Ulban Bay
Ulban Bay is a bay in the northwestern Sea of Okhotsk, just south of the Shantar Islands. It is a southern branch of Academy Bay to the north. The Syran and Ulban rivers flow into its head.
Geography
Ulban Bay is entered between Cape Ukurunru to the west and Cape Tukurgu to the east, which are separated by 43.4 km. The bay itself is nearly deep in a southwesterly direction. Ice usually leaves Ulban Bay by mid- or late June, but in some years may remain until August. The bay has no safe anchorage and is exposed to northeast winds. Tides are semidiurnal. Springs rise in the northern part of the bay and in the southern part, while neaps rise about. Tidal currents vary from one to two knots. The flood current generally sets to the southwest, while the ebb flows in the opposite direction.History
Between 1854 and 1885, American whaleships frequented the bay hunting bowhead whales. They called it Mercury or Dimon's Bay, after the ship Mercury, of New Bedford, which visited the area during her voyage of 1852–1855, and Francis L. Dimon, her master at the time. They also anchored at the head of the bay to obtain wood and water. On 9 July 1855, the ship Washington, of Sag Harbor, was damaged by ice and run ashore, being sold at auction for $400 — the wreck was still visible in October.Russian schooners and boat crews from Mamga also cruised for bowheads in the bay from 1865 to 1871.