Baltic Sea
From Encyclopædia
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the
Atlantic Ocean and is connected to the North Sea by two relatively narrow passages, the
Kattegat and SKAGERRAK. Touching on Finland,
Russia, the
Baltic States, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, the sea has long been important in trade and commerce. With an area estimated at 420,000 sq km (160,000 sq mi), the Baltic is a shrinking remnant of a large water body created by Ice Age glacial melt and is generally shallow. Many rivers feed it, notably the ODER and VISTULA, and it has a shallow outlet to the
Atlantic Ocean; the water is brackish (5 to 15 parts salt per 1,000), and the
tide is negligible. Ice becomes a barrier to shipping in winter. Temperatures in
saint Petersburg at the eastern tip
average -9 deg C (15 deg F) in January.In the
middle ages the Baltic Sea was the center of trade between ports of the HANSEATIC LEAGUE dealing in fish--particularly herring--timber, grains, furs, and
amber. In the 17th century Sweden dominated the area, and from the late 17th century,
Russia. Its importance declined when modern
ships became too large to pass through the
Kattegat, its shallow entrance between Denmark and Sweden. The
Kiel Canal crosses the base of the Danish peninsula, shortening distances to southern
Europe. Connecting the Baltic and North seas, it can accommodate medium-size
ships and is one of the most heavily used canals in the
world.
