Baldic Sea

The Baldic Sea also known as the Gulf of Talawa or the Gulf of Wilusa, is a gulf in eastern Haven. The body of water is an extension of the the Mare Caprichosa, located between Montroig and the Hatanimitas Peninsula, with the Island of Canine creating two channels between the the Baldic Sea and the Mare Caprichosa. It is connected to the Gulf of Axel in the south by the Strait of Ethesidus. The Baldic Sea is connected to the Azura River which flows into the Bay of Russantia, and the Red River, which flows into the Sea from the Mare Caprichosa. The Baldic Sea also flows into the Great Chevkri Bog.

Geography
The Baldic Sea currently borders two nations in Haven: Ironhold and Ashai, specifically the nation-states of Kor Yuldai, Montroig, and Aetheria. Ironhold occupies 300 blocks of the Baldic Sea's coastline, while the Union of Haven has 3300. The Baldic Sea is home to many islands, however geographically the largest island that is fully within the Sea is the Island of Dendoria, currently belonging to the Federal Republic of Montroig. No other island in the Baldic Sea is of major significance, often being small uninhabited islets, besides the Island of Canine, which is in-between the Baldic Sea and the Mare Caprichosa. The Island of Canine and several of its surrounding islands used to form an isthmus between the Hatanimitas Peninsula and the peninsula that is now Montroig, seperating the Baldic Sea from the Mare Caprichosa. The isthmus was effectivesly destroyed over 300,000 years ago when several icebergs from the Mare Caprichosa drifted down with the current and broke through, forming a large canyon, eventually drifting all the way to the Gulf of Axel, where some remain today. Overtime, the canyons naturally eroded due to storms that would drift in from the warm Gulf of Mithusu, and all remains of the isthmus is the Island of Canine and several small islands nearby it.

Oceanography
The Baldic Sea is connected to the Mare Caprichosa through two small channels, the western Hanatanimtas Channel, named for its close proximity to the Hanatamitas Penninsula and the eastern Canine Channel, named for its close proximity to the Island of Canine. The Baldic Sea is known to have a relatively high salinity compared to other bodies of water in Haven, due to minerals in the Tiatuan desert that runoff into the water.

Gulf of Axel
The Gulf of Axel is another, smaller gulf that is within the Baldic Sea, located to the far south of the Sea. The Gulf is named for its proximity to the Alfheimi port city of Axel. The gulf still contains some of the large, icebergs that opened the Baldic Sea to the Mare Caprichosa, although none are the originals, new icebergs drift down around the same time the old ones begin to melt into nothing. The Gulf of Axel also flows into the Great Chevkri Bog, directly to the south.

Name
The name of the Baldic Sea derives from the, now abandoned, Montoigian town of Baldia, built under the sea on March 12, 2021. The city was, and still remains, the only city build under the sea. Because the city was relatively active for around two months, the Sea began to be referred to as the "Baldic Sea" in April 2021 by Montroigians, and the name caught on with mapmakers and other Havenites who lived near the Sea. Since then, Baldia has been long abandoned, but the name continues to be used. Prior to being called the Baldic Sea, it was referred to as the Gulf of Talawa, due to its close proximity to the Old Kingdoms of Talawa.

Ancient history
The Baldic Sea was often used by ancient navies to assault the city of Hapatmitas, however they were often beaten back due to the cities easily defendable position, and the small sizes of the navies sent, with nations often prioritizing attacking the city with ground forces brought down from Ummarnu. Around 2,000 years ago, however, Aruna the Conqueror managed to capture the city for the Kingdom of Talawa by sailing from the Gulf directly up the Red River to bring her navy into the center of the city, where it was able to decimate the defending forces and allowing her to easily take the city, thus bringing it under Talawan rule.

Modern history
The Baldic Sea was a field of battle during Loic's War in March of 2021, as Loic sailed ships into the Baldic Sea to assault Hapatmitas and take it under Viodoxan rule, where it was occupied by Viodoxan troops for several days. In the weeks following the occupation, the territory of Aruna and its capital, Hapatmitas, were returned to the newly formed Second Empire of Uldarash during the Hapatmitas Crisis, Loic again used the Sea to remove his troops from the city.

The Sea was again brought into major news in August of 2021, when then-Montroigian Minister of Resources Jack F. Kennedy wished to completely fill in the bay in order to increase Montroig's land area. The plan was denied by the popular congress, which caused Kennedy to set their eyes on several Chevkri territories to the east, which eventually culminated in the First Battle of CoolioCity. Several days after, a large bridge, known as The Great Bypass, was constructed by LegalC, to connect the Montroigian cities of Tiatua, on the west side of the Baldic Sea, to Terroja, on the east side.

The Sea was used once more during the Hapatmitas-Chevkri Campaign of the Uldarash Civil War, when Loyalist forces attempted to take the city in the Battle of Hapatmitas. Several Loyalist troops departed from the Loyalist controlled city of Tiatua to assault Hapatmitas, which was then the de jure capital of the Second Empire of Uldarash, from the water. The attack failed, and the small force of marines were pushed back to Tiatua.

Cities and population
Five nations have coasts along the Baldic Sea: Ironhold, Kor Yuldai, Montroig, Aetheria, and Canine (the latter four being nation-states or vassals of the Crownlands of Ashai). The Baldic Sea's strategic location has made it an ideal place for development over time. Today, many major cities of Haven are located in this region.

Wildlife
The Baldic Sea is home to a diverse range of marine life, including the Red Eel and the Mitasaruna Paiche, both of which are common in the diet of those who live near the Sea. The Sea also includes plant life, including kelp and seagrass.