It is an inland sea, connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Kattegat strait and the Skagerrak strait. The Baltic Sea is bordered by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.
The Baltic Sea is about 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) long and 200 kilometers (124 miles) wide at its widest point. It has a surface area of about 415,000 square kilometers (160,000 square miles) and a volume of about 21,000 cubic kilometers (5,000 cubic miles).
The Baltic Sea is a relatively young sea, formed by the melting of glaciers about 10,000 years ago. It is still gradually rising in level, and is expected to rise by another meter or more over the next century.
The Baltic Sea is an important shipping route, and is also home to a variety of marine life. It is a popular destination for tourism, and there are many beautiful islands and coastal towns to explore.