How Deep Is the Baltic Sea?

An arctic sea nearly fully landlocked, the Baltic Sea is a beautiful natural feature in the northern hemisphere. Below, learn more about the Baltic Sea, including its depth, size, location, and some popular species that you may see here. 

Baltic Sea Depth

Because of the sea floor of the Baltic Sea, depth may vary greatly. At its deepest, the Baltic Sea measures 1,506 ft deep. For reference, the tip of the Empire State Building is 1,454 feet tall. However, this is an extreme depth for the Baltic Sea. Scientists estimate that the average depth of the entire Baltic Sea instead sits at around 180 feet deep. Lake Michigan averages 279 feet deep, although its maximum depth is far less than the Baltic Sea’s.

Baltic Sea Size: Length, Area, and More

The Baltic Sea’s surface area measures an estimated 134,998 square feet. It is around 990 miles long, with an average width of around 120 miles. It is the 8th largest sea in the world by square footage, although some accounts may vary. Based on water volume, it is the second-largest water basin featuring brackish water.

Where is the Baltic Sea?

Part of the North Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic Sea, is located at the coordinates 58°N 20°E. Several different countries surround it. This includes:

• Finland
• Sweden
• Denmark
• Poland
• Russia
• Germany
• Estonia
• Lithuania
• Latvia

Although it is part of the North Atlantic Ocean, often known as an “arm,” there is very little connection due to the large amounts of land surrounding the Baltic Sea. As a result of this, it is known as an inland sea. Another example of an inland sea is the Gulf of Mexico. 

Animals That Live in the Baltic Sea

Because of its location and size, the Baltic Sea is able to support a wide variety of animals and plant life. Much of the wildlife you may find in or around the Baltic Sea includes those common in other cold-water areas throughout the North Atlantic Ocean.

Some Baltic Sea species include:

• Harbour porpoise
• Atlantic herring
• Northern pike
• Porbeagle
• Blue mussel
• Atlantic salmon

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Aastels/Shutterstock.com