Baseline (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/baseline--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. What is the legal framework?United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
2. What is the normal baseline definition?The low-water line along the coast as depicted on official charts
3. What is a baseline in the ocean?A baseline is a secret line on the ocean floor that marks where a country starts measuring its sea territory. It is drawn along the low‑water line on official charts. It helps decide how much sea a country can control.
4. Why do countries need a baseline?Countries need a baseline to know how far their sea zones go. It gives them rights to protect resources and keep the environment safe. It also tells other countries where they can travel safely.

Foreshore: The part of the shore between the high-water mark and the low-water mark.
Juridical Internal Waters: Waters enclosed by straight baselines that are treated as internal waters of the coastal state.
Delimitation: The process of defining the boundaries between maritime zones of different states.