LOCATION
In the southern part of the Lithuanian Baltic coast. The headquarters of the NP administration are in Neringa, located centrally in the park. Neringa is 30 km from Klaipeda. The park borders can be reached just after the ferry pass on the spit and distances to the park are the same as to Klaipeda (plus ferry). Klaipeda has two ferry connections: Kiel- Klaipeda (from Germany) and Karlshamn – Klaipeda (from Sweden). In Palanga (60 km away) there is a regional airport. Geographical location of Neringa: 55°22′N 21°04′E.
IN CURONIAN SPIT NATIONAL PARK there is a narrow strip of sand stretching 97 km along the Baltic Sea in western Lithuania. The Park was established in 1991. In 2000, the Curonian Spit cultural landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Curonian Spit is part of “Natura 2000”, a network of protected territories in Europe. It also belongs to HELCOM, which seeks to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea through intergovernmental cooperation. The dunes are an exclusive element of the Curonian Spit landscape. Here the visitors can explore all stages of dune formation, find embryonic shifting dunes, humid dune slacks, decalcified fixed dunes, wooded dunes and white and grey dunes, which are famous for their exceptional beauty. Every year millions of birds fly through the area as the migration route from the Baltic Sea to the White Sea runs through the Curonian Spit. The coastlines along the Curonian Spit Lagoon and Baltic Sea are important for migratory and wintering water birds. In addition, there are large concentrations of migrating passerines and birds of prey, and the Curonian Spit is famous for the largest breeding colony of Great Cormorants in Lithuania. This is a true paradise for bird watchers. The rich cultural heritage of the Curonian Spit includes fishing settlements that are considered valuable from an ethno-cultural, historical and aesthetic points of view. There are architectural works of unique scale and archaeological sites, mostly villages buried under the sand.
ATTRACTIONS
Curonian Spit has many other attractions available apart from the ones of the sightseeing nature, such as doing sports and savouring the sun for a nice tan. The most attractive is Nida town, a picturesque fishermen locality with small houses painted in blue, historical cemetery with wooden crosses, thematic park of witches in Juodkrante Forest, numerous fishing villages and a park museum. Besides, the park offers different activities including hiking on designated trails and educational walking tours in ecologically sensitive domains of the Grobštas and Nagliai natural reserves. The tallest dune is called Parnidis and is located near Nida town (52 m), which is a popular tourist resort. The park is the place of tallest moving dunes on the Baltic Sea Region averaging 35 m. Park is an outstanding place that allows visitors to explore and get to know nature, culture and traditions in a way that is active and environmentally friendly. The Curonian Spit is a perfect place for observing wildlife, sustainable tourism, leisure and cultural self-expression. Here you can enjoy cycling, hiking and canoeing tours, sailing trips and try some traditional fishermen’s food. There are numerous destinations that attract many visitors each year: The Sea Museum and Dolphinarium, Kuršių neriją National Park Landscape Exposition, Historical Museum of Neringa, Galleries of Amber and Weathervanes, Thom Mann Memorial Museum and the Ethnographic Farmstead of Fisherman. The Hill of Witches and cognitive path “Nature Puzzle” are favourites among children.
