Fauna of Europe of the Baltic Sea has led to the evolution of many slightly divergent species, such as the Baltic Sea herring, which is a smaller variant of the Atlantic herring. The most frequent benthic species are "Saduria entomon" and "Monoporeia affinis", which is originally a freshwater species. A great part of its bottom is anoxic and without animal life. The Baltic Sea and North Sea are also home to a variety of marine mammals (common seals, grey seals). Europe contains several important freshwater ecoregions, including the heavily developed rivers of Europe, the rivers of Russia, which flow into the Arctic, Baltic,
History of the North Sea the merchants and trade, also became increasingly prominent. Important overseas colonies, a vast merchant marine, and a powerful navy made the Dutch the main rivals of growing England, which saw its future in these three spheres. This conflict was at the root of the first three Anglo-Dutch Wars between 1652 and 1673. Scotland emerged as a prominent economic power during the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century. Between 1700 and 1815, the North Sea saw only 45 years of peace, and could be regarded as the most dangerous eras to sail the sea. Tensions in the North Sea were again