Lyutsun Bay

Lyutsun Bay (Russian: Zaliv Lyutsun) is a small bay in the western Sea of Okhotsk. To its west lies Uda Gulf, while to its north and east lies the Shantar Sea, and to its south and east Tugur Bay.

Lyutsun Bay
Zaliv Lyutsun
Lyutsun Bay Show map of Khabarovsk Krai Lyutsun Bay Show map of Asia
Coordinates	54°37′N 136°41′E
Part of	Sea of Okhotsk
Max. length	11.3 kilometres (7.0 mi; 6.1 nmi)

Geography and climate

Lyutsun Bay is entered between Capes Mal Dugandzha to the west and Bol Dugandzha to the east. It is 11.3 kilometres (7.0 mi; 6.1 nmi) wide and has heavily wooded shores. Tides are semidiurnal, with springs rising 6.1 m (20 ft) and neaps 1.8 to 3 m (5.9 to 9.8 ft). Tidal currents reach 3.5 to 4 knots at springs near the entrance of the bay, with the flood current going in a counterclockwise direction round the bay and the ebb in the opposite direction. The bay is sheltered from southwest and southeast winds but exposed to south and northeast winds.^[1]

History

American whaleships cruising for bowhead whales in the 1850s and 1860s anchored in and off the bay while making their way from Uda Gulf to Tugur Bay.^[2][3][4] Boat crews searching for whales also encamped in the bay.^[5] They called it Horseshoe Bay.^[6]

References

1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. (2014). Sailing Directions (Enroute): East Coast of Russia. U.S. Government, Springfield, Virginia.
2. Rambler, of New Bedford, July 14, 1858, Kendall Whaling Museum (KWM).
3. Louisa, of New Bedford, June 9-12, 1859, Nicholson Whaling Collection (NWC).
4. Java, of New Bedford, June 28, 1866, KWM.
5. Favorite, of Fairhaven, July 21, 1860, KWM.
6. Montezuma, of New London, August 14, 1858, NWC.