Kotzebue Sound

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Kotzebue Sound is an arm of the Chukchi Sea in the western region of the U.S. state of Alaska, located at 66°40′N 163°0′W. It is on the north side of the Seward Peninsula and bounded the east by the Baldwin Peninsula. It is 161 km (100 mi) long and 113 km (70 mi) wide.

Location of Deering, Alaska

Kotzebue Sound is located in the transitional climate zone, which is characterized by long, cold winters and cool summers. The average low temperature during January is -12°F (-24°C); the average high during July is 58°F (14°C). Temperature extremes have been measured from -52°F (-47°C) to 85°F (29°C). Snowfall averages 40 inches (102 cm), with total precipitation of 9 inches (23 cm) per year. Kotzebue Sound is ice-free from early July until early October.

The towns of Kotzebue, Kiwalik and Deering are on the shores of Kotzebue Sound.

Kotzebue Sound was explored and named in 1816 by Baltic German Lt. Otto von Kotzebue while searching for the Northwest Passage in the service of Russia.

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