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Vistula Spit

January 01, 1970

The Vistula Spit (Polish: Mierzeja Wiślana; Russian: Балтийская коса; German: Danziger Nehrung, Frische Nehrung; Low German: Dantzker Nearing) is an aeolian sand spit,[1] or peninsular stretch of land, separating Vistula Lagoon from Gdańsk Bay, in the Baltic Sea, with its tip separated from the mainland by the Strait of Baltiysk. The border between Poland (Pomeranian Voivodeship) and Kaliningrad Oblast, an exclave of Russia, bisects it, politically dividing the spit into two pieces between the two countries. The westernmost geographical point of Russia is located on the Vistula Spit. The Polish part contains a number of tourist resorts, incorporated administratively as the town of Krynica Morska.

Vistula Spit
Spit
Landsat photo of the Vistula Spit
Vistula Spit
Vistula Spit
Vistula Spit
Vistula Spit
Coordinates: 54°24′N 19°30′E / 54.400°N 19.500°E / 54.400; 19.500
LocationPomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia
Offshore water bodiesGdańsk Bay
Vistula Lagoon
Dimensions
 • Length70 km (43 mi)
Largest townKrynica Morska

Geography edit

 
Russian guards at the Poland-Russia border on the Vistula Spit

Situated in the Gdańsk Bay this narrow headland (spit) is on average only few hundred meters wide (widest point is 1.8 km (1.1 mi)) and with the total length of 70 km (43 mi) twice as long as the better known and more populous Hel Peninsula in the western part of the Gdańsk Bay. The Vistula Spit stretches in a north-easterly direction and separates the Vistula Lagoon from the southern Baltic Sea. It is separated from the Sambia Peninsula by the Strait of Baltiysk. The spit consists of 10 to 12 meter high marine sand, accumulated during three dune generations.[2] The highest peaks of the Vistula Spit are Wielbłądzi Grzbiet (49.5 m, 162 ft) on the Polish side of the peninsula and the smaller 25 m (82 ft) high shifting sand dune of Narmeln on the Russian side of the border.[3]

The border between Poland (Pomeranian Voivodeship) and Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) runs across the spit, with its south-western part in Poland and the north-eastern part in Russia. The Polish part includes, from west to east, the villages of Kąty Rybackie, Skowronki, and the town of Krynica Morska, the largest locality on the Polish side, and a popular tourist destination. Since 1991, Krynica Morska includes in its municipal borders formerly separate villages of Przebrno and Nowa Karczma, the latter being the easternmost inhabited locality on the Polish side of the Spit.[4][5]

The Russian part of the Vistula Spit is only inhabited in its northernmost part, which belongs to the port town of Baltiysk and lies on the southern side of the Strait of Baltiysk. The Russian airbase Noytif (originally built as a German Luftwaffe airbase Neu Tief) was located there.[6]

History edit

Until the 13th century, the spit had navigable straits in the middle, which allowed the city of Elbing (Elbląg), part of the monastic State of the Teutonic Knights, direct access to the Baltic Sea. The natural closing of the straits in the late 13th century reduced Elbing's status as an important trading seaport. This and the Teutonic takeover of Danzig (Gdańsk) and Polish Pomerania in 1308 led to the increased importance of Gdańsk. In 1454, King Casimir IV Jagiellon re-incorporated the region to the Kingdom of Poland upon the request of the anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation.[7] In 1466, the Teutonic Knights renounced any claims to the region and recognized it as part of Poland.[8]

During World War II, Przebrno was the location of a subcamp of the Stutthof concentration camp, in which the Germans imprisoned 200 people as forced labour at a time.[9] There is a monument to the victims at the site. In the final stages of the war, the spit became the last holdout of the remaining German soldiers in the province of East Prussia, although the Soviets simply bypassed the spit after the East Prussian Offensive was decisively concluded, training their sights on the more important goal of capturing Berlin. The last Wehrmacht soldiers laid down their arms after the German Instrument of Surrender was signed.

Kursenieki edit

Further information: Kursenieki

Historically Vistula Spit was populated by Kursenieki people (also known as Kuršininkai), an Old Prussian tribe, related to modern day Latvians. This nearly extinct Baltic ethnic group once made Vistula Spit, coastal zone of the Sambia Peninsula, and the Curonian Spit their home. In 1649 the Kuršininkai zone of settlement still spanned all the way from Memel (Klaipėda) to Gdańsk encompassing a narrow littoral strip of territory best suitable for their lifestyle, cultural preferences and dominant economic activity (fishing). The majority of Kuršininkai were eventually assimilated by the Germans. Only on the Curonian Spit a few scattered rural settlements survive to the present day. The Kuršininkai were considered Latvians until after World War I when Latvia gained independence from the Russian Empire, a consideration based on linguistic arguments. This was also the rationale for Latvian claims over the Curonian Spit, Memel, and other territories of Prussia in the aftermath of the WWI. Those claims would later be dropped.

Transport edit

 
Map of Voivodeship road 501

The Polish side of the peninsula is accessible using Voivodeship road 501 [pl]. There is at present (2016) no border crossing between Poland and Russia on the peninsula.

Vistula Spit canal edit

Main article: Vistula Spit canal

In 2019, the Polish government started the building of a ship canal across the peninsula, permitting ships to enter the Vistula Lagoon and the port of Elbląg, bypassing the transit route through the Russian Strait of Baltiysk.[10] The canal was opened in September 2022.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Kramarska, R Uścinowicz, S Zachowicz J and Kawińska M, Origin and evolution of the Puck Lagoon in Journal of Coastal Research Issue 22, 2005, P187
  2. ^ Eric Bird (25 February 2010). Encyclopedia of the World's Coastal Landforms. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 633–. ISBN 978-1-4020-8638-0.
  3. ^ "Wegen Kaliningrad: Polen baggert eigenen Ostseekanal". MDR. September 11, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  4. ^ Wolfgang Albrecht Stromer von Reichenbach (1676). Speculum Germaniae oder ein kurtzer geographischer Bericht von dem gesammaten Teutschland. pp. 4–.
  5. ^ "Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 22 grudnia 1990 r. w sprawie utworzenia, zniesienia, zmiany granic, nazw i ustalenia siedzib niektórych gmin w województwach: bielskim, bydgoskim, elbląskim, gdańskim, katowickim, kieleckim, krośnieńskim, nowosądeckim i siedleckim oraz nadania statutu miasta". isap.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  6. ^ Gerald Schernewski (13 May 2002). Baltic Coastal Ecosystems: Structure, Function and Coastal Zone Management. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-3-540-42937-1.
  7. ^ Górski, Karol (1949). Związek Pruski i poddanie się Prus Polsce: zbiór tekstów źródłowych (in Polish). Poznań: Instytut Zachodni. pp. 51, 56.
  8. ^ Górski, pp. 88-90, 206-207
  9. ^ Gliński, Mirosław. "Podobozy i większe komanda zewnętrzne obozu Stutthof (1939–1945)". Stutthof. Zeszyty Muzeum (in Polish). 3: 166–167. ISSN 0137-5377.
  10. ^ RDLP: wycinka na Mierzei Wiślanej jest zakończona

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vistula Peninsula.


January 01, 1970
vistula, spit, polish, mierzeja, wiślana, russian, Балтийская, коса, german, danziger, nehrung, frische, nehrung, german, dantzker, nearing, aeolian, sand, spit, peninsular, stretch, land, separating, vistula, lagoon, from, gdańsk, baltic, with, separated, fro. The Vistula Spit Polish Mierzeja Wislana Russian Baltijskaya kosa German Danziger Nehrung Frische Nehrung Low German Dantzker Nearing is an aeolian sand spit 1 or peninsular stretch of land separating Vistula Lagoon from Gdansk Bay in the Baltic Sea with its tip separated from the mainland by the Strait of Baltiysk The border between Poland Pomeranian Voivodeship and Kaliningrad Oblast an exclave of Russia bisects it politically dividing the spit into two pieces between the two countries The westernmost geographical point of Russia is located on the Vistula Spit The Polish part contains a number of tourist resorts incorporated administratively as the town of Krynica Morska Vistula SpitSpitLandsat photo of the Vistula SpitVistula SpitShow map of EuropeVistula SpitShow map of PolandVistula SpitShow map of European RussiaVistula SpitShow map of Baltic SeaCoordinates 54 24 N 19 30 E 54 400 N 19 500 E 54 400 19 500LocationPomeranian Voivodeship PolandKaliningrad Oblast RussiaOffshore water bodiesGdansk BayVistula LagoonDimensions Length70 km 43 mi Largest townKrynica Morska Contents 1 Geography 2 History 2 1 Kursenieki 3 Transport 3 1 Vistula Spit canal 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksGeography edit nbsp Russian guards at the Poland Russia border on the Vistula Spit Situated in the Gdansk Bay this narrow headland spit is on average only few hundred meters wide widest point is 1 8 km 1 1 mi and with the total length of 70 km 43 mi twice as long as the better known and more populous Hel Peninsula in the western part of the Gdansk Bay The Vistula Spit stretches in a north easterly direction and separates the Vistula Lagoon from the southern Baltic Sea It is separated from the Sambia Peninsula by the Strait of Baltiysk The spit consists of 10 to 12 meter high marine sand accumulated during three dune generations 2 The highest peaks of the Vistula Spit are Wielbladzi Grzbiet 49 5 m 162 ft on the Polish side of the peninsula and the smaller 25 m 82 ft high shifting sand dune of Narmeln on the Russian side of the border 3 The border between Poland Pomeranian Voivodeship and Russia Kaliningrad Oblast runs across the spit with its south western part in Poland and the north eastern part in Russia The Polish part includes from west to east the villages of Katy Rybackie Skowronki and the town of Krynica Morska the largest locality on the Polish side and a popular tourist destination Since 1991 Krynica Morska includes in its municipal borders formerly separate villages of Przebrno and Nowa Karczma the latter being the easternmost inhabited locality on the Polish side of the Spit 4 5 The Russian part of the Vistula Spit is only inhabited in its northernmost part which belongs to the port town of Baltiysk and lies on the southern side of the Strait of Baltiysk The Russian airbase Noytif originally built as a German Luftwaffe airbase Neu Tief was located there 6 History editThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Vistula Spit news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message Until the 13th century the spit had navigable straits in the middle which allowed the city of Elbing Elblag part of the monastic State of the Teutonic Knights direct access to the Baltic Sea The natural closing of the straits in the late 13th century reduced Elbing s status as an important trading seaport This and the Teutonic takeover of Danzig Gdansk and Polish Pomerania in 1308 led to the increased importance of Gdansk In 1454 King Casimir IV Jagiellon re incorporated the region to the Kingdom of Poland upon the request of the anti Teutonic Prussian Confederation 7 In 1466 the Teutonic Knights renounced any claims to the region and recognized it as part of Poland 8 During World War II Przebrno was the location of a subcamp of the Stutthof concentration camp in which the Germans imprisoned 200 people as forced labour at a time 9 There is a monument to the victims at the site In the final stages of the war the spit became the last holdout of the remaining German soldiers in the province of East Prussia although the Soviets simply bypassed the spit after the East Prussian Offensive was decisively concluded training their sights on the more important goal of capturing Berlin The last Wehrmacht soldiers laid down their arms after the German Instrument of Surrender was signed Kursenieki edit Further information Kursenieki Historically Vistula Spit was populated by Kursenieki people also known as Kursininkai an Old Prussian tribe related to modern day Latvians This nearly extinct Baltic ethnic group once made Vistula Spit coastal zone of the Sambia Peninsula and the Curonian Spit their home In 1649 the Kursininkai zone of settlement still spanned all the way from Memel Klaipeda to Gdansk encompassing a narrow littoral strip of territory best suitable for their lifestyle cultural preferences and dominant economic activity fishing The majority of Kursininkai were eventually assimilated by the Germans Only on the Curonian Spit a few scattered rural settlements survive to the present day The Kursininkai were considered Latvians until after World War I when Latvia gained independence from the Russian Empire a consideration based on linguistic arguments This was also the rationale for Latvian claims over the Curonian Spit Memel and other territories of Prussia in the aftermath of the WWI Those claims would later be dropped Transport edit nbsp Map of Voivodeship road 501 The Polish side of the peninsula is accessible using Voivodeship road 501 pl There is at present 2016 no border crossing between Poland and Russia on the peninsula Vistula Spit canal edit Main article Vistula Spit canal In 2019 the Polish government started the building of a ship canal across the peninsula permitting ships to enter the Vistula Lagoon and the port of Elblag bypassing the transit route through the Russian Strait of Baltiysk 10 The canal was opened in September 2022 See also editVistula Spit canal Language NehrungischReferences edit Kramarska R Uscinowicz S Zachowicz J and Kawinska M Origin and evolution of the Puck Lagoon in Journal of Coastal Research Issue 22 2005 P187 Eric Bird 25 February 2010 Encyclopedia of the World s Coastal Landforms Springer Science amp Business Media pp 633 ISBN 978 1 4020 8638 0 Wegen Kaliningrad Polen baggert eigenen Ostseekanal MDR September 11 2017 Retrieved September 19 2020 Wolfgang Albrecht Stromer von Reichenbach 1676 Speculum Germaniae oder ein kurtzer geographischer Bericht von dem gesammaten Teutschland pp 4 Rozporzadzenie Rady Ministrow z dnia 22 grudnia 1990 r w sprawie utworzenia zniesienia zmiany granic nazw i ustalenia siedzib niektorych gmin w wojewodztwach bielskim bydgoskim elblaskim gdanskim katowickim kieleckim krosnienskim nowosadeckim i siedleckim oraz nadania statutu miasta isap sejm gov pl Retrieved 2021 06 04 Gerald Schernewski 13 May 2002 Baltic Coastal Ecosystems Structure Function and Coastal Zone Management Springer Science amp Business Media pp 134 ISBN 978 3 540 42937 1 Gorski Karol 1949 Zwiazek Pruski i poddanie sie Prus Polsce zbior tekstow zrodlowych in Polish Poznan Instytut Zachodni pp 51 56 Gorski pp 88 90 206 207 Glinski Miroslaw Podobozy i wieksze komanda zewnetrzne obozu Stutthof 1939 1945 Stutthof Zeszyty Muzeum in Polish 3 166 167 ISSN 0137 5377 RDLP wycinka na Mierzei Wislanej jest zakonczonaExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vistula Peninsula Vistula Spit in Polish and German Russia s Strategic Strip Of Sand and Sea Faces Tourist Assault on YouTube Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty published on Mar 28 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vistula Spit amp oldid 1220432751, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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