The Baltic Sea (in Latin Mare Balticum) is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean , enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
Is the Baltic Sea connected to the ocean?
The only connection with the ocean is through the Danish straits to the North Sea . Moreover, the Baltic Sea is surrounded by a huge drainage area four times as large as the sea itself, where virtually all terrestrial human activities influence the marine environment. Nine countries are found along the Baltic Sea.
Where does the North Sea connected with the Baltic Sea?
The Skagerrak , an eastward extension of the North Sea between Norway and Denmark, connects the North and Baltic seas via the Kattegat and the Danish straits.
Is Baltic Sea landlocked?
The Baltic Sea is a shallow, almost landlocked, sea surrounded by nine countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. Its drainage area is about four times larger than its surface area and is inhabited by around 85 million people.
Is the Baltic Sea salt or freshwater?
Due to massive freshwater runoff from the land and limited salt water inflows from the Danish straits, the salinity of the Baltic Sea is much lower than that of the oceans, and the water is considered to be brackish water instead of sea water.
Can you swim in Baltic Sea?
Sure you can. The water temperature in the Baltic Sea ranges from approximately 20 °C (68 °F) in the summer to 0 °C (32 °F) in the winter. Everybody can swim in 20 degree water . Many people swim in the sea even in the winter by making a hole in the ice covering the surface.
Are there sharks in the Baltic Sea?
Distribution: Contrary to popular belief, there are sharks in the Baltic Sea. In fact, 31 species of sharks and closely related skates, rays and chimaeras (collectively known as cartilaginous fishes) have been recorded in this area.
Where the North Sea meets the Atlantic?
The North Sea connects to the Atlantic Ocean via the English Channel in the southwest and the Baltic Sea in the east via the Kattegat and Skagerrak straits. The two narrow straits Denmark from Sweden and Norway respectively.
Is the North Atlantic an ocean?
Scientists and geographers broadly separate the Atlantic in terms of north and south. The North Atlantic and South Atlantic each have distinct ocean currents that influence weather around the world.
What was the North Sea called before 1914?
The North Sea was known as the German Ocean until the early 20th C., when hostilities with Germany meant this name became politically unacceptable in Britain.
Who owns the Baltic Sea?
The Baltic Sea in Northern Europe is surrounded by nine countries: Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden . As long as people have lived in the area, the Baltic Sea has provided a strong connection between these countries and a source of human livelihood.
How rough is the Baltic Sea?
The Baltic is a pretty calm body of water and September is usually moderate and mild so I would think the cruise would be smooth. The large cruise ships have extensive stabilizers and are so massive than the low waves found in the Baltic have little effect on the ship.
What ocean is Sweden on?
Land. Sweden lies to the southwest of Finland. A long coastline forms the country's eastern border, extending along the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea ; a narrow strait, known as The Sound (Öresund), separates Sweden from Denmark in the south.
Is Baltic Sea cold?
The sea is calm and cool but not too cold to swim in . Despite the balmy temperatures, the mindset here is distinctly northern. On the beach you can almost hear the sound of pale Baltic skin sizzling, sun cream obviously being deemed an unnecessary luxury in a country that only gets three months of hot weather a year.
Why is the Baltic Sea so polluted?
Baltic waters are heavily contaminated with chemicals due to farming activities in the surrounding countries , as well as with oil products from spills. Thousands of tons of unused German chemical weapons have also been dumped in the sea after the Second World War.
Where is the Black Sea?
The Black Sea is located at the southeastern extremity of Europe . It is bordered by Ukraine to the north, Russia to the northeast, Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.
Is Baltic Sea beautiful?
The German Baltic Sea is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Europe , but unfortunately, most foreign tourists do not know about its existence. This beautiful S shaped coastline is some of the best coastal features that Germany has to offer and is one of the most popular destinations for local tourists.
Is the Baltic Sea toxic?
Fish from some areas of the Baltic Sea are so contaminated that they may be too toxic for EU markets, warns WWF. ... The level of brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) found in herring is 5 times higher in the Baltic Sea than in the Atlantic. But it is not only the fish that is contaminated.
How cold is the Baltic Sea in summer?
The Baltic Sea is near the freezing point in winter and is very cool in summer: the water temperature is around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) in February and March, while in summer, it reaches 17 °C (62.5 °F) in July and 18.5 °C (65 °F) in August.
Does Poland have nice beaches?
Talking of the natural beauties, Poland has some of the most spectacular beaches in the world. The blue water, high waves, sun and sandy beaches surrounded by palm trees make you fall in love with Poland immediately.
How shallow is the Baltic?
The Baltic Sea is only 54 metres deep on average , which makes it a very shallow sea. For example, the average depth of the Mediterranean Sea is around 1,500 metres, while the great oceans average 3,700 metres.
Are there whales in the Baltic Sea?
There is only one species of whale seen regularly in the Baltic Sea, the harbour porpoise, with an estimated population of less than 500. Other species occasionally stray into these waters.
Does the North Sea freeze?
Ocean water freezes just like freshwater, but at lower temperatures. Fresh water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit but seawater freezes at about 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit , because of the salt in it. ... At least 15 percent of the ocean is covered by sea ice some part of the year.
What is the sea above Scotland?
The Atlantic Ocean , which fringes the coastline of western and northern Scotland and its islands, influences the temperate, maritime climate of the country.
What do other countries call the North Sea?
A contemporary transnational Euroregion encompasses the North Sea countries. The North Sea (historically also known as the German Ocean ) is a part of the Atlantic Ocean, located between Norway and Denmark in the east, Scotland and England in the west, and Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France in the south.
Which ocean is twice as large as the Atlantic ocean?
Located between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the landmasses of the Western Hemisphere, the Pacific Ocean contains almost twice as much water as the world's second largest body of water, the Atlantic Ocean.
Is there an ocean by Germany?
5 OCEANS AND SEAS
Germany faces the North Sea to the northwest and Baltic Sea to the northeast. A narrow strip of land on which Germany borders Denmark separates the two seas, both of which are extensions of the Atlantic Ocean.
Why is the North Sea Brown?
When the water looks murky or brown, it means there is a lot of mud, or sediment, in the water . Sediment particles can be so tiny that they take a long time to settle to the bottom, so they travel wherever the water goes. Rivers carry sediment into the bay, and waves and tides help keep the sediment suspended.
Why is the North sea so rough?
The wind further controls the spectrum of sea waves in the North Sea, and storms can lead to heavy and dangerous storm surges. The atmosphere influences the heat budget of the North Sea via the heat fluxes and their variability.
What country is closest to the Atlantic ocean?
- Bahamas.
- Belize.
- Bermuda (UK)
- Canada.
- Costa Rica.
- Greenland (DEN)
- Guatemala.
- Honduras.
Why Atlantic Ocean is called Atlantic?
The vast body of water that separates Europe and Africa from North and South America is the Atlantic Ocean. Its name, which comes from Greek mythology , means the “Sea of Atlas.” Of the world's oceans, the Atlantic is second in size only to the Pacific Ocean.
Is Poland Baltic?
Proceeding clockwise from the west, the countries bounding the Baltic are Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany.
What is a blue flag with a yellow cross?
flag of Sweden . national flag consisting of a yellow cross extending through a blue field.
What ocean is Poland on?
Poland, country of central Europe. Poland is located at a geographic crossroads that links the forested lands of northwestern Europe to the sea lanes of the Atlantic Ocean and the fertile plains of the Eurasian frontier.
What is the difference between Balkan and Baltic?
| Baltic countries Balkan countries | It is found in Northern Europe. It is found in Southern Europe. |
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What's Baltic mean?
Definition of Baltic
1 : of or relating to the Baltic Sea or to the states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia . 2 : of or relating to a branch of the Indo-European language family containing Latvian, Lithuanian, and Old Prussian — see Indo-European Languages Table.
What does Baltic ancestry mean?
Origins. The Balts or Baltic peoples, defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European language family , are descended from a group of Indo-European tribes who settled the area between the lower Vistula and southeast shore of the Baltic Sea and upper Daugava and Dnieper rivers.
Is the Baltic Sea calm?
The Baltic Sea is essentially a sheltered body of water, having only one outlet between Denmark and Sweden – the Øresund. ... The Baltic Sea is for the most part quite calm during summer , only becoming moderately choppy if a summer squall should develop.
Is the North Sea rough in September?
Best Time for North Sea Cruises
Although cruises often set sail during the shoulder months (May, June and September), you are likely to encounter a rougher sea , colder temperatures and rain. ... If you decide to go during this time, pack extra layers and be open to port changes.
Does Poland have any beaches?
Poland may not be the first seaside destination that comes to mind when booking your summer holiday, but the country's northern coast is filled with wide sandy beaches and charming coastal towns .
How old is the Baltic Sea?
The Baltic is the youngest sea on our planet, emerging from the retiring ice masses only some 10,000-15,000 years ago . Governed by special hydrographical and climatic conditions, the Baltic Sea is one of the planet's largest bodies of brackish water.
What lives in the Baltic Sea?
Additionally, the Baltic Sea is home to many popular species such as marine mammals (harbor porpoise, ringed seal, grey seal, harbor seal), fish (salmon, sea trout, eel, pike) and waterbirds, which reside there constantly (herring gull) or during winter (long-tailed duck, little tern).
