description Shelikhov Bay Overview
Shelikhov Bay is a large inlet in the northeastern Sea of Okhotsk, situated between the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Russian mainland. The bay is named after Grigory Shelikhov, an 18th-century merchant who organized the early Russian settlement of Alaska. It contains the Penzhin Bay, an arm known for having one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, often exceeding ten meters. The surrounding region is characterized by its harsh subarctic climate, remote wilderness, and significant marine biodiversity.
help Shelikhov Bay FAQ
Where is Shelikhov Bay located?
Shelikhov Bay, also called Shelikhov Gulf in many references, lies in the northeastern Sea of Okhotsk between mainland Russia and the Kamchatka Peninsula. It is a Russian body of water, not a bay in Alaska ([UNEP regional description](https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/mar/ebsa-np-01/official/ebsa-np-01-04-en.pdf)).
What are Penzhina Bay and Gizhigin Bay's relationship to Shelikhov Bay?
The larger bay is divided by the Taygonos Peninsula into Gizhiginskaya Bay to the west and Penzhinskaya Bay to the east. The Penzhina and Gizhiga rivers are among the rivers that flow into it.
Why is Shelikhov Bay named after Grigory Shelikhov?
It honors Grigory Shelikhov, an 18th-century Russian merchant and seafarer who organized voyages to the Kuril and Aleutian regions and helped establish an early permanent Russian settlement in Alaska. His company later preceded the Russian-American Company, founded in 1799 ([Grigory Shelikhov biography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigory_Shelikhov)).
What makes Shelikhov Bay important to ocean researchers?
The bay has strong tidal currents, seasonal ice, and productive waters that support bowhead whales, seabirds, and fisheries. Parts of it are ice-covered from roughly December through May.
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