Due to the young geological age of the Baltic Sea, no endemic animal species have emerged here The Baltic Sea mixes typical freshwater and marine conditions, so there are organisms of both marine and freshwater origin. Due to these special conditions, the number of species in the Baltic Sea is lower than in a sea with typical salinity. Many of the species here live under constant stress caused by...

The migration of today’s freshwater species to Estonian waters began about 2,500 years ago Geologically speaking, the Baltic Sea is a very young water body. The formation of the Baltic Sea is related to the warming of the climate at the end of the ice age, due to which the extensive ice sheet covering the area quickly melted. The Baltic Sea was born of the meltwater of ice sheets. At first, the...

All the peoples of the Baltic Sea are concerned about the state of the Baltic Sea As the Baltic Sea’s ability to offset the negative pressures from human activities and other factors is rather limited, all peoples living along the Baltic Sea are concerned about the state of the ecological status of the Baltic Sea. That is why the Baltic Sea has long been one of the areas with most intensive...

The biggest problem in the Baltic Sea is anthropogenic eutrophication, or enrichment with nutrients The Baltic Sea is one of the seas most influenced by human activity in the world. The Baltic Sea basin (the area from where water flows into the sea), four times the size of the sea itself, is home to more than 85 million people. Therefore, the pollution load on the sea is quite high. Given the...

The night of ancient lights held in August is a common custom on all the beaches of the Baltic Sea The word ‘meri’ (‘sea’) has been used in Estonian for ten thousand years or more. The sea separates and the sea connects – regional differences in folk culture and lifestyle have developed along the water’s edge. Coastal people have been dependent on the changing sea, which has shaped their daily...

The Estonian coast, including the cliffed coast, is a flat coast in its entirety The coast is the zone between the shore region (the bottom and land of the sea or large lake, formed mainly by waves) and the bottom and mainland of the adjacent sea or large lake (Lake Võrtsjärv, Lake Peipsi). The coast is generally divided into steep coasts and flat coasts. The Estonian coast, including the cliffed...

About a quarter of the world’s biodiversity is located in the soil Soil consists of mineral and organic parts. The organic part of the soil consists of living organisms and organic residues at different stages of decomposition. It is estimated that only 1% of soil organisms are known and described to date. About a quarter of the world’s biodiversity is located in the soil [1]. The importance of...

The North Estonian Klint has also been presented as a geological monument worthy of global attention for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List The North Estonian Klint, often referred to simply as the cliffed coast, is one of Estonia’s greatest geological values and attractions. In Swedish and Danish, klint means a coastal terrace. By North Estonian Klint, we mean primarily the terraces of...

There are 60 habitat types in Estonia that we must protect and preserve on Estonian territory The pan-European Natura 2000 network of protected areas was established on the basis of the European Union (EU) Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. Annex I of the Habitats Directive lists the natural habitat types in need of protection. Areas that occur in different locations but have similar...

After the oceans, soil is the next largest carbon sink on our planet Soil is one of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity: it is home to an estimated quarter of the world’s biota [1]. Soil has an important role to play in regulating climate change, floods, landslides, and droughts [2]. After the oceans, soil is the next largest carbon sink on our planet: it holds 75% of the land's carbon. The...