Gulf of Riga
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| Gulf of Riga | |
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| Location | Europe |
| Coordinates | 57°37′32″N 23°35′05″E / 57.62556°N 23.58472°ECoordinates: 57°37′32″N 23°35′05″E / 57.62556°N 23.58472°E |
| Settlements | Riga, Jūrmala, Pärnu, Kuressaare, Salacgrīva, Saulkrasti, Ainaži |
The Gulf of Riga, Bay of Riga, or Gulf of Livonia (Latvian: Rīgas jūras līcis, Estonian: Liivi laht, Russian: Рижский залив) is a bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia.
The area of the Gulf of Riga is about 18,000 km². The maximum depth is 67 m. The island of Saaremaa (Estonia) partially separates it from the rest of the Baltic Sea. The main exit out of the gulf is the Irbe Strait. Ruhnu island, in the middle of the gulf, also belongs to Estonia.
The Gulf of Riga, as a sub-basin of the Baltic, also includes the Väinameri Sea in the West Estonian archipelago.
Notable cities in this gulf include Riga, Pärnu, Jūrmala and Kuressaare. The main rivers flowing into the gulf are Daugava, Pärnu, Lielupe, Gauja, and Salaca.
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[edit] Extent
The International Hydrographic Organization defines its western limit as "A line running from Lyser Ort (57°34'N), in Latvia, to the S extreme of Œsel Island [Saaremaa], through this island to Pammerort [Pammana Point] (22°34'E), thence to Enmast [Enmaste] Point, the S extreme of Dagö [Hiiumaa, through Dagö to Takhkona [Tahkuna] Point, the N extreme thereof, and on to Spithamn Point [Cape Põõsaspea] in Estonia".[1]
[edit] Salinity
A saline stratification layer is found at a depth of approximately seventy metres.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition". International Hydrographic Organization. 1953. http://www.iho-ohi.net/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S23_1953.pdf. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ C.Michael Hogan. 2011. Gulf of Riga. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. P.Saundry & C.J.Cleveland. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC.
