North Sea
The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in northwestern Europe. It lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. It is connected to the Norwegian Sea in the north, the English Channel through the Strait of Dover in the south, and the Baltic Sea through the Skagerrak and Kattegat.
Geography
The North Sea lies mainly on the European continental shelf. Its southern and central parts are shallow, while the northern part is deeper. The Norwegian Trench follows the coast of Norway. The Dogger Bank is a large submerged sandbank in the central part of the sea.
The southern coast includes estuaries, dunes, tidal flats, and reclaimed land. The Wadden Sea extends along the coasts of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark.
Rivers flowing into the North Sea include the Rhine, Meuse, Scheldt, Elbe, Weser, Thames, and Humber.
Economy
The North Sea is crossed by shipping routes linking the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, Scandinavia, and the Baltic Sea. Major ports connected to it include Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Esbjerg, Aberdeen, and Felixstowe.
Fishing has been practised throughout the region for centuries. Common commercial species include herring, cod, haddock, mackerel, sole, and plaice.
Oil and natural gas fields were developed during the twentieth century, especially in British and Norwegian waters. Offshore wind farms were later constructed in several parts of the sea.
Environment
The North Sea contains sandbanks, estuaries, tidal flats, coastal wetlands, and deeper offshore waters. These habitats support fish, seabirds, shellfish, and marine mammals.
Fishing, shipping, dredging, pollution, and offshore construction affect the marine environment. Storm surges and coastal erosion are recurring risks along the low-lying southern and eastern coasts.
History
The North Sea has long connected the British Isles with Scandinavia and mainland Europe. It was used for trade, fishing, migration, and naval movement during the medieval and early modern periods.
Industrialisation increased traffic between North Sea ports and inland European regions. During the twentieth century, the sea also became an important area for offshore energy production.