The Curonian Spit (Kuršių Nerija) is a brilliant creation of people and nature that was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. The Curonian Spit is a 98km long and 0.4 to 4 km wide elongated peninsula outstretching through the territories of two states, the Republic of Lithuania and the Russian Federation (Kaliningrad Region). Lithuania occupies 50 km of the northern part of the peninsula and this part will only be referred to.
In the 15th century, the entire Curonian Spit was covered with forests. However, the area suffered ruthless deforesting that resulted in uncontrollable sandstorms. The sand travelled across the peninsula towards the Curonian Lagoon and even buried several fishermen’s villages scattered on the Lagoon coast. Several centuries ago, it took great resourcefulness and patience for the inhabitants of the Spit to curb the elemental force.
In 1825, Georgas Dovydas Kuvertas, a postmaster, was the first to begin planting trees on the dunes in the Curonian Spit. Several generations were shaping the protective dune crest of the seashore and the forest planted by them stopped the moving sand. The extent of firming up and foresting the dunes in the Curonian Spit is unique in the world. The process of the protection of the susceptible dunes and the nature of Curonian Spit continues to these days.
The most spectacular sites of the Curonian Spit are located near Nida, the centre of Neringa town that covers the entire Curonian Spit, where the forested dunes run into the wastes of the moving sand. Washed by the Baltic Sea on one side and the Curonian Lagoon on the other, the white dunes of moving sand show up among the pinewoods and represent a perfect masterpiece created by the nature. Magnificent panoramas of extensive space, changeable melodies of the winds and the sea create a unique atmosphere of the Curonian Lagoon. The sombre beauty of the Gray (Dead) Dunes looming up between Nida and Juodkrantė enchants their visitors.
The architecture of all the four settlements of Neringa (Nida, Preila, Pervalka, and Juodkrantė) is absolutely fascinating. One can’t help admiring the blue-window-paned ethnographic homesteads of fishermen, the contemporary cottages that have taken over the ethnographic style, and the old villas decorated with wooden tracery in Juodkrantė. The hotels and holiday-homes resting in the pinewoods represent the modern architecture and live in perfect harmony with the nature. The Curonian Spit boasts its fish, a genuine delicacy for gourmands, which is smoked according to the ancient recipes of the Curonian fishermen.
Neringa is a perfect place for those who love peace and quiet as well as for the lovers of active holidays. Bicycle paths join all the settlements. Nida is a paradise for yachtsmen, windsurfers, paragliders, and kitesurfers. The unique harmony of natural forces and colours in the National Park of Curonian Spit is captivating in any season. The Curonian Spit is one of the most beautiful and the most unique European landscapes. And above all, the visitors can be lucky to find some amber on the stormy Baltic Sea shore – a special memento of the country.
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