Thanks, Grant. It was all due to my misconception of the definition of
"continental shelf". I wasn't aware of the fact that the continental
slope was part of it as well, and that there are parts beyond that,
that can be claimed (up to where exactly? - I think the 2500 m isobath
plays a role here too).
A nice map of the Russian claims is at the site of the United Nations
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (where Russia has
submitted its proposals):
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/submissions_files/RUS_CLCS_01_2001_LOS_3.jpg
(translation of the legend at
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/submissions_files/RUS_page5_Legend.pdf
). Interesting to see that Russia also adheres to the (unratified)
treaty line of 1990. Interesting as well the reaction of the US to the
Russian submission (
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/submissions_files/CLCS_01_2001_LOS__USAtext.pdf
): the US actually points out that the boundary treaty has not yet been
ratified by the Duma...
I think the position of the "western special area" can be guessed from
the Russian map: it is due south of the Russian part of the Donut Hole,
and the 200 nm outer limit is measured from Attu Island.
Peter S.
--- granthutchison <
granthutchison@...> wrote:
> > I still do not understand why the line in the Donut Hole is
> important
> > vis-a-vis the extension of the EEZ's by taking up all of the
> > continental shelf, because I don't see how the Donut Hole can be
> part
> > of the continental shelf. But since everything I've read seems to
> > take for granted that the Donut Hole is, indeed, part of the
> > continental shelf, I must be overlooking something here. Can anyone
>
> > help?
> Prescott shows an area of continental shelf extending beyond the
> 200nm EEZ in the Barents Sea - it forms a rim along the NE edge of
> the donut hole. Prescott gives the Barents Sea as an extreme example
> of an extensive continental shelf - up to 700nm from the continental
> shore, although admittedly dotted with islands like the Pribilofs
> that push the EEZ out almost as far. The old treaty line would leave
> almost all the shelf area beyond the 200nm limit belonging to the US,
>
> while a median puts a moderate western area in Russian hands. Given
> the possible presence of oil, I guess that's why American maps are so
>
> keen on marking the treaty line.
>
> Grant
>
>
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