Sea of Nordska

Sea of Nordska
File:Map highlighting the Sea of Nordska Map of the Sea of Nordska
Type	Sea
Primary inflows	Levantine Ocean
Primary outflows	Coscivian Sea
Basin countries	Fiannria, Faneria, Caergwynn, Vithinja, Bicariana(Urcea)
Average depth	344 m (1,129 ft)
Max. depth	1,933 m (6,342 ft)
Islands	Vonein, Vithin Isles, Sorhaithe, Weiss Insel, Bicariana
Settlements	Fiannria Faneria Caergwynn Vithinja

The Sea of Nordska lies between eastern Levantia and the arctic, just north of Fiannria. It is connected to the Kilikas Sea through the Vithin Straits and the Noborean Passage. Together with the Kilikas Sea it serves as a pass-through for waters from the Levantine Ocean to the Coscivian Sea. The sea is bound by the Arctic in the north and Levantia in the south. During the winter months much of the seas coastlines freeze over, inhibiting trade for part of the year. On the other hand, the sea is known to be quite calm for much the rest of the year. This has allowed it to become a major fishery for the nations surrounding the sea for most civilizations settled the region. Because of the mountains separating the northernmost region of Ultmar from the Levantian core regions, control of the sea has been vital for any trade, piracy or invasions in towards or out from Levantias crown. In more modern times the Sea has become an important trade lane for freight, especially targeted at delivering between Alshar and the Vandarch.

The countries with coastlines on the Sea of Nordska are Fiannria, Faneria, Caergwynn, Vithinja and Urcea.

Geography

The Sea of Nordska is a relatively shallow sea, with an average depth of only about 344 m (1,129 ft). A good portion of the sea is resting on the Levantian continental shelf leading to depths of less than 100 m (330 ft) deep. The deepest region of the sea is the South Borean Basin at a depth of 1,933 m (6,342 ft).

Because of the warm currents flowing up the Levantian coast, the cold current flowing down from the arctic and the mixed current flowing in from the Kilikas both winds and current in the Sea of Nordska are often unpredictable and fleeting.

Etymology

The Sea of Nordska is also sometimes called "Nordskan Sea", "Nordska Bay" or "Noborean Bay".

According to most common Latin encyclopaedias the word "Nordskan" originates from a misunderstanding during the Viking Age. The raiders would commonly describe themselves as "Nordeskja" or similar words based on differing languages and dialects. In their gothic language this actually just means something similar as "men from the north". Linguists and Anthropologists who has researched this phenomenon assume that this was caused by these raiders misunderstanding the meaning of a phrase along the line of "where did you come from?".

An archaic and confusing name for the Sea of Nordska is the "Kilikas Sea", as many old maps would simply consider both sides of the Vithin Straits to be a single body of water, instead separating them by "East Kilikas Sea" and "West Kilikas Sea".

History

Early History

There are three suspected civilisations existing in this region before the North Gothic and Caeric migrations, although the evidence for these civilisations ranges from lacking to near nonexistant. It is made up of the following civilizations: The Gothic First Men, the Kingdom of Caladcholg and the Noborean Aboriginals.

Although more active in the Sea of Istroya, the Bergendii are of some importance in the early history of the Sea of Nordska.