Baltic Sea: depths and relief, description, geographic location. Baltic Sea
Kaliningraders are lucky to live near Baltic Sea... After all, your sea is very cool! All the more so when it is so interesting and always different: harsh and merciless in the season of storms, quiet and welcoming on hot summer days. Also, depending on the weather, the Baltic waters often change their color. Now it is of warm blue shades, then suddenly it turns into greenish-gray colors, and in stormy weather the sea is completely bluish-black. Many of us are quite familiar with the contour of the Baltic Sea from maps, but few people think about how the Baltic Sea is arranged under the surface of the water, what kind of bottom relief 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 the coast is located.
Located at the tip of Gdynia's South Pier, the Marine Aquarium, which opened in 1971, is one of the city's most significant landmarks. In addition to a voluminous map of the Baltic Sea and all kinds of marine exhibits, here you can observe the life of more than 1600 aquatic inhabitants from different corners the globe... A separate reportage will be devoted to them.
In the meantime, let's look at the model of the bottom relief of the Baltic Sea, on which all significant depths (depressions) are indicated, the largest (459 m) of which is called - Landsort(Polish. Głębię Landsort). The average sea depth is 52.3 m.
Baltic Sea, sometimes called Mediterranean Sea The north, due to its location among the land, occupies 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 The Gulf of Finland s.
04. St. Petersburg.
Along the northern coast of the Baltic Sea, in the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia, there are many thousands of islands and rocks. This is a famous area of skerries, which is unmatched in any other part of the oceans in terms of its length and originality.
06. Aland Islands.
07. The capital of Norway is Oslo.
Despite the fact that the Baltic Sea lies among the land, the ocean affects it noticeably. The coastal inhabitants of the Baltic experience the influence of the ocean on a daily basis. Deep cyclones from the Atlantic Ocean often visit the Baltic. When they pass, strong southwestern winds blow, often turning into storms. The maximum summer temperature in the Baltic is only +18 +20 degrees, which makes it not the most popular sea for a beach holiday.
08. The closest to the Kaliningrad region, a large depression is located in the area of the Polish Gdansk - Głębię Gdańską(118 m). Three spits are also visible: Curonian, Vistula and Khel.
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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Baltic Sea and its coast - interesting place, imbued with memories of the Vikings, pacifying with its northern landscapes. It differs from other seas in the nature of the relief, temperature and features. coastline... The Baltic is of great historical and geopolitical importance for Russia.
Geographical position
The Baltic Sea on the map is located in the north of Europe and belongs to Limited 54 ° 46 ′ and 65 ° 56 ′ north latitude and 9 ° 57 ′ and 30 ° 00 ′ east longitude. The extreme points that the Baltic Sea has on the map: near the Arctic Circle in the north, near Wismar in the south, the eastern one is near St. Petersburg and the western extreme point is located in the Flensburg region.
Relief and depth
The bottom topography has minor differences from the outlines of the shores that border the Baltic Sea. The depths, in turn, also depend on the nature of the adjacent territory. The southern side of the sea, belonging to Germany, Poland and Denmark, is flat, flat, with sandy beaches. A rocky coast and an uneven rocky bottom are found in the northern part. The depth and topography of the Baltic Sea are different in different areas. The bottom has a very complex dissected surface. There are depressions that delimit the elevations and bases of the islands, which includes the Baltic Sea.
The depths in other places are shallow. For example, there are areas of pronounced accumulative relief - these are shallow Gulfs of Finland, Riga and Bothnia.
Thus, the depth of the Baltic Sea is less than 200 meters. The Landsort depression is different. The maximum depth of the Baltic Sea is located in this section and is about 470 meters. The Landsort Depression stretches in a southwestern direction. The rest are shallower: Gotland - 249 m and Gdansk - 116 m in the central part of the sea, Arkon - 53 m and Bornholm - 105 m (in the western part).
Sea bays and straits
Refers to inland seas. In the southwest it adjoins the North Sea through the Danish straits (Small and Big Belt, Sound), Skagerrak and Kattegat.
In the east, it is located between Estonia and Latvia. The Estonian island of Saaremaa partly separates the bay from the rest of the sea. There are also large Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia.
The Neva Bay is the eastern section of the Gulf of Finland. At a distance of about 50 km from St. Petersburg, the city of Kronstadt is located. The dam connects the island city and St. Petersburg, the highway is laid along the dam, so people have the opportunity to get to the mainland and back by car.
In the northeastern part, where the border between Russia and Finland passes, the Gulf of Finland is connected with Vyborg Bay... The Saimaa Canal, leased by Finland, also originates from there. It serves as a transport route, and is also popular with tourists in warm weather. Guests come here both for the beauty of the landscapes and for duty-free shopping.
Coast
The Baltic Sea coastline is diverse. Latvia has accumulation-type coasts formed as a result of sand accumulation on the coasts. The lagoon coast, formed by the bay and separated from the sea by a narrow spit, is located near Kaliningrad. The leveled shores border most of the sea, in particular, belong to Poland. And they are formed under the influence of the prevailing winds and coastal currents. Fjords - narrow and deep sea bays with towering steep and rocky shores that surround the sea from the north. They are formed by flooding of tectonic faults and river valleys. The skerry coast appeared as a result of flooding of territories with smoothed glaciers, composed of crystalline rocks. These elevations rise above the sea surface in the form of many skerry islands with traces of glacial activity.
The following countries have access to the Baltic Sea - Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland. After the collapse of the USSR, Russia was left with a small segment of the coast, only 7%, instead of the former 25%, which brings annual losses to the state. Therefore, one port has been laid in Primorsk near Vyborg, which will specialize in coal and dry cargo. And the second port is located in the Luga Bay, it will be an oil-loading port.
Tectonic processes
To this day, the Baltic Sea continues to change. It has shallow depths compared to other parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Actually, this vast reservoir during its existence several times became a lake and again a sea due to tectonic processes.
At present, the next stage of separation of the sea from the ocean and its transformation into a freshwater lake is underway. It is characterized by the rise of the bottom of the Gulf of Bothnia by several centimeters per year and the flooding of the southern coasts. Such processes create the need for the northern ports to lengthen the marinas. To save the low-lying parts of the coast, embankments are being made.
Temperature layers
The temperature of the Baltic Sea also depends on the depth. The predominant part of the waters of a huge reservoir can be divided into surface, transitional and deep water masses.
The surface layer ranges from 0 to 20 meters, in places - from 0 to 90 meters with temperatures from 0 to 20 degrees. It is formed as a result of the interaction of the sea with the atmosphere and waters flowing from the mainland. The temperature of the Baltic Sea in this layer changes depending on the season. In summer, cold intermediate water masses are more pronounced, formed in connection with a significant warming up of the sea surface.
The deep layer (the bottom and 50-60 meters above it) has a temperature of 1 to 15 degrees. This layer is formed by the inflow of water through the Maly and Bolshoy Belt straits and their mixing.
The transitional layer includes waters at a depth of 20-60 to 90-100 meters. They have a temperature of 2-6 degrees, they are formed by mixing the waters of the deep and surface layers.
Features of the temperature of the waters in the Baltic Sea
Certain areas of the sea are distinguished by the peculiarities of the structure of the waters. So, the Bornholm region has a warm layer (7-11 degrees) both in summer and in winter. It is formed by warm waters coming here from the more heated Arkonian basin. Due to the shallow depth of the sea and the movement of waters in the horizontal plane, there is no cold intermediate layer in it in summer.
Change of temperature according to seasons
In winter, in the open sea, the water temperature is higher than that of the coast, while it differs from the western and east coast... In February, the temperature is 0.7 degrees near Ventspils, in the open sea of the same latitude - about 2 degrees, near the western coast - 1 degree.
In summer, surface waters in different parts of the sea also differ in temperature. The prevailing westerly winds drive surface water masses from the western shores. The underlying cold waters rise to the surface. As a result of this phenomenon, the temperature decreases in the southern and central regions, as well as along the western shores. In addition, there is a cold current from the Gulf of Bothnia to the south along the coast of Sweden.
Seasonal fluctuations in water temperature are pronounced only in the upper 50-60 meters, deeper indicators change insignificantly. There are no temperature changes in cold weather, but with increasing depth, the indicators slightly decrease. In warm weather, the water temperature rises to the horizons of 20-30 meters due to mixing. Even in summer, when the surface layer of water is warmed up, and the thermocline is more pronounced than in spring, a cold intermediate layer remains.
The depth, topography and other features of the Baltic Sea depend on many factors. it geographical position, being in northern latitudes, as well as being placed on the continental plate.
Once it was possible only to dream about it, but today a private house on the shore Baltic Sea becomes quite commonplace. Every year the craving of the townspeople for nature is becoming stronger, and they more often prefer suburban housing to the city. A good plot of land near the sea has many advantages. Firstly, this is an aesthetic benefit (after all, with the acquisition of a plot, the buyer gets the opportunity to live in an area with untouched nature and enjoy the beautiful landscape and clean air). Secondly, by purchasing a land plot near the sea, the buyer makes a very profitable cash investment, since the Baltic coast is located in a geographically attractive area.
Kaliningrad region - unique place in Russia. A favorable climate, a large number of green spaces, a developed infrastructure of the region, a high standard of living of the population are increasingly attracting tourists and new residents to this region. And, of course, the Kaliningrad region is famous for its pearl - Baltic Sea.
A house near the sea is every person's dream, and it is completely real! After purchasing a land plot on the shores of the Baltic Sea, the buyer gets the opportunity to immediately start building his own house. All plots offered for sale are already prepared for development, and the buyer will not need additional approvals. Purchase possible land plot with the subsequent settlement in an already rebuilt comfortable house near the sea.
Interactive online map of the Baltic Sea from satellite
Baltic coast Is a beautiful landscape and perfect place for a wonderful holiday and a comfortable life. There is also a great opportunity to rent a house on the coast and spend unforgettable vacation in the Baltic.
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 Gulf 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 and etc.
Climatic conditions
A temperate maritime climate prevails in the Baltic region. Big influence affects the weather Atlantic Ocean... 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 Northern part 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 where vacationers seek to improve their health: Palanga, Jurmala, Svetlogorsk and others. Tourists are attracted sandy beaches, maritime climate, pine forests.
The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe and bounded by Sweden ( part of the Scandinavian Peninsula), Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, northeastern Germany, and eastern Denmark and its many islands.
In the north, above Aland Islands The Baltic Sea is referred to as the Gulf of Bothnia. In the east, the Gulf of Finland connects the Baltic Sea with St. Petersburg, Russia. In the south and southeast, it forms two small bays, including the Gulf of Gdansk and the Gulf of Riga.
The definitive western end of the Baltic Sea is difficult to define and also to point to on a map, but in general terms its flow of water across the Kattegat Bay into the Skagerrak Strait, and then merge with the North Sea.
The estimate for the size of the Baltic Sea is based on where the sea actually ends, so all known measurements are estimates at best Wikipedia refers to a surface area of 377,000 sq. km, while Baltic Resources use 375,600 sq. km. Average depth runs about 55 meters (180 feet), while maximum depth measured at 459 meters (1,506 ft).
The Kiel Canal in northern Germany, one of the busiest man-made waterways in the world. International maritime traffic uses it to connect between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, thus saving hundreds of miles of extra transit time across Denmark and associated high transportation costs.
