Beluga (sturgeon)

The beluga /bəˈluːɡə/ or European sturgeon (Huso huso) is a species of anadromous fish in the sturgeon family (Acipenseridae) of order Acipenseriformes. It is found primarily in the Caspian and Black Sea basins, and occasionally in the Adriatic Sea. Heavily fished for the female's valuable roe—known as beluga caviar— the beluga is a huge and late-maturing fish that can live for 118 years. The species' numbers have been greatly reduced by overfishing and poaching, prompting many governments to enact restrictions on its trade. The most similar to the Huso huso beluga is the Huso dauricus kaluga, also referred to as the "river beluga".

The common name for the sturgeon, as for the unrelated beluga whale, is derived from the Russian word белый (belyy), meaning "white".

Behavior

The beluga is a large predator which feeds mostly on fish, also rarely consuming waterfowl and seal pups.

Like most sturgeons, the beluga is anadromous, migrating upstream in rivers to spawn.

Size

Huso

Huso is a genus of large sturgeons from Eurasia. It contains two species, which both are critically endangered:

Recent data indicate a polyphyletic origin of the genus Huso, and it is suggested that the two Huso species should be included in the genus Acipenser.

References

Soroti Airport

Soroti Airport (IATA: SRT, ICAO: HUSO) is an airport in Soroti in Eastern Uganda. It is one of the forty-seven airports in the country.

Location

The airport is located in the town of Soroti, Soroti District, Teso sub-region, Eastern Uganda. Soroti Airport sits to the immediate northeast of the town's central business district. (See Google Map). Its location is approximately 229 kilometres (142 mi), by air, northeast of Entebbe International Airport, Uganda's largest civilian and military airport. The coordinates of the airport are 1°43′30″N 33°37′16″E / 1.72500°N 33.62111°E / 1.72500; 33.62111.

Overview

Soroti Airport has two runways. Its longest runway (05/23), is the third longest tarmac runway in Uganda, at 1,860 metres (6,100 ft). The longest paved runway in Uganda, measuring 3,700 metres (12,100 ft), is found at Entebbe International Airport. The second longest paved runway in Uganda, which measures 3,100 metres (10,200 ft) is located at Gulu Airport.

The second runway has a laterite surface (09/27) and measures 769.5 metres (2,525 ft) long. Both runways are 30 metres (98 ft) wide. The main runway and apron are tarmac and can support aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 737, without damage to the surface. The airport sits at an elevation of 1,110 metres (3,640 ft) above sea level.