In the Atlantic Ocean, the islands of Great Britain and Ireland are separated by the Irish Sea. It was formed a very long time ago and is of interest not only to geographers and geologists, but also to historians. What is known about the marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean? And what secrets are still kept in salty sea waters? This information may interest many.
Where to look on the map
In a geographic atlas, each object has clear coordinates. However, you are unlikely to look for the position of the Irish Sea. It is much easier to find it, starting from where Ireland is located on the map. So, the sea that is being told is washed by the British shores from the west, as well as the east coast of the island of Ireland, which is the third largest in Europe. The northern part of the reservoir is located near the lands of Scotland, and in the south it connects with the Celtic. With this knowledge, finding a sea bounded by two European islands is not at all difficult.
One small detail: the island of Ireland on the map is divided by the border into two unequal parts. One belongs to the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland), and the second - the Republic of Ireland (independent state).
Some numbers and more
It is interesting to consider all the numbers that relate to the description of the Irish Sea. Initially, it is worth pointing out that its area is approximately 47 thousand km 2 . The depths of the Irish Sea are considered fairly uniform. Basically, they do not exceed 50 m in the basin, and in the central rift basin they are approximately 159 m. The deepest point of the basin is 175 m. It was found off the coast of Scotland (Cape Mull of Gallovei).
Bottom sediments consist of pebbles of various fractions, sand and shell rock. Most likely, before the formation of the sea, the materials that make up the bottom rocks were part of glacial moraines. In the area of the Isle of Man, sediment is softer and consists of sand and silt.
The length of the Irish Sea, along with the adjacent straits, is only 210 km. And its width, also taking into account the straits, is 240 km.
Geology
As you know, this science studies the structure of the Earth. It considers the composition of the rocks, the origin and stages of the planet’s development, based on the study of various processes that occurred on its surface and in the bowels.
The Irish Sea was formed more than 1.6 million years ago. At this time, rift processes began as a result of breaks in the earth's crust. As a result, a basin formed on the mainland shallows, which filled the waters of the oceans. The sea took on modern contours not so long ago by geological standards, only 12 thousand years ago.
Outlines of the coastline, islands in the sea
The islands in the Irish Sea are different. Some of them are inhabited, and some remain uninhabited. Among the small islands are Holy Island, Walney, and Irish Ay. By the way, the last of these is uninhabited. There are only 2 large islands. One of them is the Isle of Man belonging to the British Crown. Formally, the island is not part of the UK and is not considered its overseas territory. The island has its own emblem, stamps and coins of its own. The governing function is performed by the local parliament, but the UK decides on foreign policy and security. Mena Square - 572 km².
The second island that surrounds the Irish Sea is called Anglesey. It is an administrative part of Wales and belongs to the UK. The area of this island is 714 km².
As for the coastline, it is broken by bays and bays. However, all the bays are not large and do not cut deep into the land.
Climate features
The Irish Sea is blown by westerly winds. Because of them, it often storms in the winter. The air temperature at this time of the year is approximately 5 ° C. In the summer, it is also not too hot, the air warms up to 15 ° C. What other climatic parameters result when describing the Irish Sea? The water temperature in summer is not higher than 16 ° C. In winter, the temperature maximum of sea water is 9 ° . Such heating of the water is not suitable for sea resorts. In addition, it is quite humid due to frequent rainfall and cloud cover. Even in the midst of summer there are not many sunny days.
The sea is known for its cyclonic circulation in the area of the St George Strait. It is formed by several surface currents. In addition, there are quite strong tidal currents with a semidiurnal cycle. The strongest tide, with a height of up to 6 m, is observed off the coast of England, in the northwestern part.
Mineral content
The salinity of the Irish Sea is close to the general indicators of the Atlantic. Off the coast, it is slightly lower, since it is diluted with flowing freshwater rivers. From south to north, along a deep central hollow, there is a tongue with more saline waters. In general, salinity varies in different areas from 32 ‰ to 35 ‰. The maximum indicator is observed in the summer, specifically in August, at the boundary sections between the Irish and Celtic seas.
What is interesting about the history of the Irish Sea
Historians study the Irish Sea, closely intertwining and linking it with the development of several European peoples. In the days of Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, the territory of the island of Ireland was called "Ibernia." An approximate translation of this word is “cold”. And the sea itself was called the "Iberian Ocean."
Through the expanses of the Irish Sea, despite the currents and storms, Celtic ships boldly sailed. Later, trying to find new territories and establish trade relations, the Vikings often traveled here. They built on the coasts of the settlement in order to be able to relax, replenish supplies and repair their ships.
The history of the development of the Irish Sea can be traced by archaeological finds on the Isle of Man. The island changed hands many times. Here you can find the remains of buildings of the Neolithic era, a settlement from the time of King Edwin of Northumbria. In addition, the territory several times became the property of either England or Scotland.
If you are interested in ancient treasures, then, according to legend, there are innumerable numbers of them. In the 16th century, the famous Spanish Invincible Armada sank in the waters of the Irish Sea. It consisted of 24 ships, the holds of which could not be empty. The culprit of the shipwreck was a severe storm, which lasted more than two weeks.
Economic and economic importance
On the shores of the Irish Sea there are several large ports related to England and the Republic of Ireland. One of these ports is considered the largest in all of Great Britain. It is called Liverpool. A major port is also located in the city of Dublin. A large number of goods pass through these ports.
Like all seas belonging to the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish is famous for its developed fisheries. It produces commercial catch of herring fish, cod, merlang, flounder and small anchovies. The main fishing ports are Fleetwood belonging to the English possessions and KilKeele, territory of the Republic of Ireland.
Strong winds made it possible to build powerful wind farms in the coastal territories. One of them is located in the Republic of Ireland, near the city of Arklow, the second - not far from the city of Droheda. In the UK, a wind farm is located near the city of Rila.
For many years there has been discussion of an interesting project, the purpose of which is to connect the islands of Britain and Ireland. It is not yet clear whether it will be a bridge or an underwater tunnel, like under the English Channel. Everything, as always, rests on finances. The implementation of the project may not pay for itself.
There is a black page in the history of the Irish Sea. Until 2003, a large atomic complex was located here, the name of which is Sellafield. Its construction began after the Second World War, in 1947. In addition to generating electricity, the production of weapons-grade plutonium and nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants was established here. Greenpeace has proven for years that Sellafield pollutes the waters of the Irish Sea. The dismantling of nuclear reactors was begun only a few years later (in 2007), after an official decision to shut down.