Where does the name White Sea come from? The origin of the White Sea and its names Why is the White Sea called white

This sea was named White relatively recently. Before that it had other names. One of them is Studenoe. It's easy to explain. For about six months, its surface remains covered with ice, and navigation here becomes impossible. At this time, all trade routes shift towards the Baltic, and life comes to a standstill on the White Sea. However, there is an assumption that the Slavs called him White. This is due to the ice that covered the surface of the sea with a white icy shell.

Probably for the same reason, ancient sailors called it Northern. Well, the Solovetsky Sea received its name due to the presence of the large Solovetsky Islands in its basin.

The fact that the sea remained frozen for more than six months gave rise to another name for it - Calm. It perfectly described the character of this northern body of water. Well, what else should the sea be like, bound by an ice shell? Of course, only calm.

Starting from the 17th century, the Scandinavian peoples began to call the sea Gandvik, which translates as “Bay of Monsters.” We do not know for certain what this is connected with. However, there are a huge number of myths and legends floating around this northern sea. It is quite possible that some of them concern some kind of mythical sea creature.

Yours modern name the sea received thanks to the original winter view. Its surface was covered with a huge white “blanket”. Well, that’s what the Slavs called it. As a result, it firmly established itself in this northern sea, and began to be present on all geographical maps.

As for historians, they do not have a consensus on the name of the sea. This fact is not reflected anywhere, which means that what we just told you about is just a simple hypothesis. Among other stories concerning the name of the sea, there is one that, in our opinion, is the most plausible. In summer, the color of the sea water here has a white tint. The sky is exactly the same color. Sailors say that both the water and the sky here are like milk. Here's another reason for its name. It is white not only in winter, but also in summer. Well, there is also a special meaning in the fact that it was the Slavs who gave such a name to the sea. These peoples have always believed White color divine. If you believe the legend, then it is in northern latitudes their ancestral home was Hyperborea. Its inhabitants were powerful, highly educated people. But a misfortune happened. Due to natural disasters, this country perished. In memory of her and her people, the sea was named White.

Perhaps there are other versions that are no less plausible, but that’s a different story. One way or another, the sea received its modern name, and is called White.

There are many seas in the world. Most of their names are related to colors: White, Red, Black... Why is the sea called the sea? Let's try to figure this issue out together.

Why does the Black Sea have such a name?

There are several assumptions about this. If you believe the Turkish version, then this name came precisely from the Turks. The fact is that they met very serious resistance when they tried to conquer the coastal territory of the Black Sea. That is why the sea was nicknamed “Karaden-Giz”, that is, inhospitable.

The sailors present their version. They claim that the reason for giving the sea such a name was regular storms. They colored the water dark. True, this opinion is quite dubious and few researchers adhere to it. After all, strong storms happen relatively rarely here. This often happens only a few times a year. In addition, almost all seas are characterized by periodic darkening of the water, so it is unlikely that this particular moment influenced the name.

According to one opinion, the name is due to black silt. He almost always remains on the shore after a storm. But this opinion also raises some doubts, because the silt is more gray in color than black. At the same time, this version cannot be denied.

Hydrologists have their own guess. They claim that the sea is called Black because metal objects who have been in it rise up very blackened.

Why is the Red Sea called red?

Scientists claim that the sea is so named because of the regular reddening of the water, which is caused by the proliferation of algae. Historians have their own version about the name of the sea. They are sure that this name was given by ancient travelers who were surprised by the beautiful reflection of the red mountains in the sea.

It is worth noting that the Sea is called “Red” only in Europe; in other countries it has other names. For example, in Hebrew it has a completely different name.

Why was the White Sea called white?

There are several versions, each of which has its own right to life. One of the popular versions is that the sea is covered with ice for a long period of the year. If you look at this time from space, the sea looks absolutely snow-white. Also, many researchers believe that it’s all about the whitish tint. If you look closely, you can see that the sea remains white throughout almost the entire year.

The first mention of the “White Sea” can be seen on the map of Peter Plaitsiy, which dates back to 1592. Before this, the bay, which coincides in location with the White Sea, was called the “Calm” Sea. The first map of the sea, which almost completely corresponds to reality, was created by the Russians in the seventeenth century. Even then the sea was called White, and since then no one has changed the name.

Why is the Yellow Sea called yellow?

The Yellow Sea is rightly called yellow. The explanation is quite simple. It is calm, compact in size and not deep at all. The river that flows into the sea brings a lot of silt. Since the sea is closed, the silt instantly colors sea ​​water in a yellow tint.

It is worth noting that swimming in this sea is not always safe. In addition, swimming here is a dubious pleasure. The reason lies in the same silt, as well as muddy elm. In addition, the tides carry water kilometers away from the coast.

Why is the Dead Sea called dead?

The least number of different assumptions can be found regarding the name Dead Sea. Everything here is extremely simple and clear. Its main feature is the huge number of salt crystals that can be seen on its shore. White objects almost completely cover the coast.

That is why the coast of the Dead Sea is almost impossible to confuse with the coast of another sea. The salt here is very concentrated. This is not the simple table salt that we are used to seeing in the kitchen, but mineral salt, unique in its properties.

For many living organisms, even a short swim in the sea can be fatal.

Swimming in the Dead Sea, a person feels like a float. Explaining such buoyancy is quite simple. The thing about weight is that the density of salt water is much higher than fresh water. Despite the fact that swimming in the Dead Sea is destructive for many living organisms, it has a very positive effect on the human body. Since ultraviolet radiation is completely safe here, and the oxygen content is an order of magnitude higher.

Why was the Laptev Sea called that?

Let us also consider the features of the name of the Laptev Sea. It is located on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Main feature This sea is precisely its location. The fact is that earthquakes regularly occur in this zone, often quite strong. The sea is surrounded on all sides by islands.

The sea did not always bear the name Laptev. There is evidence that it was previously called Siberian. But this historical name was not the only one.

In 1878-79 the sea began to bear the name of Nordenskiöld. Niels Nordenskiöld was very famous person. He became famous as a geographer, geologist, cartographer, historian, explorer, and navigator. The main achievement of this Swede is the first ever journey from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean. Before Nils, no one had dared to undertake such a feat.

After some time, the sea was renamed again. The reservoir received its modern name thanks to cousins ​​from Russia. Khariton and Dmitry Laptev were famous polar explorers who made many useful discoveries. They were the first in the world to thoroughly describe coastline seas.

Valeria Mikhailova about the Russian North

There is a simple way to learn more about life, and about God, about yourself: to see the mountains, the southern starry sky or the northern sea. And precisely the northern one. Without churchkhela, without groups in striped swimsuits - calm, cold and stern.

I saw it for the first time, this sea, on a hike, and it was White. By evening it became clear why this was so: in cloudy weather, closer to sunset or at dawn, the sky and sea become the same color, the horizon line “sinks” into the sea, and it is absolutely impossible to distinguish where the water ends and the sky begins! Everything is white, smooth, cooled milk.

But the point is not at all about “dairy products”. It’s about the feeling of infinity: you look at this vast, calm space... Silence rings in your ears, and the unusual question keeps spinning and spinning in your head: “How? Such power, such breadth - and all this for us?! Little people! In a city where almost everything is hand-made, you don’t feel that everything is created .

White Sea

North Inland Sea Arctic Ocean, located off the northern shores of the European part Russian Federation and occupies an area of ​​90 thousand square meters. km. The White Sea is connected waterways with several more seas - the Baltic, Azov, Caspian and Black, as well as the White Sea-Baltic Canal. In the north it connects with Barents Sea, with the Gorlo and Voronka straits. There are several large ports on its coast. The most famous of them are Arkhangelsk, Onega and Belomorsk.

The White Sea got its name due to the fact that winter period is covered with a thick layer of ice and resembles a snow-covered white plain stretching over a vast territory. There is also a legend. At a time when the seas were just seas and no names had yet been assigned to them, our ancestors had small ships and went to sea only in good weather, afraid of getting caught in a storm. Seas and sea ​​routes were not yet well studied, but the first travelers had already appeared who devoted themselves to studying them.

Many geographical features They contain color definitions in their names (Yellow Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, etc.). In all cases, these names are completely justified. So in a simple way The White Sea also received its name.

But we can assume that the sea is named for the whitish color of the water, reflecting the northern sky. However, it is possible that the name “White” could mean “northern” in the system of color designations for the countries of the world.

Interestingly, the “White Sea” was first presented on the map of Peter Plancius in 1592. And two years later, the Flemish cartographer Mercator displays on his map not only the Latin name “Album Mare”, but also accompanies it with the Russian “Bella More”.

By the way, according to one version, the Baltic Sea is also “white”, because the name is derived from the Latvian “balts” and the Lithuanian “baltas”, which in both cases means “white”.

The White Sea coast has been inhabited by Russians for a very long time. Basic information about this can be obtained from the Tale of Bygone Years, which states that permanent settlements of Russian Pomor fishermen on the banks of the Northern Dvina and the White Sea appeared no later than the 11th century. For the first half of the 12th century, there is direct documentary evidence of some of these settlements. The ancient Novgorodians were among the first to travel to the “White Lands” (as they called the coasts of the White and Baltic seas, which in those days could be perceived as one sea) and settled there.

Despite the harsh climate, Russian Pomors very quickly developed this territory thanks to the rich forest areas on the shores and islands, which made it easy to rebuild towns and cities, engage in shipbuilding, but most importantly, the White Sea has always been rich in fish and seafood and remains so to this day.

The sacred and beautiful, cold and calm White Sea, which stands out with its characteristic outlines on the map of Russia, has given rise to more than one legend.

Not only are the stories about monsters and miracles taken from Scandinavian mythology and Orthodox chronicles of the northern lands interesting. The origin of the name itself is mysterious: scientists are still plagued by doubts why the White Sea is called that.

The White Sea is located in the Arctic Ocean basin. It is deeply “integrated” into the mainland, and therefore lies almost entirely south of the Arctic Circle.

This is partly why the White Sea is considered the warmest of the entire Arctic basin. Relatively small in size, in area it can only compete with Azov (in Russia).

Origin of the name of the White Sea

The most popular version blames the name of the sea on ice, which completely hides the water most of the year.

Under the thick white crust and snow-covered hills, it is difficult to recognize the raging elements. From an airplane, the sea looks like a winding ribbon from a neat apron of a first-grader.

There are two more elegant versions of the origin of the White Sea toponym:

1. The Northern White Sea was considered sacred, so it was given a color that has a light, divine meaning. Initially, the meaning of its name was closely related to the Celestial Sphere.

2. The sea was called white for its fantastic ability to maintain this shade of water at any time of the year.

Even in summer, it reflects the grayish sky, preventing the expanses from taking on the characteristic blue tone.

On other days there is thick fog above the surface. And even a drizzle of rain, smoothly turning into snow, does not change the majestic picture.

One could stop at these beautiful and cold theories, if not for a few ancient legends and scientific facts.

What was the White Sea called before?

The ice-covered reservoir changed its name several times - from Severny and Studeny to Solovetsky (islands with the same name are still located in its waters).

Some peoples called it Calm, others called it not even the sea, but the White Bay.

But the most interesting names it was given by Scandinavian mythology: the Bay of Serpents and the Bay of Monsters (“Gand-vik”, or “Kanda”).

Presumably, their imagination was influenced by the harsh nature of the Arctic Ocean and the serpentine shape of the sea: from above, it resembles a curling ribbon or a curved reptile.

Other "white" seas

White color is a popular solution not only in interior design, but also when choosing a variety of geographical names.

On the map you can find not only “white” spots, but also various rivers, seas and peaks of the same shade.

It is interesting that Lithuanians and Latvians call the Baltic Sea white in their languages. Since ancient times, the word Balt meant the color snow.

Therefore, every self-respecting Baltic has no doubt that Baltijas is White.

There is another sea that has taken on an innocent shade - the Aegean. Only the Greeks call it Aegean.

But the Bulgarians (and other Slavs from the southern shores) still, like centuries ago, are not inferior to them, assuring that the true name of the sea is White. And from here comes another theory as to why the Russian White Sea is called that.

Toponymy from the Mediterranean

There is a version that during the Middle Ages, pilgrims from Russia often visited monasteries in Serbia and Bulgaria. There they could get acquainted with the true White Sea and bring the historical name to their northern latitudes.

Confirmation of this is often found in chronicles, so the version has the right to life. True, historians cannot reliably name the starting point of the toponym, because in some sources the Aegean Sea is called the White Sea, and in others - the Mediterranean.

Why, you ask, was it necessary to borrow other people's names for their native places?

Scientists have an answer: in the Middle Ages, most of the Russian north had pagan names. The sea kept its Scandinavian roots and was called Kanda Bay.

During the period of active pilgrimage, monks from the Solovetsky Islands undertook to “change the picture” in the Orthodox, truly Slavic direction.

But where do you get ideas? Of course, from the source of wisdom - from the Christian lands on the Mediterranean.

This is how Solovki appeared (you won’t believe it!) its own Mount Golgotha, as well as Mount Sinai and Mount Olivet not far from the Pomeranian villages.

And then, on a map dated 1592, the toponym White Sea appeared for the first time.