The far northern part of the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea lies between Asia and North America. On the west the sea borders the Russian region called Siberia. To the east is the U.S. state of Alaska. The narrowest point of the sea is only 53 miles (85 kilometers) wide. That area is called the Bering Strait. The Arctic Ocean lies to the north of the Bering Strait. The Aleutian Island chain stretches across the sea's southern boundary.

Physical features

The Bering Sea is about 890,000 square miles (2,300,000 square kilometers) in area. The longest distance between the two sides is about 1,490 miles (2,400 kilometers). The Bering Sea contains a number of islands, some in Russian waters and some in U.S. waters. The currents in the Bering Sea generally flow in a counterclockwise direction. In the eastern part the currents flow north and east. Then they head northwest toward Asia, where they flow south along the Russian coast.

The Bering Sea is one of the coldest and most dangerous seas in the world. Winter storms bring temperatures that range from −31° to −49° F (−35° to −45° C). Those storms also create high winds and enormous waves that can reach a height of more than 40 feet (12 meters). As cold currents from the Arctic and warmer currents from the Pacific meet, dense fog forms. Floating ice is common in the northern parts of the sea. Ships normally sail in the sea only between May or June and October.

Animal life

More than 300 species of fish are found in the Bering Sea. They include herring, cod, flounder, halibut, and pollack. Huge numbers of salmon from Alaska and Russia spend their adult lives in the sea. There are also many shellfish.

The islands in the Bering Sea are a breeding ground for sea otters and fur seals. Pack ice (floating ice) also provides a habitat for many marine mammals, including polar bears, walrus, and seals. During the late 19th century seal hunters almost wiped out the entire seal population. Sea otters were also widely hunted. In 1911 the United States, Russia, Japan, and Canada agreed to limit hunting in the Bering Sea.

An enormous number of seabirds live all or part of the year in and around the Bering Sea. They include puffins, murres, and auklets. The Pribilof Islands, four islands located in the Bering Sea, are one of the largest seabird colonies on Earth.

Economy

Fishing and fish-related industries are the main economic activities in the region. The Bering Sea provides more than half of the seafood catch in the United States. It provides about a third of the catch for Russia. Russia and the United States control more than 90 percent of the sea.

Exploration

Russia led the way in exploring the Bering Sea. Russian ships first explored the sea and the Bering Strait in 1648. The sea and the strait are named for Vitus Bering. He was an explorer from Denmark who worked for the Russians. In 1728 and 1741 he led two voyages to the area. Bering died on one of the islands as he was returning from his second trip to the sea. Later studies were conducted by British, Japanese, and U.S. researchers.

Environmental issues

There are many endangered species, or types of animals at risk of dying out, in the Bering Sea. They include the Stellar sea lion and the northern fur seal. Bowhead and northern right whales are also endangered. Russia lists the polar bear as a rare and endangered species there. Pacific walrus are also much less numerous than in the past. In the second half of the 20th century there were noticeable declines in fish catches as well.

Many things have caused environmental problems in the Bering Sea. Heavy and illegal fishing have reduced the fish population. Pollution from shipwrecks and oil spills has hurt wildlife. Rats, which humans brought to the region, have decreased some bird populations. Global warming has also had a strong impact in two main ways. First, the area of floating ice has been shrinking, which has reduced the habitat for polar bears. Second, water temperatures have been changing. Those changes have affected the amount and types of plant and algae life in the Bering Sea.