or downloaded on the Internet. Thus, according to these rules, prohibited areas for visiting, as well as entry of military vessels, are: Saranaya Bay - from the line that connects Cape Sarany and Cape Opasny; Salvation Bay, Zhirovaya, Krasheninnikova and Bogatyrevka on the western side of the line that connects Cape Kazak and Cape Kosa, Berezovaya, Zavoiko on the northern side of the line that connects Cape Zavoiko, point 52°55.8" N, 158°41.1 "E and Zavoiko Island; Bay "Bogorodskoye Lake", Shitovaya, Ilyicheva in the southwestern side of the line Cape Vostochny - Cape Ilyicheva;
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You can go on a boat along Avacha Bay on one-day excursions and multi-day group tours
Avacha Bay or Bay is one of the largest in the world. It is capable of accepting 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 stroll along the embankment. Start the route from Fleet Alley and continue to the ascent to Nikolskaya Sopka. It offers a panoramic view of the entire bay and even the opposite shore and the Avachinsky volcano, and when you go down, you will find a pebble beach.
Ebbs and flows of Avacha Bay
The bay contains a large amount of water, the volume of which varies depending on the position of the moon and the time of year. The amount of water surface ranges from 208 to 230 square kilometers. The highest tides occur from April to June. By autumn this figure decreases significantly. 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 on the Pacific Ocean side. It goes 20 km inland. Represents the shape of an oval that connects the Avacha Bay with the ocean. The name of this place comes from the Avacha River. It flows here along with the 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 Starichkov Island. The width of the entrance is 3 km, which is located between capes Bezymyanny and Mayachny. To enter from the sea, captains navigate along Cape Stanitsky with an installed lighthouse.
Three brothers of Avacha Bay
The main and most recognizable landmark of the bay is the “Three Brothers” or “City Gate” rocks. These stone pillars stand at the entrance 300 m from the shore, and are often depicted as a symbol of the entire city. They were put on the map in 1737. A cave formed in the sea below them at a depth of 13 meters. This place also has a diverse underwater world with fish and marine animals.
There is a legend associated with the rocks. A long time ago 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, blocking the shore. They were so tall and strong that the water was up to their knees. The sea god did not like this. He began to rage even more, but nothing worked. Then the deity turned the brothers into stone. Since then, they have stood guard, preventing storms from touching the land.
Walking and fishing on Avacha Bay
Fishing in Kamchatka requires a license, so you should go there in a tourist group. On a rented ship you will go along the sea route from the port with several stops. The price usually includes lunch, an excursion program, seafood tasting and the fishing itself. In these places you can find: 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 where birds live: Grandmother's Stone, Devil's Finger, Starichkov Island and “City Gate”. You cannot 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 carried out every day 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 find your way around the Three Brothers landmark. Getting to Kamchatka is only possible by plane to Yelizovo airport. Then you should go:
- to the bus station on routes No. 102 or 104;
- by taxi through the “Vezi”, “Maxim” or “Yandex” applications;
- by car via 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 enter it you need a special permit. There is a military base of the Russian fleet here.
