Physical Characteristics

map of scotlandScotland is a marine nation. The country is surrounded by 468,994 square kilometres of seas (within Scotland's fishery limits) which have shaped, and continue to shape, our coastline and our climate. They have also shaped our economy as we have exploited their natural resources for food, transport and energy.

The seas around Scotland are very complex. They range from gently sloping shallow waters on the east coast, through sheltered deep sea lochs on the west to truly oceanic depths further off the north and west coasts.

These pages provide information and data about the waves, tides and currents as a basis for understanding our seas.