Recently, Swedish police have been investigating the suspected sabotage of an undersea telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea, connecting Germany and Finland.

About Baltic Sea

• Location: A semi-enclosed inland sea in Northern Europe, forming an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean.
• Extension: Stretches from southern Denmark to the Arctic Circle.
• Role: Separates the Scandinavian Peninsula (comprising Sweden, Norway, and northwestern Finland) from the rest of continental Europe.
• Connectivity
  • Atlantic Ocean: Connected through the Danish Straits.
  • White Sea: Connected via the White Sea Canal.
  • North Sea: Connected to the German Bight through the Kiel Canal.
• Geographical Features
  • Gulfs: The Baltic Sea contains three major gulfs:
    • Gulf of Bothnia; Gulf of Finland; Gulf of Riga.
  • Brackish Water: The Baltic Sea is often cited as the world’s largest brackish inland water body.
    • It has lower salinity due to:
      • Inflow of freshwater from surrounding land.
      • Its shallowness.
    • Over 250 rivers and streams empty into the sea, with the Neva River being the largest.
• Climate: Influenced by the Northern Hemisphere’s atmospheric circulation system (North Atlantic Oscillation system).
  • Characterized by seasonal variations due to its geographical location, land-sea contrast, and topography. 
  • Two main types of climate: 
    • Southern part experiences a marine west coast climate.
    • Northern and middle regions experience temperate climates.
• Islands: Over 20 islands and archipelagos.
  • Largest Island: Gotland, located off the coast of Sweden.
• Surrounding Countries: Bordered by nine countries:
  • Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland, & Sweden
  • Baltic States: A group of independent countries bordering the Baltic Sea—Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.

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