Baltic Sea has become a slacker: refuses to freeze for 79 years

The Baltic Sea continues to prove that even water masses can have character. Last fully frozen 79 years ago, our sea now behaves like a true Liepāja local – wants to be different from all other seas.

"I can't remember anymore when the sea was really frozen," says Karosta resident Valdis, who looks out his window every morning wondering if today he could try ice fishing. "But honestly, it's better this way. The tram doesn't go to the sea anyway, so no need to think about an ice road to Gotland."

Scientists predict that the 21st century could become the first century in Baltic Sea history when the sea doesn't freeze at all. This means Liepāja beach will be the only place in Latvia where you can see waves in winter, not just piles of snow. In Riga, of course, they'll continue looking at their Daugava and thinking it's the same thing.

"We have 300 years of data on sea freezing," meteorologists explain. "But nobody has counted how many times Liepāja residents have walked to the sea in winter just to check if it really hasn't frozen." Meanwhile, Liepāja market has started offering winter swimsuits – well, you have to adapt to the times.

So our sea continues to be unavailable for ice skating, but ideal for those who want to taste real sea salt in the air during winter. As our grandmothers would say – "If the sea doesn't want to freeze, then it means we have to learn to swim in the cold."