Malin Sea facts for kids
The Malin Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean located near the coasts of Ireland and Scotland. It sits on a shallow underwater area called the Malin Shelf, which is like a wide, flat underwater ledge.
This sea connects to the Irish Sea through a narrow passage known as the North Channel. It also includes some areas that are part of the Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland. The Malin Sea is important for weather forecasts, especially for ships, as it covers most of the "Malin" area in the UK's Shipping Forecast. This area is also part of the special economic zones belonging to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Where is the Malin Sea?
The exact boundaries of the Malin Sea can be a bit tricky, as different groups define them slightly differently. Generally, it's the sea area north of Ireland and southwest of Scotland.
Some definitions say it stretches from the Irish coast up to a certain northern line, and from the edge of the deeper ocean towards the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland. This covers an area larger than 14,000 square kilometers (about 5,400 square miles). Other definitions place its southern edge between Inishowen in Ireland and Rathlin Island.
The Scottish Government describes a larger area called "Minches and Malin Sea." This area goes from the Mull of Kintyre in the south up to Cape Wrath in the north, covering the sea between the Scottish mainland and the Western Isles.
How the Malin Sea Got Its Name
The name "Malin Sea" comes from Malin Head, which is the northernmost point of the Inishowen peninsula in northwest Ireland.
Scientists started using this name in their studies back in the 1970s. Later, in 1998, countries that signed the OSPAR Convention agreed to use "Malin Sea." This convention is an important agreement about protecting the environment in the North-East Atlantic.
The Malin Sea is also mentioned in the Bonn Agreement from 2001. This agreement helps countries work together to prevent and deal with pollution in the wider North Sea area and its nearby waters, including the Malin Sea.
