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How do the Kara Sea and the Gulf of Ob connect to the Ob River system?
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Ob River
The Ob and Yenisey river basins and their drainage networks.
The Ob River connects to the Kara Sea through the Gulf of Ob, which serves as the river's outlet into the sea.12
The connection functions as follows:
- The Gulf of Ob: This large inlet of the Kara Sea, located in northwestern Siberia between the Yamal and Gyda peninsulas, acts as the terminal point for the Ob River. The river discharges its waters into this gulf, which is approximately 500 miles long.21
- The Kara Sea: The gulf serves as the gateway through which the Ob River system empties into the Kara Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean.13
- Hydrological Impact: The Ob River is a primary contributor to the Kara Sea, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the ocean's total intake from drainage. This discharge significantly influences the local environment, notably lowering the salinity of the Kara Sea near the river's mouth.43