What is...?

Whenever tourists visit one of the many regions around the Baltic Sea featured here, they encounter things, events, phenomena, terms and much more that they may not initially understand or would like to learn more about. That is exactly why we created this section. We also want to make our many local information pages easier to understand. So we are working to explain in detail terms you are likely to come across during your Baltic Sea holiday. These include geographical regions, historical terms, regional characteristics, customs and traditions, and similar topics.

Sperrwerk über den Finnischen Meerbusen vor St. Petersburg Photo: © Wikimedia / Ssr CC BY-SA 3.0

That is why we also count on your help. Ask us what you would like to know about a particular region or term, and we will try to respond as quickly as possible. Or share information of your own that could also be of interest to other visitors to these pages about holidays on the Baltic Sea. Experience shows that there are many terms that are especially characteristic of different Baltic Sea regions—or just one in particular—or that are found exclusively here. All of this is intended to make it easier for you, the users of these pages about Baltic Sea holidays, to plan and reflect on your trip. This way, you can spend the best time of the year better prepared at one of the many Baltic Sea beaches and choose the most interesting destinations within reach of the coast. Or you can find better answers afterwards to questions that came up during your holiday. Make use of what we offer: ask questions or offer answers “without being asked.”

Amber

Amber and the Baltic Sea are almost synonymous. Who doesn’t think of the many solitary amber hunters along the Baltic coast, especially after or during a sea wind? The mystery of the Amber Room also comes to mind, which disappeared in the final weeks of the Second World War and has never been found. Amber still holds a mystical allure today.

Baltic Sea Seaside Resort Architecture

Visitors to the Baltic coast can find seaside resort architecture in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on the islands of Usedom and Rügen, and in Heiligendamm, Kühlungsborn and Graal-Müritz. The seaside resorts’ architecture features characteristic elements of Neoclassical and Art Nouveau design, including columns, reliefs, turrets, glazed balconies and verandas.

Storm Surges on the Baltic Sea

Flood events have occurred and continue to occur naturally along the Baltic Sea coast. Unlike the North Sea, the Baltic Sea has no tides. Therefore, the term “storm tide,” used in the North Sea, does not apply to the Baltic Sea. In the Baltic Sea, a flood event always occurs in connection with a storm, which is why it is called a storm surge here.

The Beach Chair

It has become an essential feature of Germany’s coasts. Whether on the North Sea or the Baltic Sea, in the east or west, the beach chair has become a defining feature of a German beach holiday. It is increasingly found even on inland lakes. We take a closer look at the history, designs and future prospects of this popular piece of beach furniture.