Locations of the Baltic Sea and North Sea

The Baltic Sea

• Location: Northern Europe, enclosed by Scandinavia, the Baltic states, Central Europe, and the Danish islands.
• Bordering Countries (9): Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia (Kaliningrad), Sweden.
• Area: 415,266 km² (160,335 sq mi).
• Depth: Average 55 m (180 ft); Max 459 m (1,506 ft) at Landsort Deep.
• Key Feature: Brackish water (low salinity) due to massive freshwater inflow and limited exchange with the North Sea via the Danish Straits (Øresund, Great Belt, Little Belt).

The North Sea

• Location: Northwestern Europe, part of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Bordering Countries (8): Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, UK (England & Scotland).
• Area: 575,000 km² (222,000 sq mi).
• Depth: Average 95 m (312 ft); Max 700 m (2,297 ft) in the Norwegian Trench.
• Key Feature: High salinity, strong tides, major oil/gas fields, busy shipping lanes, productive fisheries.

The two seas connect via the Danish Straits. The Kiel Canal (Germany) provides an artificial shortcut between them.