North Sea
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===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
+ | The North Sea is a marginal, epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European continental shelf. It is more than 600 miles (970 km) long and 350 miles (560 km) wide, with an area of around 222,000 square miles (570,000 km2). A large part of the European drainage basin empties into the North Sea including water from the Baltic Sea. The North Sea connects with the rest of the Atlantic through the Dover Strait and the [[English Channel]] in the south and through the Norwegian Sea in the north. | ||
- | + | The North Sea averages about 100 m (325 ft) deep, with a maximum depth of 700 m (2300 ft) and in some areas shallows can be a mere 15 m deep. | |
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+ | For the most part, the sea lies on the European continental shelf. The only exception is the Norwegian trench, a narrow area of the northern North Sea off [[Norway]]. The North Sea is bounded by Great Britain to the west and the northern and central European mainland to the east and south, including [[Norway]], [[Denmark]], [[Germany]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], and [[France]]. | ||
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+ | In the south-west, the North Sea becomes the [[English Channel]] beyond the Straits of Dover. In the east, it connects to the [[Baltic Sea]] via the Skagerrak and Kattegat. In the north, it opens in a widening funnel shape to the Norwegian Sea, which lies in the very north-eastern part of the Atlantic. | ||
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+ | Apart from the obvious boundaries formed by the coasts of the countries which border it, the North Sea is generally considered to be bounded by an imaginary line from Lindesnes, [[Norway]] to Hanstholm, [[Denmark]] running towards the Skagerrak. However, for statistical purposes, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat are sometimes included as part of the North Sea. The northern limit is less well-defined. Traditionally, an imaginary line is taken to run from northern [[Scotland]], by way of Shetland, to Ålesund in [[Norway]]. According to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic of 1962 it runs further to the west and north from longitude 5° West and latitude 62° North, at the latitude of Geirangerfjord in [[Norway]]. | ||
===Climate & Weather=== | ===Climate & Weather=== |
Revision as of 20:22, 6 October 2008
Contents |
NORTH SEA CRUISING GUIDE
An online cruising guide for sailing in the North Sea.
Background
The North Sea is a marginal, epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European continental shelf. It is more than 600 miles (970 km) long and 350 miles (560 km) wide, with an area of around 222,000 square miles (570,000 km2). A large part of the European drainage basin empties into the North Sea including water from the Baltic Sea. The North Sea connects with the rest of the Atlantic through the Dover Strait and the English Channel in the south and through the Norwegian Sea in the north.
The North Sea averages about 100 m (325 ft) deep, with a maximum depth of 700 m (2300 ft) and in some areas shallows can be a mere 15 m deep.
For the most part, the sea lies on the European continental shelf. The only exception is the Norwegian trench, a narrow area of the northern North Sea off Norway. The North Sea is bounded by Great Britain to the west and the northern and central European mainland to the east and south, including Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
In the south-west, the North Sea becomes the English Channel beyond the Straits of Dover. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat. In the north, it opens in a widening funnel shape to the Norwegian Sea, which lies in the very north-eastern part of the Atlantic.
Apart from the obvious boundaries formed by the coasts of the countries which border it, the North Sea is generally considered to be bounded by an imaginary line from Lindesnes, Norway to Hanstholm, Denmark running towards the Skagerrak. However, for statistical purposes, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat are sometimes included as part of the North Sea. The northern limit is less well-defined. Traditionally, an imaginary line is taken to run from northern Scotland, by way of Shetland, to Ålesund in Norway. According to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic of 1962 it runs further to the west and north from longitude 5° West and latitude 62° North, at the latitude of Geirangerfjord in Norway.
Climate & Weather
Submit the climate details
Sources of weather forecasting:
- Shipping Forecast, isued by the Met. Office and promulgated by the B.B.C.
- Atlantic Surface Pressure Chart from the B.B.C. - a very useful feature.
Charts
Submit details of the charts required for safe navigation of the area.
Any navigation notes here.
Local Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
Submit details of Cruiser's Nets and VHF operating/calling channels here.
Bordering Countries
Offshore Islands
Details?
Crossing Notes
Crossing details?
References & Publications
Books, Guides, etc.
Links to CruiserLog Forum discussions
Links to discussions on the CruiserLog Forum
External Links
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
.