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The Bering Sea lies between Asia and North America in the far northern part of the Pacific Ocean. On the west the sea borders the part of Russia called Siberia. To the east is the U.S. state of Alaska. The Aleutian Islands stretch across the sea’s southern boundary.

The Bering Sea is about 890,000 square miles (2,300,000 square kilometers) in area. The longest distance between the two sides is about 1,490 miles (2,400 kilometers). The narrowest point of the sea is only 53 miles (85 kilometers) wide. That area is called the Bering Strait. The Arctic Ocean lies north of the strait.

The Bering Sea is one of the coldest and most dangerous seas in the world. In winter, the temperature over northern and eastern parts of the sea may drop to −49° F (−45° C). Floating ice is common in the north. Ships normally sail in the sea only between May or June and October.

More than 300 species of fish are found in the Bering Sea. They include herring, cod, flounder, halibut, and pollack. Huge numbers of salmon from Alaska and Russia spend their adult lives in the sea. There are also many shellfish. The islands in the Bering Sea are a breeding ground for sea otters and fur seals. A huge number of seabirds also live in and around the sea.

Fishing and fish-related industries are the main economic activities in the region. The Bering Sea provides more than half of the seafood catch for the United States and about a third of the catch for Russia. Russia and the United States control more than 90 percent of the sea.

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Did You Know?

The Bering Sea is named for Vitus Bering, a Danish explorer who sailed through the sea in the 1700s.

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