Baltic Sea Facts

• The Baltic Sea borders on nine countries, but water from Norway, Ukraine, Belarus and the Czech Republic flow into the Baltic Sea via hundreds of rivers and waterways.
• The Baltic Sea is the world’s second largest brackish water basin.
• The water is replaced approximately every 40 years, and due to the almost stagnant masses of water, the Baltic Sea is an extremely sensitive sea.
• Another cause of the sensitivity is that the Baltic Sea is a shallow sea. The medium depth is 54 m, and the greatest depth is 459 m. The medium depth of the Mediterranean Sea is 1500 m!
• The annual algal bloom and the turbid water visibly illustrate the prolonged deterioration of the state of the Baltic Sea.
• Our sea is suffering from discharge from the agricultural industry, fish farming, the population’s private waste, sea transport and traffic emission, dumping, etc.
• The water purification system in St. Petersburg has alleviated the situation, but most emission and pollutants are small and scattered - that is why we are all needed to make a change.

Pictures: Turku 2011 Foundation/Peter Silvendoin

Do you want to learn more about the Baltic Sea?

• Is the Baltic Sea in a worse state than other oceans?
• What are the worst threats?
• How could an individual aid the well-being of the Baltic Sea?
• Which part of the Baltic Sea is in the worst state?
• What are the most important means of protection?
• Can we do anything about damage already done?
• Are there any species unique to the Baltic Sea?
• Where do blooming algae come from in the summer?