the Soviet Union The occupation of the Baltic states involved the military occupation of the three Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—by the Soviet Union under the auspices of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact signed 23 August 1939.

Did Germany control the Baltic Sea?

Occupation of the Baltic states by Nazi Germany occurred during Operation Barbarossa from 1941 to 1944. Initially, many Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians considered the Germans as liberators from the Soviet Union.

Does the Baltic Sea freeze in winter?

On the long-term average, the Baltic Sea is ice-covered at the annual maximum for about 45% of its surface area. … The remainder of the Baltic does not freeze during a normal winter, except sheltered bays and shallow lagoons such as the Curonian Lagoon.

When did UK invade Estonia?

British campaign in the Baltic (1918–1919)

Date 28 November 1918 – 4 November 1919
Location Baltic Sea
Result Anglo-Soviet stalemate Estonian defensive victory
Territorial changes Independence of Estonia and Latvia

What are the 3 Baltic republics?

Baltic states, northeastern region of Europe containing the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea.

When did the Baltic states break away from Russia?

6th September 1991 On 6th September 1991, the Soviet Government finally recognized the independence of all three Baltic states. It was followed by complete withdrawal of Russian troops from all Baltic States. It was completed first in Lithuania on 31st August 1993, followed by the Estonia and Latvia on 31 August 1994.

Can you swim in Baltic Sea?

The Baltic sea water is cool, but not cold at summer. … The beach is safe, and you cannot swim so far, because you will kick some sea-rocks when you go far away from the shore. The water is shallow, just go to try it, no harm.

Are there sharks in the Baltic?

Contrary to popular belief, there are sharks in the Baltic Sea. In fact, 31 species of sharks and closely related skates, rays and chimaeras (collectively known as cartilaginous fishes) have been recorded in this area. … Even the immense, filter-feeding basking shark, which can grow up to 10m long, is found here.

Why is the Baltic Sea so dark?

The Baltic Sea suffers immensely from excessive nutrient enrichment. Over-fertilization, the accompanying growth of algae and the lack of oxygen have already led to the creation of dead-zones on the seafloor.

What is Baltic Sea famous for?

The Baltic Sea is a brackish inland sea, alleged to be the largest body of brackish water in the world (other possibilities include the Black Sea). It is known that since 1720, the Baltic Sea has frozen over entirely a total of 20 times – the most recent case was in early 1987.

Is Baltic Sea cold?

The sea is calm and cool but not too cold to swim in. Despite the balmy temperatures, the mindset here is distinctly northern. On the beach you can almost hear the sound of pale Baltic skin sizzling, sun cream obviously being deemed an unnecessary luxury in a country that only gets three months of hot weather a year.

Why salinity is low in Baltic Sea?

Salinity is low in the land locked Baltic Sea because of the high temperature. The fresh water from the surrounding land gets run off and the salt density is also low. The Baltic Sea is almost land-locked and covers an area of “122415 000 km”. The volume of water is only “21 000 km” because it is shallow.

What religion is Estonia?

The religious population is predominantly Christian and includes followers of 90 affiliations. Due to most ethnic Estonians nowadays being irreligious, while the minority Russian population has remained largely religious, the Eastern Orthodoxy has become more common than Lutheranism.

What was Estonia called before?

Estonia remained a Soviet republic until 1991, when, along with the other Baltic states, it declared its independence. The Soviet Union recognized independence for Estonia and the other Baltic states on September 6, 1991, and United Nations membership followed shortly thereafter.

Who is Estonia at war with?

Estonian War of Independence
Estonia Finnish, Danish, and Swedish volunteers LatviaUnited Kingdom White Movement Soviet Russia Finnish Red Guards Commune of Estonia Soviet Latvia Baltische Landeswehr Freikorps
Commanders and leaders
Johan Laidoner Jukums Vācietis Rüdiger von der Goltz
Strength

Why does Russia want the Baltic states?

Russia considers the Baltic states’ role in NATO and EU decision-making as an inherent threat to its security. … Preventing increased NATO presence (infrastructure and deployment), and NATO membership or closer ties for Finland and Sweden.

Is Baltic safe?

Generally all Baltic States are safe and secure but as it can be in larger cities visitors should watch out for pickpockets working in public places, such as on crowded public transport or in markets and other touristy spots.

Who owns the Baltic Sea?

There are nine countries with a shoreline at the Baltic Sea: Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia (at the Gulf of Finland, and at the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast), Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden.

Which Baltic state is the best?

Lithuania tends to whip itself According to the World Happiness Index published last March, Lithuania, not Estonia constituted the Baltics’ most happy nation.

Is Estonia Nordic?

Estonia doesn’t belong to Scandinavia, but it does have a close link to the Nordic countries, like Denmark and Norway. As a “Baltic” country, Estonia has many links with Scandinavian regions, through cultural, political, economic, and historical ties. … Estonia used to be a part of Sweden from the 1500s to the 1700s.

What was the Baltic crisis?

The Baltic Crisis, the End of the Cold War, and the Collapse of the USSR. On August 23, 1989, approximately two million people joined their hands linking the capitals of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to form a continuous human chain in a stunning demonstration of the Baltic states’ opposition to rule from Moscow.

Is Baltic Sea shallow?

The Baltic Sea is a shallow, almost landlocked, sea surrounded by nine countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. Its drainage area is about four times larger than its surface area and is inhabited by around 85 million people.

How cold is the Baltic Sea in summer?

The Baltic Sea is near the freezing point in winter and is very cool in summer: the water temperature is around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) in February and March, while in summer, it reaches 17 °C (62.5 °F) in July and 18.5 °C (65 °F) in August.

How warm is the Baltic Sea?

The water temperature in the Baltic Sea warms up above 20 degrees only at the end of June. But its maximum values ​​still rarely exceed 22 degrees throughout the summer. The sea cools down slowly, in September you can still swim a little, the temperature at the end of the month drops to 17 degrees.

Is the Baltic Sea calm?

The Baltic Sea is essentially a sheltered body of water, having only one outlet between Denmark and Sweden – the Øresund. … The Baltic Sea is for the most part quite calm during summer, only becoming moderately choppy if a summer squall should develop.

What is the best time of year for a Baltic cruise?

The best time to take a Baltic cruise is in July and August. May, June, September and October are also fairly popular. Winter months are generally less desirable because the weather is poor but cruises do still cruise the Baltics year-round.

Are there dolphins in the Baltic Sea?

Bottlenose dolphins can be found in tropical and temperate waters around the world – but not usually in the Baltic Sea, which is only connected to the rest of the global ocean through a pair of narrow channels on either side of the island of Sjaelland (Zealand).

Is the Baltic Sea important?

Many of these people rely on a healthy Baltic Sea for their food and incomes, and many treasure it as an important space for nature and leisure activities. The Baltic region includes eight of the 28 European Union member states. The Baltic Sea provides a critical connection between the EU and the Russian Federation.

Is the Baltic Sea polluted?

The Baltic Sea is one of the most polluted seas in the world. Most of the pollution originates from inland activities.

Are there great white sharks in the Baltic Sea?

Porbeagle – the small “great white shark” of the Baltic Sea This alone makes it one of the most impressive sharks in the Baltic Sea. There are also several known cases of attacks on humans by the porbeagle in Europe.