Gyda Peninsula

The Gyda Peninsula (Russian: Гыда́нский полуо́стров, romanized: Gydansky poluostrov) is a geographical feature of the Siberian coast in the Kara Sea. It takes its name from the river Gyda, that flows on the peninsula. It is roughly 400 km long and 360 km wide. This wide peninsula lies between the estuaries of the Ob (Gulf of Ob) and Yenisei Rivers (Yenisei Gulf). The southwestern corner of the peninsula is limited by the Taz Estuary. The climate in the whole area of the peninsula is arctic and harsh.

Gyda Peninsula
Гыда́нский полуостров
Location of the Gyda Peninsula.
Geography
LocationFar North
Coordinates70°N 79°E
Adjacent bodies of waterGulf of Ob
Kara Sea
Yenisei Gulf
Area160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi)
Length400 km (250 mi)
Width360 km (224 mi)
Highest elevation1,125 m (3691 ft)
Administration
Federal subjectYamal-Nenets autonomous district
Satellite image of the Gyda Peninsula

Geography

The Gyda Peninsula is mostly flat, with numerous lakes and rivers. River Tanama has its sources in the peninsula.[1] Its ground consists of permafrost and is covered by tundra.

This peninsula has a few arms or subpeninsulas extending northwards into the Kara Sea, where there are some large islands off its shores, including Oleniy, Shokalsky and Vilkitsky Islands. There are two bays in its northern coast, narrow and deep Khalmyer Bay and smaller Yuratski Bay. The peninsula formed between the Khalmyer Bay and neighbouring Yuratski Bay is known as the Mamonta Peninsula (Russian: Полуостров Мамонта; Poluostrov Mamonta, meaning 'Mammoth Peninsula')[2] and the narrow peninsula in the NW formed between this bay and the neighbouring Gulf of Ob is known as the Yavay Peninsula (Russian: полуостров Явай; Poluostrov Yavay).

The Gyda Peninsula is located in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district administrative region of the Russian Federation.[3] It appears also in the genitive as Gydansky or Gydanskiy Peninsula in many common maps in English.

Archaeological site

A notable archeological find from the peninsula is a mammoth skeleton, now housed in a zoological museum in Saint Petersburg.[4]

Environmental protection

In 1996 the northernmost 8 782 km² was declared a nature reserve (zapovednik), with a general ban on traffic.[5] The reserve Gyda Nature Reserve was administered from the region capital Tazovsky. 10 December 2019 the protected area was changed into a national park.[6]

Since 2014, massive holes nearly 100 feet wide popped up on the ground of the peninsula, probably due to methane gas blowouts.[7] In 2016, after a hiatus of 25 years (the local research station was closed in 1991), scientists were allowed back on the site to lead geo-cryological studies and monitor the permafrost.[8]

In 2020, officially following the warmest summer recorded in the region since 1881, heavy masses of mud and permafrost started to slide into the sea of the Gydan Bay.[9] The mudslides have also been attributed to the recent launch of the Arctic LNG 2 project, an enormous natural gas extraction site built in the region.[10]

Petroleum

The fossil gas company PAO Novatek has since 2019 had permission for gas extraction from a major part of the peninsula.[11][12] In 2020 the company presented plans for construction of a major port on the Gulf of Ob for gas shipment. The port is called Utrenneye.[13][14][15]

The project, Arctic LNG 2, is not a state-owned enterprise, thus not subject to the sanctions on Russia in effect since 2014. This led Western Europeans countries (France with Bpifrance, Germany with Euler Hermes, Italy with the Servizi Assicurativi del Commercio Estero) to express an interest in investing in the project, as well as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The French company Total is also involved on the site. This European interest for this natural gas superproduction unit was unexpected, since the EU and Russia are opposed regarding the Nord Stream 2, and considering that 80% of the natural gas produced will be shipped to Asian countries.[10] The construction of the first lead tanker (out of 15 planned) in the Zvezda shipbuilding complex started in November 2020.[16] The project led to Samsung Heavy Industries' largest order recorded since its creation in 1974, to provide LNG carriers and equipment.[17] A gas pipeline connecting the region to China is also being considered.[18]

See also

References
  1. Танама, Great Soviet Encyclopedia in 30 vols. / Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov - 3rd ed. - M, 1969-1978.
  2. Попов С.В., Троицкий В.А. Топонимика морей советской Арктики. — Л: Географическое общество СССР, 1972. — p. 316
  3. Yamalo-Nenets administration information
  4. Mammoth
  5. "Гыданский государственный природный заповедник" (in Russian).
  6. "Постановление правительства Российской Федерации от 10.12.2019 №1632" (ru).
  7. "Mysterious holes nearly 100 feet deep appear in Siberia's tundra region". Wionews.com. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  8. "After 25 year break permafrost studies to resume on Gydan Peninsula". Arctic.ru. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  9. Atle Staalesen (18 September 2020). "Encounter with climate change: Arctic town mayor witnesses melting tundra slide into the sea". Thebarentobserver.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  10. "European investment in Russia LNG Project in Arctic". Polarjournal.ch. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  11. "Novatek adds several trillion cubic meters to its Arctic reserves". BarentsObserver. 8 January 2020.
  12. "Our assets". Novatek. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  13. "Here comes Russia's next grand Arctic seaport". BarentsObserver. 12 June 2019.
  14. "New Arctic terminal will be built twice bigger than planned". BarentsObserver. 16 April 2020.
  15. "Arctic LNG 2 is another LNG production-related project of NOVATEK". Novatek. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  16. "Russia Begins Construction Of Arc7 Lead Tanker For Arctic LNG 2 Project - Rosneft". Urdupoint.com. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  17. Shin Ji-hye (23 November 2020). "Samsung Heavy wins record-largest order from Europe". Koreaherald.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  18. Diane Pallardy (30 April 2020). "GIF Inside Story: Power of Siberia 2's new route makes Russian gas supplies to China more feasible". Icis.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.


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