At Sea
The guests of Endeavour are a week into this Baltic Voyage. It has been a journey that has combined architecture, historical and present day revivals and conflicts, as well as natural history. We have this day at sea, heading to Gdansk, Poland (or German Danzig), to reflect on what we have learned, or to simply put up our feet and relax.
During our visits to these amazing cities and islands along our journey, it is easy overlook what is below the body of water we are traveling upon. The Baltic Sea is a very different body of water than most are familiar with. The temperature is that of the North Sea this time of year, about 10 degrees Celsius, or 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The Baltic stretches from regions which are mild and humid to sub arctic areas. Due to the large freshwater runoffs from rivers all over the region combining with sea water, the Baltic is the largest brackish body of water in the world. This freshwater supply greatly lowers the salinity of the Baltic Sea, and one can find a combination of freshwater and salt water plants and creatures. In general the bottom of the Baltic is covered with loose sediment, due largely to strong currents and the material brought out by the rivers. During this time of the year as the sun shines and the water warms, there is a large plankton bloom, and the water is filled with different algae and microscopic creatures. This is a fantastic time for the numerous bivalves (shellfish) that live on rocks on the bottom to filter feed.
It is fascinating, and at times confusing, to see the combination of freshwater and salt water plants and animals. Pictured here is a freshwater insect larva, most likely a mayfly that was found in the waters of the island of Bulleron, in the Swedish Archipelago.
What a fantastic learning experience we have had so far. We still have a week left and five more countries to visit. We can only speculate on the treasures these countries hold, and what new experiences are in store.
The guests of Endeavour are a week into this Baltic Voyage. It has been a journey that has combined architecture, historical and present day revivals and conflicts, as well as natural history. We have this day at sea, heading to Gdansk, Poland (or German Danzig), to reflect on what we have learned, or to simply put up our feet and relax.
During our visits to these amazing cities and islands along our journey, it is easy overlook what is below the body of water we are traveling upon. The Baltic Sea is a very different body of water than most are familiar with. The temperature is that of the North Sea this time of year, about 10 degrees Celsius, or 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The Baltic stretches from regions which are mild and humid to sub arctic areas. Due to the large freshwater runoffs from rivers all over the region combining with sea water, the Baltic is the largest brackish body of water in the world. This freshwater supply greatly lowers the salinity of the Baltic Sea, and one can find a combination of freshwater and salt water plants and creatures. In general the bottom of the Baltic is covered with loose sediment, due largely to strong currents and the material brought out by the rivers. During this time of the year as the sun shines and the water warms, there is a large plankton bloom, and the water is filled with different algae and microscopic creatures. This is a fantastic time for the numerous bivalves (shellfish) that live on rocks on the bottom to filter feed.
It is fascinating, and at times confusing, to see the combination of freshwater and salt water plants and animals. Pictured here is a freshwater insect larva, most likely a mayfly that was found in the waters of the island of Bulleron, in the Swedish Archipelago.
What a fantastic learning experience we have had so far. We still have a week left and five more countries to visit. We can only speculate on the treasures these countries hold, and what new experiences are in store.
