Kara Sea
/ˈkɑːrə siː/noun
A marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean north of Siberia, between the Kara Strait and the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago.
Did you know?The sea takes its name from the Kara River and Kara Strait, rather than from the Russian word kara, meaning “punishment,” despite that tempting but unsupported interpretation.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Russian Arctic usage
Nenets
kara
“A traditional name associated with the Kara River region; its precise original meaning is debated.”
16th–17th Century
Russian
Карское море
“The Kara Sea; the Russian geographic name for the Arctic waters adjoining the Kara River and Kara Strait.”
18th Century
Russian
Karskoye more
“The Kara Sea, as rendered in European exploration and cartographic records.”
19th Century
English
Kara Sea
“An Arctic sea north of western Siberia.”
Modern English
English
Kara Sea
“The recognized English name for this marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean.”