Noordzee

The Noordzee, or North Sea, is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean located between the United Kingdom and continental Europe. It covers about 570,000 square kilometers and is relatively shallow, with an average depth around 90 meters. The Dogger Bank, a large shallow feature off the east coast of England, is among its most notable formations.

It is bordered by the United Kingdom to the west and by Norway and Denmark to the north and east, with the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France along its southern edge. It connects to the Atlantic via the English Channel and Dover Strait, and to the Baltic Sea through the Skagerrak and Kattegat. The sea is shaped by the North Atlantic Drift and regionally driven winds and currents.

Economically, the Noordzee is a major shipping route and energy region. Ports such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg lie on its shores, and the area hosts extensive offshore oil and gas production as well as growing offshore wind farms that supply electricity to multiple countries.

Ecologically, the North Sea supports cod, haddock, herring, flatfish, seals and porpoises, seabirds, and other marine life. It has faced pressures from fishing, pollution, and climate change, leading to stock changes and habitat loss. European cooperation—through mechanisms such as the OSPAR Convention and Natura 2000—seeks to protect ecosystems, manage fisheries, and regulate energy extraction.