Lindholm Strait

Lindholm Strait (Russian: Proliv Lindgol'ma) is a strait in the northwestern Sea of Okhotsk. It separates Malyy Shantar and Belichiy Islands to the north from the Tugursky Peninsula to the south. At its narrowest it is only 3.2 km (2 mi) wide. Tides are semidiurnal. Springs rise 4.9 m (16 ft), while neaps rise 3.6 m (11.8 ft). The flood current sets west, while the stronger ebb current flows in the opposite direction. The former creates large eddies and whirlpools. Tidal currents vary from 3.5 to 6 knots.[1]

In the summer bowhead whales can be seen in the strait.[2]

History

Proliv Lindgol'ma was frequented by American whaleships hunting bowhead whales between 1857 and 1874.[3] They simply called it "The Gut".[4] They hunted whales in the strait or passed through it on favorable tides as they traveled back and forth between Tugursky and Ul'bansky Bays.[5]

References

  1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. (2014). Sailing Directions (Enroute): East Coast of Russia. U.S. Government, Springfield, Virginia.
  2. Shpak, O. V., Meschersky, I. G., Chichkina, A. N., Kuznetsova, D. M., Paramonov, A. Y., & V. V. Rozhnov. (2014). "New data on the Okhotsk Sea bowhead whales". Paper presented to the Scientific Committee of IWC 65. 5 pp.
  3. Frances Henrietta, of New Bedford, July 9, 1857, Nicholson Whaling Collection (NWC); Sea Breeze, of New Bedford, Aug. 17, 24, Sept. 6, 19, 1874, George W. Blunt White Library.
  4. Williams, H. (1964). One whaling family. Boston, Houghton Mifflin.
  5. Josephine, of New Bedford, Aug. 2, 6, 1865, Kendall Whaling Museum; Sea Breeze, of New Bedford, Sept. 6, 8, 1866, Old Dartmouth Historical Society.

Coordinates: 54°20′N 137°36′E / 54.333°N 137.600°E / 54.333; 137.600

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