Oresund Strait

Oresund Strait forms the boundary between Denmark and Sweden covering a total distance of 73 miles. It has a varying width which is approximated to range between 2.5 and 17 miles. Oresund is unique in that it is among the four waterways that directly connect the Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. Oresund is among the world busiestwaterways. The word Oresund can be separated into two; Ore meaning gravel or sand beach and sund which means sound. The name Oresund can be traced back to about 1000 years AD.

At the northern boundary of Oresund and Kattegat there exist a line that runs form the Zealand’s north peak to the west part of Kullaberg. On the southof Oresund is the boundary that separates it from Baltic Sea that starts at the western peak of peninsula to Falsterbo which is in Falsterbo peninsula. At the boundary on east there exist the coastline of Sweden. Western part of Amager is also seen as part of Oresund. There are 8 ways that directly connect Amager and Zealand. They include; two bridges along streets, a bridge on the road, dual-track railway tunnel, underground metro and bicycle bridge. There also exists a combination of motorway and dual track railway to Scania and Sweden.

Here are Oresund Strait facts.

• Oresund strait has been under the control of Sweden and Denmark for a very long time.
• Oresund Strait was approved to be an international waterway in 1857 which resulted to abolishment of the dues that used to be paid to Denmark for many years.
• Sweden tried to acquire the full control of Oresund Strait by constructing a canal known as Gota in 1810-1832.
• By 2000 Oresund Bridge had been constructed. The bridge starts at Copenhagen in Denmark up to Malmo in Sweden. The bridge covers a total distance of 5 miles from Copenhagen to an artificial Island which makes it to be an underwater tunnel running 2.5 miles to Malmo in Sweden. The tunnel is used for transporting people between Sweden and Denmark.
• The Oresund Strait’s floor has some salt dissolved in it which is caused by unusual and shifting conditions of the water. The floor is also said to be stable.
• Oresund Strait is said to be a habitat of a large number of organisms whereby more than 600 different species are said to be living in its waters.
• There are a number of islands belonging to Denmark that are in Oresund Strait, they include; Peberholm, Amager, Saltholm, Middlelgrundsfortet, Flakfortet and Amager Strandpark.
• Ven Island and Graen Island are Sweden’s islands that are in Oresund Strait.
• Oresund Strait is believed to be about 8500 years old since its formation. The formation was as a result of rising sea levels.
• The common species of fish found in Oresund Strait are herring, cod, Pollock, flatfish and mackerel.
• Oresund is ranked as one of the waterways offering the best leisure fishing opportunities between Sweden and Denmark.
• In the recent years a type of fish known as Pacu has been found in Oresund Strait, however it is still unknown whether the species exist in large numbers.
• During Denmark’s control of the Oresund Strait there were two fortresses, one located at Elsinore which is on the west and the other one located at Helsingborg which is on the east. But after the signing of The Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, Denmark surrendered the eastern side to Sweden.
• Oresund Strait is an ideal tourist attraction site especially for those yearning to enjoy fishing tours.
• The Oresund Bridge was constructed in order to protect the endangered species that uses the area where the Oresund changes to a tunnel.