The Long Strait (Russian: пролив Лонга; Proliv Longa) is a body of water in the Russian Federation.

Long Strait
пролив Лонга (Russian)
A view from space, with a long polynya in the strait and Wrangel Island to the north-east
Long Strait is located in Russia
Long Strait
Long Strait
Location in Russia
LocationRussian Far East; between the East Siberian Sea and the Chukchi Sea
Coordinates69°49′N 176°10′E / 69.817°N 176.167°E / 69.817; 176.167
Part ofArctic Ocean
Basin countriesRussia
Max. length128 km (80 mi)
Max. width141 km (88 mi)
Max. depth50 m (160 ft)
FrozenMost of the year

History

edit

This strait was named after the American whaling captain Thomas W. Long.[1][2]

In August 1983, it was the site of a disaster when 50 ships were trapped in ice, with the loss of one and damage to as many as 30 others.

Geography

edit

This strait separates Wrangel Island from the Siberian mainland.[3] It is very broad, its minimum width being 141 km, between Cape Blossom at the southwestern tip of Wrangel Island and Cape Yakan, 65 km east of Cape Billings, close to Gytkhelen, Chukotka.[4]

The Long Strait is also a geographic landmark connecting the East Siberian Sea and the Chukchi Sea.

References

edit
edit