March 22 — Baltic Sea Day: history and traditions of the holiday

Every year on March 22, Russia and the world celebrate the international ecological holiday — Baltic Sea Day. It is intended to remind of the need to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea in order to preserve its unique ecosystem. In 2025, the date falls on a Saturday. Read about the history and traditions of the celebration in the Izvestia article.

Baltic Sea Day – 2025: the history and significance of the holiday

The decision to establish Baltic Sea Day was made in 1986 during the 17th session of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM). The date of the celebration was not chosen by chance. It was on March 22, 1974, that the HELCOM member countries signed the Helsinki Convention, aimed at protecting the Baltic ecosystem.

In the modern world, the Baltic Sea is an important transport hub, its waters wash the shores of nine countries: Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

At the same time, the Baltic, which in the past had the status of one of the cleanest seas, is now suffering from the effects of anthropogenic impact. Environmentalists are sounding the alarm: tons of garbage, petroleum products and fertilizers, industrial and shipping waste pollute its waters.

In the coastal areas where large cities and industrial centers are concentrated, the load on the Baltic Sea has reached a critical level. Of particular concern to experts are the toxins contained in plastics and chemicals.

Baltic Sea Day, celebrated on March 22 along with the celebration of World Water Day, reminds of the need for urgent measures to save the Baltic ecosystem for future generations.

How the Baltic Sea was formed

The Baltic Sea is located inside the mainland, in the northern part of Europe. It belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin, and is considered one of the youngest on the planet. Its history is only about 15 thousand years old.

The Baltic was formed as a result of the retreat of a giant glacier that covered the north of Europe during the last glaciation. As the climate became warmer, huge glacial lakes formed, which eventually merged.

Over the millennia, the shape and composition of the water of the future Baltic Sea have changed many times. In different periods, it existed as a freshwater body of water, then reconnected with the Atlantic Ocean, becoming salty.

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One of the key stages of evolution was the formation of the Littoral Sea about 7 thousand years ago as a result of rising sea levels and the formation of the Danish Straits — it was then that the Baltic acquired a shape close to modern ones.

Today, the Baltic Sea is a unique ecosystem. Its average depth is about 51 m, and the highest is 470 m. It has a low salinity due to precipitation and river runoff. The waters of the Baltic Sea are slowly being renewed through the narrow Danish Straits connecting it to the North Sea, which makes this reservoir especially sensitive to pollution. That is why the environmental issues of the region are becoming strategically important for coastal countries.

The bottom of the Baltic Sea holds thousands of sunken ships, including well-preserved ships from the Second World War. The special composition of the water slows down the decomposition process, as a result of which experts often find well-preserved historical materials.

The Baltic Sea provides navigation and is an active fishing area, but its ecological status largely depends on the efforts of the countries of the region aimed at protecting this unique body of water.

Baltic Sea — the history of the name

The name "Baltic Sea" was first mentioned in the medieval treatise "Acts of the Archbishops of the Hamburg Church", created by the chronicler, Canon Adam of Bremen in the period from 1075 to 1080.

In Russian epics, it is known as the Volyn or Viryan (Viryai) Sea, referring to the ancient name of Estonia — Vironia and the city of Volin.

In Novgorod sources, the Baltic is most often referred to simply as the sea, a similar variant is found in the Smolensk charters, where it is also called the Eastern Sea. The Moscow documents supplement this list with the definition of "Salty Sea".

The name "Varangian Sea" first appears in texts dating back to the Vladimir code of 1283-1284, compiled under Grand Duke Dmitry Alexandrovich Pereyaslavsky. Subsequently, this term was included in the expanded edition of the introductory article "Words about the blessing of Russia by the Apostle Andrew" (XIV century), in the preface to the "Tale of Bygone Years" in the Laurentian Chronicle (1377) and the text of the "Life of Alexander Nevsky" in the Pskov second Chronicle (circa 1486).

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Historical sources provide additional information about the names of certain parts of the Baltic Sea. In the "Big Drawing Book" (a detailed description of the map of the entire territory of Russia and neighboring states of the XVI–XVII centuries), the Gulf of Finland is referred to as Lake Kotlin, and the Gulf of Bothnia is designated in a number of Novgorod materials as the Kayano Sea. On the map of Novgorod of the 17th century, the same water area is called the Northern Sea Lip, and in the documents of the Solovetsky Monastery of the 17th century — the Switsky or Swedish Sea.

Since the beginning of the 18th century, the modern name has become official in Russian state practice. The first documentary mentions are found in the government acts of Peter the Great since 1701. In a slightly modified form, it is present on Russian maps of that century — the Baltic Sea.

How Baltic Sea Day is celebrated in Russia and the world

In Russia, Baltic Sea Day focuses on environmental initiatives and educational programs. Scientific conferences and round tables are held, during which leading experts, environmentalists and representatives of environmental organizations discuss the problems of pollution, climate change and ways to preserve the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea.

Various environmental actions are organized: clean-up days on the coast, garbage collection and cleaning of reservoirs. Thematic lectures and competitions for students and schoolchildren are held in schools and universities.

Interactive exhibitions about the flora and fauna of the Baltic Sea, its role in the history of Russia and the world, and other educational events are organized in museums and research centers.

Environmental and scientific events are also held on this day in foreign countries bordered by the Baltic Sea. Finland and Sweden are conducting large-scale campaigns to reduce emissions to the Baltic. Educational programs for schoolchildren are organized in Germany and Poland, where they talk about the importance of the sea for the economy and ecology of the region.

Actions to restore fish and marine mammal populations, as well as programs to reduce plastic levels in the water, are popular in Denmark.

Baltic Sea Day is a reminder of the importance of joint efforts to preserve natural resources. It has become not just an ecological date, but also an important international platform for cooperation between coastal countries united by a common goal – to preserve this unique body of water in Europe.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the traditions of celebrating the Day of the Submariner in Russia.