My first trip to Curonian Spit

Saturday
Parabolic dunes are the old Curonian Spit landscape’s element. 5 thousand years ago when Curonian Spit was just emerging, first low sandy dunes started to appear on the western part of the land. Under the influence of western winds small washouts were formed, and the piles of sand were moved into the land, gradually turning into horseshoe-shaped formations called parabolic dunes. In time they got covered by grass and wood. Their height was up to 30-50 m, but in 16 – 18 centuries mass lumbering opened sand to the wind, resulting in the destruction of the parabolic dunes in many places.

The “Hill of Witches” is made of parabolic dunes

Grey dunes (or Dead dunes) in Nagliai Nature’s Reserve

We rent a house near the Curonian lagoon.

Sunday



Monday
The Parnidis dune. The Parnidis dune is the only place in the Curonian Spit’s National Park where drifting dunes still remain. To the south, Parnidis dune opens the scenery of shifting dunes Grobstas Nature Reserve, and if the visibility is good one can see the sands of the Russian Federation. Scientists estimate that due to the prevailing western winds traveling dunes move from 0.5 to 10 m eastwards every year. Also that day we were watching for geocatches. Geo-catching is a smart phone application when you have to find a box which is hidden by another person. There is a peace of paper in that box where you have to record your name and date. We found four of such boxes. And it was fun!

The Parnidis dune

Tuesday
And then…a long drive to Vilnius.

Smiltynė

My first trip to the Curonian Spit was awesome!!! You have to visit the Curonian Spit too!!!