The Baltic- geography The Baltic Sea- shallow waters of the north part of Europe (separates Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuana, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Switzerland and Denmark). One of the youngest seas. It’s area is km² and average depth is 52m. Salinity is 2– 12‰. Baltic neighbours with North Sea. Baltic has low temperatures ( 0-2 °C winter, 9-22°C summer). In spite of unfourable climate, the Baltic surprises us with interesting set of animals and plants.

The Baltic fauna Because of nasty climate the Baltic Sea hasn’t big number of living there animals ( like warmer sea ecosistems) but can show us some interesting and strange animals. For example: - sea lamprey - acipenser oxyrinchus - northern pike - water sponges - anemones - baltic shrimp - jellyfish - seals (harbor seal, ringed seal, grey seal) - porpoise And many others…

The Baltic flora As you can see, baltic flora is poor. Most of baltic plants belong to seaweeds and algaes. - euroasian watermilfoil - clasping-leaf pondweed - ruppia maritima - ulva lactuca - cladophora - Fucus vesiculous - Delesseria sanguinea

5 endangered citizens of the Baltic Sea 1) Porpoise- common on the world, critically endangered in the Baltic because of net fishing. Now we can hear about actions to safe it’s population in the Baltic. 2) Harbor seal, grey seal and ringed seal- These lovely animals common on the world as same as porpoise but in Baltic still are endeagered. Endangered because of popular hunts for its fur and fat in past. We can hear about successful breeding projects on Hel of Baltic seals. 3) Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus- Subspecies of acipenser oxyrinchus, probably extinct (unseen since 1996 year). It was target of mass hunts because of tasty meat and spawn. Now people try restitution this species on the polish site of the Baltic Sea.

Invasive species in the Baltic From all parties of the world people brought invasive species to the baltic ecosystem. Situation is not so good because new animals rival with native inhabitants of Baltic. Examples of invasive animals in Baltic: 1) round goby 2) Eriocheir sinensins 3) crayfish 4) balanus 5) carp

„Sea tourists” Sometimes Baltic is visited by species from North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately some of these tourists can’t survive in baltic climate or stay there shortly. It is reported that Baltic has been visited by: strange and giant mola- mola, dangerous 3,5m shark (porbeagle), beautiful swordfish, starfish, brittle stars and etc… Next interesting species which probably has settled in Baltic is anglerfish.

Baltic Sea in 2020