The Baltic Sea, like a real European one, washes the borders of several states at once. If previously many principalities and empires fought for the right to own the ports located on it, today the situation in the water area is calm. Nine countries have access to the shores of the Baltic Sea: Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Finland.
The Baltic Sea can be called a typical inland sea. It is located in the Northwestern part of Eurasia and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean in the North Sea through the Denmark Straits. The dimensions of the water area are quite large for Europe - 419,000 sq.m, despite the fact that the average depth is 51 m (maximum 470 m). The Baltic Sea is full of water due to the large number of rivers that flow into it - the world-famous Vistula, Neman, Neva and Daugava. The largest among them (bringing more water into the basin) is our Neva.
As for the shores of the Baltic Sea, relative to the mainland of the planet they stretch from southwest to northeast. The widest place on land is called the stretch of land from St. Petersburg to Stockholm - this is almost 650 km of continuous beach.
It is fair to note that the Baltic was not always under the sphere of Russian influence. These northern shores have long attracted kings and princes of appanage feudal states. Quite often, commanders together with their armies tried to get a tasty piece of the seashore, but they could not get what they wanted. One has only to remember the bloody attempts of Tsar Ivan the Terrible and the failed Livonian War he started.
Fortune smiled on Russia only at the beginning of the 18th century. The Northern War, which engulfed almost the entire northern and eastern parts of Europe, allowed Peter the Great to get his piece of the Gulf of Finland and begin the process of “Europeanization” of the Russian people.
Cities on the Baltic Sea in Russia
Today, the Baltic Sea is considered not only a strategic area, but also an excellent resort for residents of the country and neighboring regions. The water here is quite cold, sometimes capricious and violent, which, however, does not scare off the tourists who come here every summer.
Kaliningrad
(Kaliningrad port terminal, located in the Kaliningrad Bay)
The central city of the region, as is known, was previously called Keninsberg. Today it is a large city on the sea, which has managed to preserve the outlines of German prosperity, while acquiring a typical Russian appearance. Today people come here not only to the grave of the great Kant, but also to the healing mineral waters and sandy beaches.
Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk
Two typical resort towns that differ only in size. The first one is larger and more touristy. A large number of hotels and restaurants for every taste; local residents have long adapted to the needs of guests and offer a quiet and cozy holiday on the seashore.
In addition, the region has a huge number of small villages in the coastal zone. Many of them mine amber and offer excursions to old breweries. Today, the Russian shores of the Baltic Sea have been completely Russified and the only reminders of the time when the lands belonged to Europe are the peaked roofs of churches and the two-story houses with red tiles stretching along the shore.
The Baltic Sea is the northern marginal body of water in Eurasia. It cuts deep into the land, and due to this it belongs to internal water flows. The sea fills the waters of the Atlantic. It is located in Northern Europe. The Baltic countries have access to the Baltic Sea. And also such states as: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia and Poland. The stream connects to the ocean through the system and the North Sea.
The area of the reservoir is about 415 thousand square km. The volume of the water surface is more than 20 thousand cubic meters. km. The deepest trench is 470 meters.
Hydrology
The Baltic Sea, whose salinity greatly affects flora and fauna, is filled with a huge amount of fresh water. Their constant source is precipitation. Salty streams penetrate the reservoir through bays and tributaries. Tides have insignificant levels and, as a rule, their magnitude is no more than 20 cm.
Constantly located within a radius of one mark. Air masses can have a strong influence on it. Along the coast, the water level can rise up to 50 cm, in narrower places - up to 2 meters.
There are practically no storms on the water stream. Like other seas washing Russia, the Baltic reservoir is calm, and rarely its waves can reach a height of 4 meters. It is most stormy in the fall, in November. Maximum fluctuations are 7-8 points. In winter they practically stop, which is facilitated by ice.
The constant current of the Baltic Sea is small. Within 10-15 cm/s. The maximum current increases during storms to 100-150 cm/s.
The tides of the Baltic Sea are almost invisible. This is facilitated to a greater extent by the isolation of the water flow. Their level varies within 20 meters. The maximum increase in water level is in August and September.
A significant part of the coast is covered with ice from October to April. The southern part and center of the sea, but glaciers can drift along them during the thawing period (June-August).
The Baltic Sea is rich in natural resources. Oil reserves lie here and new fields are being developed. Large deposits of amber have also recently been discovered. The Nord Stream gas route runs along the bottom of the sea.
The Baltic Sea is also rich in fish and seafood. In recent years, the ecology of the stream has deteriorated significantly. The waters become clogged with toxins coming from large rivers. The presence of chemical weapons dumps is also recorded.
Due to the shallow depth of the sea, shipping here is not very developed. Only light vessels are able to cross the watercourse without problems. The largest ports of the Baltic Sea: Vyborg, Kaliningrad, Gdansk, Copenhagen, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Stockholm.
The waters of this reservoir are unsuitable for the development of resort tourism, but nevertheless there are sanatoriums and hospitals on the coastal part. These are the Russian resort cities of Svetlogorsk, Zelenogorsk, Sestroretsk, Latvian Jurmala, Lithuanian Neringa, Polish Koszalin and Sopot, German Albeck and Binz.
Brief description of water temperature and sea salinity
In the central part of the Baltic Sea, as a rule, the temperature rarely exceeds 15-18 o C. At the bottom it is about 4 degrees. The bay often experiences calm weather and +9..+12 o C.
The Baltic Sea, whose salinity decreases in the direction from west to east, has an official indicator of 20 ppm at the beginning of the current. At depth this figure increases by 1.5 times.
Name
For the first time, the etymological name “Baltic” is found in a historical treatise of the 11th century. The earlier name of the sea was Varangian. This is what is mentioned in the famous “Tale of Bygone Years”.
Extreme points
Extreme points of the Baltic Sea:
- southern - Wismar (Germany), coordinates - 53° 45` N. sh.;
- northern - Arctic Circle coordinates - 65° 40` N. sh.;
- eastern - St. Petersburg (Russia), coordinates - 30° 15` east. d.;
- western - Flensburg (Germany), coordinates - 9° 10` E. d.
Geographical characteristics: territory, tributaries and bays
The Baltic Sea (salinity and its characteristics are described below) extends from southwest to northeast for 1360 km. The greatest width is located between the cities of Stockholm and St. Petersburg. It is 650 kilometers.
According to historical information, the Baltic Sea has existed for about 4 thousand years. During the same period of time, the Neva (74 km), which flows into this body of water, begins to exist. In addition to it, more than 250 rivers merge with the stream. The largest of them are Vistula, Oder, Narva, Neman, Western Dvina.
Some ports of the Baltic Sea lie on its large bays. In the north is the Gulf of Bothnia, the largest and deepest. In the east - Riga, located between Estonia and Latvia, Finnish, washing the shores of Finland, Estonia, Russia, and Due to the fact that the latter is separated from the sea by a sand spit, the water in the stream is almost fresh. This is a unique feature.
The average depth of the Baltic Sea is 50 meters, the bottom is entirely within the mainland. This nuance makes it possible to classify it as an inland continental reservoir.
Islands
In the sea area there are more than 200 islands of different sizes. They are located unevenly both near the coast and far from them. The largest Baltic islands are Zealand, Falster, Møn, Langeland, Lolland, Bornholm, Funen (belonging to Denmark); Öland and Gotland (Swedish islands); Fehmarn and Rügen (belongs to Germany); Hiiumaa, Saaremaa (Estonia).
Coastline
The Baltic Sea (the ocean strongly influences it with its waters) has a different coastline along the entire perimeter of the waters. In the northern part, the bottom is uneven and rocky, and the coast is indented with small bays, ledges and small islands. The southern part, on the contrary, has a flat bottom and a low-lying coast, with a sandy beach, which in some areas is represented by small dunes. A frequent occurrence on the young coast are sand spits cutting deep into the sea.
The sedimentary bottom is represented by green, black silt (of glacial origin) and sand, and the soil consists of stones and boulders.
Salinity and its regular changes
Due to the large amount of precipitation and powerful water runoff from rivers, the Baltic Sea (the salinity of the reservoir is relatively low) is filled with excess fresh water. It is distributed unevenly. Where the Baltic reservoir enters deep into the shore, the water is almost fresh, and its salinity is influenced by the North Sea. This situation is not permanent. Storm winds contribute to water mixing.
Based on this, the salinity of the Baltic Sea is low. A decrease in its level is typical for the coastline; the highest number of ppm is at the bottom.
In the area where the watercourse meets the straits in the west, the water salinity is up to 20 ‰ on the sea surface, and at the bottom - 30 ‰. Off the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, the indicator is the lowest. It does not exceed 3 ‰. Levels from 6 to 8‰ are typical for the waters of the central part.
Seasonality also affects the distribution of salinity in the Baltic Sea waters. So, in the spring-summer season it decreases by 0.5-0.2 ppm. This is due to the fact that melted rivers carry fresh water to the sea. In autumn and winter, on the contrary, it increases due to the arrival of cold northern masses.
Changes in sea salinity are one of the important reasons that regulate biological, physical and chemical processes on the shore. Partly due to the freshness of the water, the shore has a loose structure.
Seas washing the territory of Russia
Russia is a great maritime power. Its territory is washed by the waters of three oceans:
- Arctic;
- Atlantic;
- Quiet.
And almost in the center of the continent is the largest sea-lake in the world - the Caspian. It belongs to the Eurasian internal drainage basin. The seas washing the territory of the country are located within four lithospheric plates:
- Eurasian (Eurasian);
- North American;
- Okhotsk Sea;
- Amurskaya.
Due to the vast area of Russia, these seas are located at different latitudes and, accordingly, under different climatic conditions. They have different origins and bottom structures. The temperature and salinity of waters and climate determined the uniqueness of the organic world of the seas.
Typology of the seas
In physical geography, all seas of the World Ocean are divided into two groups: marginal and internal.
Definition 1
Marginal seas are parts of the World Ocean adjacent to the mainland and only slightly separated by land.
Their nature (bottom structure, water temperature and salinity, composition and abundance of the organic world) is largely determined by the nature of the ocean of which they are a part. For example, marginal seas include:
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- Barencevo sea;
- Kara Sea;
- Japanese Sea.
Definition 2
Inland seas are seas that are largely separated by land from the oceans.
The nature of inland seas depends on the nature of the surrounding land and the rivers flowing into them. Inland seas are:
- White Sea;
- Baltic Sea;
- Black Sea;
- Sea of Azov.
White Sea
Of all the seas of the Arctic Ocean, only the White Sea can be called inland, since it protrudes deeply into the land. The basin of this sea is a submerged area of land. Its connection with the Barents Sea is quite limited. Because of this, warm Atlantic waters do not penetrate into it. Therefore, despite its more southern position compared to the Barents Sea, the White Sea is much colder and freezes completely in winter (another reason is its relatively shallow depth).
Such large rivers as the Northern Dvina, Onega, and Mezen flow into the White Sea. The water salinity does not exceed $26$ ‰. The weather is characterized by frequent storms. The reduced salinity and richness of the water in oxygen determined the originality and richness of the organic world of the White Sea. Until recently, a unique soft pearl fishery was widespread here. But with the deterioration of the environmental situation, soft pearls ceased to form.
Inland seas of the Atlantic Ocean
The territory of Russia is washed by three seas belonging to the Atlantic Ocean:
- Baltic;
- Black;
- Azovskoe.
All of them belong to the inland seas because they extend deep into the mainland. In this regard, they have a rather unique hydrological regime. Communication with the World Ocean is mediated by a number of straits and other seas. The climate of the seas is significantly determined by the western transport of air masses and the influence of adjacent land areas.
The westernmost sea of Russia is the Baltic Sea. It arose in Quaternary time in a tectonic trough at the junction of the East European lithospheric plate and the Baltic shield. The maximum sea depth is $470$ m (near Stockholm). Off the coast of Russia, depths are about $50$ m.
The climate is formed under the influence of Atlantic air masses. Weather conditions are characterized by frequent cyclones and heavy rainfall. The Gulf of Finland can freeze completely in winter.
More than $250 rivers flow into the Baltic. This determines the low salinity of the water (about $7-8$ ‰). The desalination of the waters caused the poverty of plankton. The main fish wealth is herring, Baltic sprat, cod, whitefish, duck, lamprey, smelt, and salmon.
The Black Sea is almost equal in area to the Baltic Sea. It is connected to the Atlantic through a system of inland seas and straits. It is located in a tectonic depression of the oceanic type (the bottom has an oceanic type of crust). The maximum sea depth is $2210$ m. The shelf zone is most developed off the coast of Ukraine.
The climate over the Black Sea is close to the Mediterranean. But in winter the influence of eastern continental air masses is felt. A large number of rivers flow into the Black Sea. The largest are the Danube and the Dnieper. The average water salinity is $17-18$ ‰. The waters are rich in fish resources (beluga, stellate sturgeon, sturgeon, herring, mullet, mackerel, horse mackerel, red mullet, sprat, anchovy, tuna, stingray, ram, pike perch, bream).
The unique nature of the Black Sea is that water masses deeper than $200$ m are saturated with hydrogen sulfide and poor in oxygen. This is an almost lifeless layer.
Note 1
The smallest sea on our planet is the Sea of Azov. The ancient Greeks considered it a lake. Its maximum depth is about $13$ m. It is connected to the Black Sea by the narrow Kerch Strait. Due to its small size and shallow depths, the Sea of Azov has virtually no influence on the formation of the coastal climate. On the contrary, it is influenced by the climatic conditions of the land.
Two large rivers, the Don and the Kuban, flow into the Sea of Azov. The salinity of the water is approximately $11$ ‰. But recently the salinity of the water has been increasing. Thanks to the shallow depths, the water warms up well. Therefore, the Sea of Azov was distinguished by high bioproductivity. The most important fish species are sprat, pike perch, anchovy, bream, and sturgeon.
Kaliningraders are lucky to live near Baltic Sea. After all, having your own sea is very cool! Especially when it is so interesting and always different: harsh and merciless during the storm season, quiet and friendly on hot summer days. Also, depending on the weather, the Baltic waters often change their color. Sometimes it has warm blue shades, sometimes it suddenly turns greenish-gray, and in stormy weather the sea can be completely blue-black. Many of us are quite familiar with the outline of the Baltic Sea from maps, but few people think about how the Baltic Sea is structured under the surface of the water, what kind of bottom topography does it have? The answer to this question can be found on the third floor Marine Aquarium Gdynia (Polish) Akwarium Gdyńskie), where the unique layout of the Baltic Sea and coast is located.
Situated at the end of Gdynia's South Pier, the Sea Aquarium, which opened in 1971, is one of the city's most significant attractions. In addition to a three-dimensional map of the Baltic Sea and all kinds of marine exhibits, here you can observe the life of more than 1,600 aquatic inhabitants from different parts of the globe. A separate report will be devoted to them.
In the meantime, let's look at the model of the bottom relief of the Baltic Sea, which shows all the significant depths (depressions), the largest (459 m) of which is called - Landsort(Polish Głębię Landsort). The average depth of the sea is 52.3 m.
The Baltic Sea, sometimes called the Mediterranean Sea of the North, due to its location among the land, covers a surface of 415 thousand square meters. km. Geographically, it is part of the Atlantic Ocean and is connected to the North Sea by the Danish Straits.
03. Bothnian and Finnish gulfs.
04. St. Petersburg.
Along the northern shore of the Baltic Sea, in the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, there are many thousands of islands and rocks. This is the famous area of skerries, which in its extent and originality has no equal in any other part of the World Ocean.
06. Åland Islands.
07. The capital of Norway is Oslo.
Despite the fact that the Baltic Sea lies in the middle of land, the ocean has a noticeable influence on it. Coastal residents of the Baltic Sea feel the influence of the ocean on a daily basis. Deep cyclones coming from the Atlantic Ocean often visit the Baltic. When they pass, strong southwesterly winds blow, often turning into storms. The maximum summer temperature of the Baltic is only +18 +20 degrees, which makes it not the most popular sea for a beach holiday.
08. The largest depression closest to the Kaliningrad region is located in the area of Polish Gdansk - Głębię Gdańską(118 m). Three spits are also visible: Curonian, Vistula and Hel.
09. Gdynia.
10. Kaliningrad and the Curonian Spit.
11. The northern and eastern parts of the sea are “decorated” with powerful bays - Bothnian, Finnish and Riga.
12. Gulf of Finland and the capitals of Estonia and Finland.
13. The Baltic Sea is rich in amber. The world's largest amber deposit is located in our Kaliningrad region, near the village. Amber.
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Traditionally, Baltic Sea resorts are very popular due to their geographical location: it is the closest holiday destination in Europe. It is most convenient to fly direct to Palanga, Vilnius, Riga or Tallinn, depending on which resort you are going to. The flight from Moscow or St. Petersburg will take no more than 2 hours, and in order to get to the sea, you can take a taxi or use public transport: bus or train.
- Palanga: a direct two-hour flight from Moscow, and you are already at sea. Alternatively, you can get there in 4-5 hours by connecting flight via Riga.
- Klaipeda: it is more convenient to fly to Vilnius in just 2 hours, and from there it is 300 km to the coast.
- Jurmala: the fastest way to get there is from Riga; the airport is located 30 km from the resort. Regular flights fly to Riga from Moscow; the journey takes 1:45 hours.
- Pärnu: direct flight to Tallinn, then 130 km by comfortable bus or car.
Decent level of service at reasonable prices
Baltic Sea resorts offer a decent level of service, and you won’t have to pay exorbitant prices. For example, in a hotel Palanga for 6390 rubles/night for two you will get a bright room with all amenities, while you have the opportunity to use the spa center, gym, swimming pool and sauna for free. The hotel is located 500 meters from the beach, surrounded by a pine forest with walking areas and playgrounds; There is ample free parking available to guests.
In Klaipeda, take a closer look at the apart-hotel close to the Old Town. The cost of a night starts from 5083 rubles. Hotel guests have access to a spa center and a luxurious restaurant with an impressive selection of meat dishes and a rich wine list.
If you want to spend your holidays in Pärnu, stay in a hotel built on the site of a famous historical mud bath, with views of the sea and pine forest from your room windows. Now it is a large resort complex offering guests massages, mud treatments, visits to seawater pools, Finnish and steam baths. The “standard” tariff is available from 6,090 rubles/night and includes a comfortable room with an excellent buffet breakfast.
Temperate climate
On the Baltic coast, summer temperatures are moderate: on average 21-25°C - warm, but without sweltering heat; the sky is often slightly cloudy, which protects from direct sunlight. Air humidity is low, and daily temperature fluctuations are minimal. The Baltic climate is ideal for people who have difficulty with acclimatization and those who go on vacation with small children.
Benefit for health
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are among the greenest countries in Europe. The forest occupies more than half of the territory of Estonia and Latvia and a third of the territory of Lithuania. The lion's share is coniferous trees, so walks through the nearest forest - in Palanga, Jurmala, Klaipeda or Pärnu - are practically an aromatherapy session.
The water of the Baltic Sea is rich in mineral salts; Almost every resort offers therapeutic and spa treatments with mineral water. Peat mud deposits are often found along the shores of the Baltic Sea - they are also used for medicinal purposes in local sanatoriums.
If you are interested in spa treatment or want to spend a lot of time in a spa center, you can choose a hotel with such services at . To do this, use the “Services and Amenities” filter in the left menu and select “Spa Services.”
Diversity of northern nature
There are about a dozen nature reserves alone in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and there are simply countless national parks and nature reserves. In these places of the Baltics, human activity is limited, flora and fauna are protected. At the same time, all the infrastructure for a comfortable stay has been created here.
Deserves special mentionNational Park "Curonian Spit" , located in the Kaliningrad region and Lithuania. The narrow strip of sand stretches for 100 km. On one side it is washed by the Baltic Sea, and on the other by the Curonian Lagoon. In one day you can see all the diversity of local nature: sand dunes, sometimes reaching the height of a seventeen-story building, beaches stretching for tens of kilometers, dry pine forests and southern taiga.
The easiest way to get to the Lithuanian part of the Curonian Spit, the village of Smiltyne, is from Klaipeda - the path to ferry will take 20 minutes, you can see the schedule . The second option is by car or on the bus from Palanga with a transfer in Klaipeda.
Explore the Curonian Spit from north to south, stopping in small villages along the way. Start from northern Smiltyne and head to Nida, the largest and southernmost coastal village of the park. Nida is famous for its beaches marked with the Blue Flag; they stretch along the sea for 2 km and in some places reach a width of 70 meters, so even in high season it is not crowded. You can walk for a long time, breathing in the cool salty air and the aroma of coniferous trees, listening to the sound of the surf and admiring the sunsets. If you're lucky, after the storm you'll find a piece of amber.
The Baltic Sea resorts are located near Moscow and St. Petersburg, have excellent infrastructure for sanatorium treatment, provide a decent level of service and do not shock with prices. Therefore, if you are planning a comfortable trip to neighboring countries or traveling with small children, be sure to consider this destination. You can find a wide selection of hotels of different types on our website.