In the north of Europe is the Baltic Sea, which belongs to the basin of the vast Atlantic Ocean. Until the 18th century, in Russia, this sea was designated as Varangian. It is marginal and inland. The waters of the sea wash the shores of Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Lithuania, Germany and other countries. It is connected to the North Sea by the Skagerrak, Øresund, Belty and Kattegat straits. The Baltic Sea map makes it possible to see its exact boundaries.
Geographic features
More than 13 thousand years ago, on the site of the Baltic Sea, there was a glacial lake, cold and fresh. In the process of melting glaciers, a channel was formed that connected the lake with the Atlantic. Now the average depth of the sea is 71 m, and the area is 386 thousand square meters. km. It is a shallow shelf sea. The prevailing depths are from 40 to 100 m. The eastern parts of the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland, Øresund and other places are shallow.
In the southeast and south, its shores are sandy and low. There are beaches covered with sand and pebbles. The northern shores are represented by rocks. The Baltic Sea has heavily indented shores, with numerous bays and bays. The most significant bays are the Bothnian, Riga, Finnish, Gdansk Bay, Curonian and others. There are many rocky islands near the northern coast. Rivers flowing into the Baltic Sea: Neman, Neva, Odra, Vistula, Western Dvina, etc.
Climatic conditions
A temperate maritime climate prevails in the Baltic region. The Atlantic Ocean has a great influence on the weather. Temperature fluctuations are insignificant here, and precipitation is frequent. Fogs are often observed over the Baltic Sea during the cold season. In autumn and spring, storms and strong winds occur, as a result of which the water in the coastal zone rises significantly. In summer, cyclones lose their intensity. In different regions of the Baltic, the climate is not uniform. In November, the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia is covered with ice. The largest ice spread begins by March. The fixed ice capsizes the Gulfs of Finland, Riga and Bothnia. Under the influence of winds, the water level in this sea fluctuates greatly. The salinity of the water is very low due to the huge number of rivers flowing into the sea, as well as due to the weak connection with the World Ocean.
Importance of the Baltic Sea
This sea began to play an important role in the life of people from the 16th century. Today the most significant foreign trade port of Russia is located in St. Petersburg. There are many resort areas on the coast of the Baltic Sea, where vacationers seek to improve their health: Palanga, Jurmala, Svetlogorsk, etc. Tourists are attracted by sandy beaches, sea climate, pine forests.
