Yugorsky Strait
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The Yugorsky Strait (Russian: Югорский Шар, or Yugorsky Shar) is a narrow sound between the Kara Sea and the Pechora Sea. Its maximum width is 10 km and its minimum width of only 3 km. Latitude : 69° 45' Longitude : 60° 30'
This sound separates Vaygach Island from the Yugorsky Peninsula in the Russian mainland.
[edit] History
Traditionally known as the Arctic "Iron Gateway", the earliest recorded voyage through the Yugorsky Shar was made by early Russian explorer Uleb, from Nizhny Novgorod. Uleb's passing into the Kara Sea through the Yugorskiy Strait was recorded in 1032.
Russian "Pomors", the coastal dwellers of the White Sea shores, explored this strait since the 11th century. The Arctic's first shipping line, the Great Mangazea Route, from the White Sea to the Ob River and the Yenisey Gulf began operating in the latter part of the 16th century. This line opened up the way to Siberia's riches and it worked till 1619, when it was closed for military and political reasons, for fear of possible penetration by Europeans into Siberia.
The Yugorsky Strait was an important waterway in the early exploration of the Northern Sea Route and for the traffic of Soviet maritime convoys during WW2.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
- RUSSIAN NAVAL OFFICERS AND GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION IN NORTHERN RUSSIA, by Leonid Sverdlov, Member of the Russian Geographic Society
et:Jugorski Šar fr:Détroit de Yugorsky nl:Straat Joegor pl:Cieśnina Jugorskij Szar ru:Югорский Шар
