Baltic region facts for kids

This map shows the Baltic Sea and the countries around it.

The Baltic Sea Region is an area in Northern Europe that includes the Baltic Sea and the countries that surround it. You might also hear it called the Baltic Rim or the Baltic Sea countries. These names can sometimes mean slightly different groups of countries, depending on the topic.

Where the Name Comes From

The name Baltic Sea was first used a long time ago, in the 11th century. A German writer named Adam of Bremen was the first to call it Mare Balticum, which means "Baltic Sea" in Latin.

What Countries are in the Baltic Sea Region?

Lennart Meri, a former President of Estonia, wrote a book about the history of the Baltic Sea region.

The term "Baltic Sea Region" can mean different things depending on who is using it. Here are some common ways people define it:

• Countries with a Coastline: Most often, it refers to the countries that have a shoreline along the Baltic Sea. These are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.
• The Baltic States: Sometimes, when people say "Baltic," they are specifically talking about the three countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
• Baltic States and Kaliningrad: This definition includes Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. Kaliningrad is a part of Russia that is separated from the rest of the country.
• Council of the Baltic Sea States: This is a group of countries that work together on issues in the region. It includes all the countries with a Baltic Sea coastline, plus Norway, Iceland, and the rest of the European Union.

See also

• In Spanish: Región Báltica para niños