Learning about one of the most dan Ngerous seas in the world
Big ships, scary waves, eerie music and unfamiliar sea animals... On social media, the North Sea looks like a truly scary place. But is it really? Come along – let’s explore it together and find out
Where exactly is the North Sea located?
The North Sea is part of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies between Great Britain and the northwestern European mainland.
The countries that border the North Sea include Norway, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. Many European rivers such as the Rhine, the Seine and the Thames flow into the North Sea.
The North Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel in the UK. It opens directly onto the ocean between Orkney and the Shetland Islands and between the Shetland Islands and Norway. The North Sea is known to be one of the most dangerous seas in the world. It has wild storms and foggy winters. Although the sea is mostly shallow, the currents are strong and they often pull in different directions.
Why is it important?
The North Sea has long been used for shipping and fishing, and it is essential for trade. It is a prominent shipping zone among European countries and between Europe and the Middle East. It is one of the busiest shipping areas in the world, with ships moving between ports but also travelling to and from the Baltic Sea. There are many ports on the North Sea where ships arrive and leave with goods.
Fishing is also a key industry. In the 1950s, petroleum (oil) and natural gas were discovered under the sea floor, thus making drilling another important industry.
But is the North Sea really as dangerous as shown on social media?
Although waves in the North Sea can be high and rough, there are waves which are higher in the North Atlantic or off the coast of Iceland, according to experts on wave conditions. Other rough seas can be found south of South Africa and south of Australia.
Some of the experts say that the hype about the videos is classic social media behaviour, where people imagine their worst fears – in this case, thalassophobia (a fear of open water) – and engage with it through their screens.
The scary song called Hoist the Colours comes from musician Bobby Waters, who found it in the popular movie Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s
End. Waters got a group of musicians together to do a cover of the song, which has since become a social media phenomenon. Scan the QR code and read this article to see how the song came together.