What are inland seas?
Q: What are inland seas?
A: Inland seas, also known as epeiric or epicontinental seas, are shallow seas that occur over a part of a continent.
Q: How are inland seas formed?
A: Inland seas are formed either by global high sea level or the formation of large geologic basins that eventually connect to the ocean.
Q: Can inland seas be found inside continents?
A: Yes, at some periods, shallow seas have been found inside continents.
Q: What is an example of a present-day inland sea?
A: The Baltic Sea is an example of a present-day inland sea.
Q: Is the North Sea an inland sea?
A: The North Sea is not an inland sea, but it is epeiric because it sits on a continental shelf.
Q: Why is Hudson Bay considered an epeiric sea?
A: Hudson Bay is considered an epeiric sea because its depth averages 100ft (30m), and it is on the continental plate.
Q: How do inland seas differ from epeiric seas?
A: Inland seas are more enclosed than epeiric seas, although both are found on the continental plate.
