Britannica
Sources used in this answer
When did the final glaciers retreat from the North Sea region?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
North Sea
The North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the English Channel.
The final retreat of the glaciers from the North Sea region occurred approximately 8,000 years ago. Following this retreat, rising sea levels eventually submerged the land bridge that had previously connected Britain to France, allowing the waters of the North Sea to merge with those of the English Channel. Present-day coastlines in the region were likely not established until about 3,000 years ago.1