Cattegat

Cattegat, or KATTEGAT, the bay or arm of the sea between the east coast of Jutland and the west coast of Sweden, to the north of the Danish islands. It is connected with the Baltic Sea by the Great and Little Belt (q.v.), and by the Sound; and the Skager Rack (q.v.) connects it with the North Sea. The length of the Cattegat is about 150 miles, and its greatest breadth 85 miles. Its greatest depth is 36 fathoms, but it has numerous sand-banks; and navigation is rendered more dangerous by its strong currents and violent storms. The Danish shores are low, with stretches of sand or reefs, but the Swedish shore is very steep and rocky.