Baltic Sea

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/baltic-sea

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is the Baltic Sea?Approximately 377,000 km² (145,000 sq mi)
2. How deep is the Baltic Sea?55 meters (180 ft)
3. What is the location?Northern Europe, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean
4. What is the salinity?Brackish, ranging from near-fresh to 15 PSU
5. What makes the Baltic Sea salty but not as salty as the ocean?The Baltic Sea is brackish, meaning it has some salt but also a lot of fresh water from rivers. Its salinity is lower than the ocean, about 10-15 units in the south and almost fresh in the north.
6. Why does the Baltic Sea have so many rivers flowing into it?Many rivers like the Neva, Vistula, and Oder flow into the Baltic, bringing fresh water that keeps the sea less salty. This fresh water mixes with the sea water, creating a unique brackish environment.

Marginal Shelf Sea: A sea located on the continental shelf, partially enclosed by landmasses and islands.
Brackish Water: Water with a salinity level intermediate between that of freshwater and seawater, typically found where rivers meet the sea.
Eutrophication: The excessive richness of nutrients in a body of water, causing dense growth of plant life and depletion of oxygen.
Hypoxia/Anoxia: Conditions of low oxygen (hypoxia) or no oxygen (anoxia) in water, often caused by eutrophication.