The Gorlo Explained

The Gorlo
Native Name Lang:	Russian language
Coordinates:	61.5667°N 191°W
Pushpin Map:	Russia Kamchatka Krai
Pushpin Label Position:	right
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	Russian Federation
Subdivision Type1:	Federal subject
Subdivision Name1:	Kamchatka Krai

The Gorlo (Russian: Горло), the narrowest part of Penzhina Bay, separates it into two parts. Its northwestern and northeastern points are Capes Opasnyy and Mamet and its southwestern and southeastern points are Capes Yelistratova (61° 31' N, 163° 02' E) and Vodopadnyy (61° 25' N, 163° 46' E), respectively. Tidal currents in The Gorlo reach 4.7 to 5 knots.^[1]

Administratively The Gorlo belongs to the Kamchatka Krai of the Russian Federation.

History

American whaleships hunted bowhead whales^{[2] [3] [4]} in The Gorlo from 1860 to 1889.^{[5] [6]} They called it the Narrows.^[7] Ships drifted through The Gorlo on fair tides^[8] and anchored during head tides.^[9] They also traded with the native Koryaks for salmon trout.^[10]

Notes and References

1. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. (2014). Sailing Directions (Enroute): East Coast of Russia. U.S. Government, Springfield, Virginia.
2. Sunbeam, of New Bedford, July 14, 1866, New Bedford Free Public Library (NBFL).
3. Benjamin Cummings, of New Bedford, July 5, 1868, NBFL.
4. Europa, of Edgartown, June 16, 1869, Old Dartmouth Historical Society (ODHS) #303.
5. Othello, of New Bedford, July 19, 1860, Peabody Essex Museum (PEM).
6. Emma F. Herriman, of San Francisco, June 19, 1889, George Blunt White Library (GBWL) #761.
7. Onward, of New Bedford, August 10, 1866, GBWL #856.
8. Mary and Helen, of San Francisco, June 14, 1885, ODHS #937.
9. Europa, of Edgartown, June 20, 1867, ODHS #303.
10. Emma F. Herriman, of San Francisco, July 4, 1889, GBWL #761.