Discover the secrets of our sea
The Baltic Sea is one of the most important heroes of Park Wieloryba. No wonder - we are located in Rewal, right on the Baltic Sea! Although thousands of tourists come to its shores every year, few people realize how extraordinary and diverse this body of water is.
In the Land of the Baltic Sea you can learn about the history of our sea, its shape, climate and the plants and animals inhabiting it. This is a unique opportunity to take a closer look at fish that we often know only from seaside fry shops, as well as learn more about seals, porpoises and other inhabitants of the cool Baltic waters. 🐟🦭
We often call the Baltic Sea "our sea". We enjoy swimming in it, walking along its shores and photographing sunsets. For tourists it is a place of rest and holiday memories, while for many fishermen it is a place of daily work.
However, it is worth knowing much more about it than just that it is cool, not too salty, and its waves and seaside air are associated with beneficial iodine. 🌬️🌊
How was the Baltic Sea formed? 🧊
The history of the Baltic Sea began thousands of years ago and included several stages related to climate change and the retreat of the huge ice sheet.
The first was the creation of freshwater Baltic Ice Lake, around 8200 BC About 500 years later, as the climate warmed and the glaciers melted, the reservoir merged with the ocean, transforming into the Arctic Ocean. Yoldia Sea.
After further changes in water levels, the connection with the ocean was closed again and the sea turned into freshwater Ancylus Lake.
Around 5000 BC the Danish Straits began to form, thanks to which the huge lake was once again connected to the ocean waters. This is how it was created Litoryna Sea, much warmer and saltier than the modern Baltic Sea.
The beginning of the current phase of development of the Baltic Sea is associated with the appearance of the mussel genus Mya, around 3000 BC
A sea unlike any other 💧
The Baltic Sea is one of the world's largest reservoirs of brackish water, also known as brackish water. This means that its water is neither completely fresh nor as salty as ocean water.
The average salinity of the Baltic Sea is approx 7–8‰, while in the oceans it is on average around 35‰. Such low salinity is primarily due to limited water exchange with the North Sea and the fact that about 250 rivers flow into the Baltic Sea.
However, salinity is not the same throughout the sea. Near the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland it is very low, while in the Danish Straits it may even exceed 20‰.
The Baltic Sea is a typical, relatively shallow shelf sea. Its average depth is approx 52 meters, while the average depth of the world ocean is almost 3,800 meters.
The deepest place in the Baltic Sea is located north of Gotland Landsort Depth, the bottom of which is approximately 459 meters below sea level.
The extraordinary coast of the Baltic Sea 🏖️
The Baltic Sea coast is very diverse. Only in the Rewal commune you can see three types of it:
- cliff coast,
- spit coast,
- dune coast.
Scandinavia also has picturesque skerry, fjord, fjord and ferd coasts.
The high cliffs are particularly impressive. Some of the most famous are located on the Danish island of Møn. White, chalk cliffs Møns Klint they reach over 120 meters in height and create one of the most spectacular landscapes on the Baltic Sea.
Baltic gold ✨
Amber is inextricably associated with the Baltic Sea, often called "the gold of the Baltic Sea". It is easiest to find it on beaches after strong storms, when the waves wash up fragments of fossilized resin.
Amber was created from the resin of coniferous trees growing millions of years ago in the areas where the Baltic Sea was formed after subsequent glaciations.
Inside you can sometimes find unusual souvenirs from the distant past, called inclusions. These include insects, spiders, centipedes, termites, fragments of moss, ferns and other plants. 🦟🌿
It is believed that representatives of hundreds of species of ancient insects and small organisms have been preserved in amber. Each such specimen is a unique trace of a world that existed millions of years before the appearance of humans.
Inhabitants of the Baltic waters 🐟
Despite low salinity, the Baltic Sea is inhabited by many interesting species of animals. You can meet here both freshwater and marine organisms that have adapted to life in specific conditions.
In the Baltic Sea there are, among others, herring, cod, flounder, salmon and garfish. You can also meet marine mammals, such as seals and porpoises.
Seals, which used to be abundant in the Baltic Sea, have been at risk of extinction for years. Currently, their protection and research are carried out by, among others, employees of the Marine Station of the University of Gdańsk and the sealarium operating there.
It is much more difficult to meet a porpoise - the only representative of cetaceans permanently living in the Baltic Sea. Its Baltic population is extremely small and endangered, so every confirmed encounter of this animal is extremely valuable. 🐬
The sea that we must take care of together ♻️
Unfortunately, the Baltic Sea is also one of the most polluted seas in the world. This is due to its shallow depth, limited water exchange with the ocean and pollutants transported by the rivers flowing into it.
History has also influenced the state of the sea. Activities carried out during World War II and the dumping of hazardous waste and chemicals in later years still pose a threat to the Baltic ecosystem.
The swimming water in the Rewal commune is regularly checked and meets applicable purity standards. However, maintaining the good condition of the Baltic Sea requires joint actions of all countries located on its shores.
Each of us can help - by reducing waste, keeping beaches clean and remembering that even the smallest actions matter. 💙
Get to know the Baltic Sea again!
The Land of the Baltic Sea is a place where holiday relaxation is combined with a fascinating lesson in nature, geography and history.
Take a closer look at the inhabitants of our sea, discover its secrets and see that right on the shore of Rewal there is a world much more extraordinary than it might seem. 🌊🐚
