The North Sea

GeographyThe North Sea- shelf sea placed between: Denmark,

Switzerland, Norway, British Isles, Germany Belgium, Netherlands and France. It is connected with Baltic because of sea straits.

Surface area: 750,000 km2

Average depth: 95 mMax depth: 700 mResources: natural gas, petroleum, coalMax temperature: 17°CMin temperature: 6°CSalinity: 35‰

The North Sea fauna In spite of having similar climate in the North Sea exist that same animals like in

the Baltic Sea like: seals and porpoises. The bigger composition of salt let to function more sea organism which are addicted to necessary salinity. We can present:

herring flounder hake rabbit fish electric ray shortfin mako shark basking shark sea duck auk bottlenose dolphin harbor seal walrusAnd… some species of whales.

The North Sea FloraPlant species likely in Baltic include species

of wrack, algae and kelp. Among these we can feature:

bladder wrackKnotted wrackmacroalgalseagrassIn the North Sea exist new, invasive species

of plant called „japanese seaweed”.

The North Sea- AdvantagesThe North Sea for a long time is important communication

route where ships can easly get on the mainland in many countries of Europe. Developed fishing (herring, mackerel, flounder, cod) is big source of income as well as extraction natural gas and crude oil (there is still not discovered sources). On the North Sea are placed one of the biggest harbors in the world: Netherlands- Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Big Britain- London, Newcastle or Germany- Hamburg.

Facts hidden in the North Sea1) Organic bomb- about 65 tons of mercury have

been discovered on the bottom of sea in destroyed german ship in 1945, 10 years ago. From this time nobody made a decission what to do with dangerous root containment in the rusted steel bottles.

2) Distaster of Baltic Ace- 5th December 2012 year two ships: „Baltic Ace” and „Corvus J”collided. In disaster died 11/24 persons of crew „Baltic Ace”. In squad was 11 Poles (also leader), Bulgarians, Ukraines and Filipinos. Still not found remains of 6 people. Fortunately nobody from 2nd ship died.

3) History contained in skarh fangs- Scientists think that thanks of shark tusks we can meet history of climate of the North Sea. Defense that 55 m.y.a. water of this sea was almost such fresh as this in lakes todays. Effects of salinity on shark fangs was much less formerly than nowadays.