WHY THE WHITE SEA IS CALLED THE “WHITE SEA”?

WHY THE WHITE SEA IS CALLED THE “WHITE SEA”?

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

    

The White Sea is an inland sea in the north-eastern European part of Russia that belongs to the Arctic Ocean. It has an area of 90000 km³, mean depth of 197 ft and houses 700 invertebrate specie. The White Sea was first called "the White Sea" on the map drawn by Petrus Fiancius in 1592.

There are many hypotheses about the name of White Sea.

1) One hypothesis suggests that the name 

comes from the fact that the sea is covered with ice for six to seven months every year,from September to May. It's the only sea in Europe completely covered with ice in winter.

2) Some say that the name originates from the whitish color of the water, reflecting the northern sky.

3) There is a constant water exchange with the Barents Sea as 2000km³ and 2200km³ of fresh water flow in and out of the White Sea respectively that results in decreased salinity of water and increased amount of silicon and silicates in water. Silicon has silvery metallic lustre and Silicates have the property to sparkle in the sun light. Thus, elevated silicon and silicates concentration results in glittering and thus appearance the sea become white shiny. So it is called the White Sea.