Gulf of Finland

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News: Estonia reported three Russian MiG-31s violated its airspace over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes.

About Gulf of Finland

Source – iStock
  • Location: It is the easternmost extension of the Baltic Sea located in Northern Europe.
  • Boundaries: It is bordered by Finland in the north, Russia in the east and Estonia in the south.
  • Extension: The Gulf of Finland extends from Saint Petersburg in the east to the Hanko Peninsula in the west.
  • Climate: This region faces a humid continental climate with hot summers and relatively harsh winters.
  • Coasts feature: The northern shore is highly curved and rocky, with bays such as Vyborg Bay and the Porkkalanniemi and Hanko Peninsulas,
    • The southern shore is smoother, shallower, and marked by the Baltic Klint.
  • Major rivers: It receives numerous rivers, notably Neva and Narva; others include Kymi, Luga, Vanta, Pirita, and more.
  • Major ports: Some of the major ports in the gulf include the Russian ports of St. Petersburg and Kronshtadt; the Finnish ports of Helsinki, Porkkala, and Kotka; and the Estonian port of Tallinn.
  • Connections: It is connected to Lake Saimaa via the Saimaa Canal.
  • Major islands: The Kotlin Island is the largest of the islands.
  • Water property: It has very low salinity and remains ice-covered for three to five months each winter.
  • International recognition: The Gulf of Finland’s southern coast was designated a Ramsar Wetland on September 13, 1994.
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