Pärnu Bay (Estonian: Pärnu laht) is a bay in the northeastern part of the Gulf of Livonia (Gulf of Riga), in southern Estonia.

Pärnu Bay
Pärnu laht (Estonian)
View of the bay in Pärnu.
Pärnu Bay is located in Estonia
Pärnu Bay
Pärnu Bay
Coordinates58°18′00″N 24°24′00″E / 58.30000°N 24.40000°E / 58.30000; 24.40000
River sourcesPärnu
Ocean/sea sourcesGulf of Riga, Baltic Sea
Surface area400 km2 (150 sq mi)
Max. depth12 m (39 ft)
Salinity5.5 ppm
Shore length1140 km (87 mi)
SettlementsPärnu
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Geography

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It has an area of 411 km2.[1] The maximum depth in the mouth of the bay is 12 m.[2] The banks are low-lying, sandy in some places. The salinity of the water in the bay is 0-0,8 ppm in the spring and up to 5.5 ppm in autumn.

There are several rivers flowing into the gulf, the largest is the Pärnu River.

The bay is also Estonia's most important coastal fishing area.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Pärnu River Basin Management Plan Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Pärnu laht". Eesti Entsüklopeedia (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2015.