Editing Pirates of the Baltic Sea (section)

===Gulf of Finland===

With the cities of Saint Petersburg, Helsinki and Tallinn, the Gulf of Finland sees heavy traffic. Particularly between Helsinki and Tallinn. Helsinki is the busiest passenger port in the world. Still, Buccaneers generally do not raid any of the Helsinki-Tallinn traffic unless they are after some very specific cargo. The Buccaneers are too reliant on Finnish goodwill for their freedom to operate to risk antagonizing Finland, and interfering with the traffic between Helsinki and Tallinn would definitely do that.

Past Helsinki and Tallinn is the city of Saint Petersburg. The city itself deserves special mention, but it is not the only Russian port on the Baltic coast. Russia's most important oil harbours, such as Primorsk, are nearby. So is Ust-Luga, the largest transportation and logistics hub in northwestern Russia.

The environmental problems affecting the Baltic Sea are at their most pronounced in the shallow gulf. Massive algae growths are a common sight during summer, and sometimes the winter storms get so fierce that the Helsinki-Tallinn ferries will not leave port.

One reason why some buccaneers visit the gulf is shipwrecks. The bottom of the gulf is one of the world's largest ship cemeteries. Because of the low salinity and cold waters, and no shipworms, the ships are relatively well preserved. Since the 6th century, major waterways have been running through the gulf, and in the past every year saw dozens of lost ships. In more modern times, the number of ships lost in the Gulf of Finland decreased, but it has never completely stopped. And those lost ships do not even include all the sea battles fought in the gulf. There are thousands of submerged objects on the seafloor. Sometimes items of value or use can be found in the wrecks. There are hazards though. The surrounding nations do not mind recreational diving, but take a very dim view of people who rob sea graves. And the seabed remains under jurisdiction of the states. Buccaneers looting the wrecks need to keep an eye out and be ready to depart swiftly should a navy patrol approach. Not always easy to do when there are divers in the water. Also, some objects on the seafloor are dangerous hazards. Mines and munitions from various wars fought in the gulf litter the seafloor, and anyone diving down there needs to be careful not to set those off.