The Bering Sea

The Bering Sea is a large, cold sea at the top of the Pacific Ocean. It sits between Alaska in the United States and Russia. The sea is named after a Danish explorer named Vitus Bering. Parts of the sea freeze during winter.

A Cold, Busy Sea

The Bering Sea is one of the coldest places to fish in the world. Strong storms and big waves are common. Even so, fishing boats go out to catch crabs, salmon, and pollock. The sea provides a lot of the fish people eat.

A map highlights deep underwater canyons in the Bering Sea.
A map highlights deep underwater canyons in the Bering Sea. (Mikenorton / Wikimedia Commons)

Wildlife of the Bering Sea

Many animals live in and around the Bering Sea. Walruses, seals, and polar bears live on the ice. Whales swim in the water, and millions of sea birds nest on the coasts. Salmon swim from the sea back into rivers to lay eggs.

Fun Facts

  • A narrow part of the sea is called the Bering Strait.
  • Long ago, people walked across a land bridge here from Asia to America.
  • The sea is about 770,000 square miles in size.

Did You Know?

During the last Ice Age, the Bering Strait was dry land, and animals like woolly mammoths walked across it.