Why the Bering Sea Is Classified as a Sea

The Bering Sea meets all hydrographic criteria for a sea:

• Size: ~2.3 million km² (890,000 sq mi)—larger than the Baltic, Caribbean, or Hudson Bay.
• Salinity: 30–35 ppt, typical for seas, despite freshwater input from rivers and melting ice.
• Depth: Maximum 4,097 m (13,442 ft) in the Aleutian Basin—far deeper than many seas (e.g., North Sea max 965 m).
• Defined boundaries: Alaska Peninsula & Aleutian Islands (south), Bering Strait & Chukchi Sea (north), Kamchatka Peninsula (west).
• Tidal activity: Regular tides driven by lunar/solar gravity.
• Distinct marine ecosystem: Rich in fish (pollock, salmon, crab), marine mammals (whales, seals, walruses), seabirds, and invertebrates.

It connects the Pacific and Arctic Oceans but is a distinct, recognized sea.