Editing White Sea (section)

===Topography===
[[File:Severodvinsk Yagry Island Beach.jpg|thumb|Summer day on a beach near [[Severodvinsk]], on the southeastern shore of the sea]]
[[File:Кандалакшский залив.jpg|thumb|[[Kandalaksha Gulf]]]]
[[File:Kiy-island Russia.jpg|thumb|Shore of Onega Bay on [[Kiy Island]]]]
There are four main bays or gulfs on the White Sea. These bays connect with the funnel-shaped opening to the Barents Sea via a [[White Sea Throat|narrow strait]] called "[[White Sea Throat|Gorlo]]" ({{langx|ru|Горло}}, meaning "throat"). [[Kandalaksha Gulf]] lies in the western part of the White Sea; it is the deepest part of the sea, reaching 340 metres (1,115 feet). On the south, [[Onega Bay]] receives the [[Onega River]]. To the southeast, the [[Dvina Bay]] receives the [[Northern Dvina]] at the major port of [[Arkhangelsk]]. On the east side of the 'gorlo', opposite to the [[Kola Peninsula]], is [[Mezen Bay]]. It receives the [[Mezen River]] and the [[Kuloy River (White Sea)|Kuloy River]]. Other major rivers flowing into the sea are the [[Vyg River|Vyg]], [[Niva River|Niva]], [[Umba River (Russia)|Umba]], [[Varzuga River|Varzuga]] and [[Ponoy River|Ponoy]].<ref name=bse/><ref name=brit/>

The seabed of the central part and Dvina Bay is covered in [[silt]] and sand, whereas the bottom of the northern part, the [[Kandalaksha Gulf]] and Onega Bay is a mixture of sand and stones. Ice age deposits often emerge near the sea shores. Northwestern coasts are tall and rocky but the slope is much weaker at the southeastern side.<ref name=bse/>

The White Sea contains a large number of islands, but most of them are small. The main island group is the [[Solovetsky Islands]], located almost in the middle of the sea, near the entrance to Onega Bay. [[Kiy Island]] in Onega Bay is significant due to a historic monastery. Velikiy Island, located close to the shore, is the largest island in the Kandalaksha Gulf.<ref name=brit/>