The North Sea

The North Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Europe. It sits between Great Britain and Norway. The water is cold and can get very rough during storms. Many fishing boats and oil rigs work on this busy sea.

A Busy Sea

The North Sea is one of the busiest seas in the world. Thousands of ships cross it every year. People catch lots of fish like cod and herring here. Workers also pump oil and gas from below the sea floor. The sea helps many countries make money.

Wild Weather

The weather on the North Sea can be very wild. Big waves and strong winds make sailing hard. Storms can come quickly and surprise boats. The countries around the sea built tall walls called dikes to keep the water out. Without these walls, some cities could flood.

Fun Facts

• The North Sea is about 220,000 square miles in size.
• Long ago, a land bridge connected Britain to Europe across the North Sea.
• Sand from the sea bottom is used to build beaches and roads.

Did You Know?

Scientists have found bones of woolly mammoths at the bottom of the North Sea from the time when it used to be dry land.