Summer: the Curonian Spit

Published: 19 May 2002 y., Sunday
The Curonian spit is so unique that it is worth seeing just like Italy or Spain especially if you want to give your soul a wonderful sight. V.Humboldt.

There are a lot of wonderful places in Lithuania to see that are worth seeing. And the Curonian spit is one of them. This is a narrow and long (approximately 97 kilometers) embankment of sand on which six beautiful towns of health resort are situated: Kopgalis, Smiltynë, Juodkrantë, Pervalka, Preila, Nida. Long time ago there were several more towns but they were turned to dunes.

Smiltynë

Having arrived to the world of the Curonian spit Smiltynë is the first living place we enter. Earlier this town was the post station. Now a wonderful museum is created there. This is a place where you can get acquainted with the history of the Curonian spit, with its fauna and flora.

Kopgalis

This is a small village at the end of the spit. That’s why it is called Kopgalis. The word “Kopgalis” itself means the end of dunes. In 1770-1886 Germans built the military fortress here and now Lithuanian sea museum is established in it where it is possible to see not only the inhabitants of the Baltic sea but of the further parts of the world, too. The visitors are amused by the colorful fish, penguins, sea-lion and other. Performances with the trained dolphins and sea-lions are organized every day.

Juodkrantë

Juodkrantë is situated to the South from Smiltynë. This is one of the most ancient living places in the world. In 1997-1866 wooden church was built here, and in the year 1884 it was restored. Juodkrantë is famous for its hill of witches. The legend tells at the Midsummer night all the evil spirits, witches and devils gather there. The folk sculptors have created a lot of different figures of witches, dragons, and other personages of the tales. In Juodkrantë every summer different concerts take place.

Pervalka

This is small town of health resort situated between Juodkrantë and Preila. This town is situated in the most narrow place on the spit.

Not far away from Pervalka there is a dead dune on which you will not find any plant. I the year 1992 in the area of the dead dune a catastrophe took place. A 50 meters height dune fell into the water. According to the legend during the starry nights a little island with the wonderful girl walking on it appears in this place. The legend tells she sings so beautiful that if the traveler sees her he can’t go thither not having listened to her. Some of them even tried to reach that island but when they were very close to it a large hole appeared and swallowed them.

Preila

You may reach this town driving by car, but it is more pleasant to go there by bicycle. Preila is the most silent town of the Curonian spit. In Preila in the house of Culture always different sorts of activities and concerts take place.

Nida

Riding a bicycle from Preila to Nida you can see wonderful dunes covered by pines. These dunes are of various shapes. One of them called Vecekrugas is the most amusing one; it looks like a green pyramid.

Nida is the largest living place of the Curonian spit. In 1874 a lighthouse was built in Nida and in 1999 small airport was built. Every summer holidaymakers can watch performances of the parachutists. There are two museums in Nida: Historical museum of Neringa and the one of the famous German writer Tom Mann.

Have a nice holiday!

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