Curonian Spit

Russia, Russia

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The Curonian Spit is a 98-kilometer-long, narrow, curved sand dune peninsula separating the salty Baltic Sea from the freshwater Curonian Lagoon, with its southern 41 km in Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast Zelenogradsky District and the north in Lithuania, formed about 5,000 years ago by winds, currents, and glacial remnants. Varying from 400 meters to 4 km wide, it features Europe's highest drifting dunes up to 60 meters tall, pine forests covering 72% of the area, diverse ecosystems with wetlands, meadows, and beaches, and serves as a key East Atlantic Flyway stop for 10-20 million migratory birds annually. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Russian national park since 1987, the fragile landscape offers hiking trails, villages like Rybachy, and serene views in a biodiversity hotspot without heavy crowds.