Misplaced Pages

Vistula Spit: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 08:34, 24 May 2021 edit2607:fea8:1360:9d1:8405:a9f4:4932:43aa (talk) →Kursenieki← Previous edit Revision as of 09:01, 24 May 2021 edit undo2607:fea8:1360:9d1:8405:a9f4:4932:43aa (talk) →KurseniekiNext edit →
Line 25: Line 25:
] ]


Vistula Spit was once populated almost exclusively by Kursenieki people (also known as Kuršininkai). They are nearly extinct ] ethnic group, closely related to contemporary Latvians that lived along Vistula Spit, ], in 1649 Kuršininkai settlement spanned from ] to ]. The Kuršininkai were eventually assimilated by the ], except along the Curonian Spit where some still live. The Kuršininkai were considered ] until after ] when ] gained independence from the ], a consideration based on linguistic arguments. This was the rationale for Latvian claims over the Curonian Spit, ], and other territories of ] which would be later dropped. Historically Vistula Spit was populated by Kursenieki people (also known as Kuršininkai), an Old Prussian tribe, related to modern day Latvians. This nearly extinct ] ethnic group once made Vistula Spit, costal zone of the Sambia Peninsula and ] its home. In 1649 Kuršininkai zone of settlement still spanned all the way from ] to ] encompassing narrow littoral area that reflected their lifestyle and dominant economic activity. The vast majority of Kuršininkai were eventually assimilated by the ]. Only on the Curonian Spit few scattered settlements survived to the present day. The Kuršininkai were considered ] until after ] when ] gained independence from the ], a consideration based on linguistic arguments. This was the rationale for Latvian claims over the Curonian Spit, ], and other territories of ] which would be later dropped.


== Transport == == Transport ==

Revision as of 09:01, 24 May 2021

Peninsular stretch of land in the Baltic Sea on the border between Russia and Poland
Landsat photo of the Vistula Spit

The Vistula Spit (Template:Lang-pl; Template:Lang-ru; Template:Lang-de) is an aeolian sand spit, or peninsular stretch of land that separates 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 enclave of Russia, bisects it, politically dividing the spit in half 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.

Geography

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 better known and more populous Hel peninsula in the western part of the Gdańsk Bay. The Vistula Spit streches in a north-easterly direction and separates the Vistula Lagoon from the southern Baltic Sea. The spit consists of 10 to 12 meter high marine sand, accumulated during three dune generations. The highest peaks of the Vistula Spit are the Kamelberg on the Polish side of the peninsula and the imposing 25 m (82 ft) high shifting sand dune of Narmeln on the Russian side of the border.

The border between Poland (Pomeranian Voivodeship) and Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) runs across the spit. At the very western end of the Polish part of the Vistula Spit lies village of Kąty Rybackie (Bodenwinkel). Further to the east, alongside the only road crossing the peninsula, lies village of Skowronki (Vogelsang) followed by towns of Borowo, Przebrno, Lipe, seaside resort town of Krynica Morska, (Kahlberg) and finally Nowa Karczma (also Piaski, formerly Neukrug) that is located just 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the Polish-Russian border. All Polish settlements belong to the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

On the 18 km (11 mi) long northeastern part on the Russian side lies the port city of Baltijsk (Pillau) just north of the exit Strait of Baltijsk. The former German, later Soviet and now Russian Neu Tief air force base is located there and inhabited by around 1,000 people and personel. It can be reached by ferry from Baltijsk.

History

This 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, 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.

During World War II, it became the last holdout of the remaining German soldiers in 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

Further information: Kursenieki
Curonian-populated area in 1649

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, costal zone of the Sambia Peninsula and Curonian Spit its home. In 1649 Kuršininkai zone of settlement still spanned all the way from Memel (Klaipėda) to Danzig (Gdańsk) encompassing narrow littoral area that reflected their lifestyle and dominant economic activity. The vast majority of Kuršininkai were eventually assimilated by the Germans. Only on the Curonian Spit few scattered settlements survived 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 the rationale for Latvian claims over the Curonian Spit, Memel, and other territories of East Prussia which would be later dropped.

Transport

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

Main article: Vistula Spit canal

In 2019, the Polish government started the building of a ship canal across the peninsula, which will permit ships to enter the Vistula Lagoon and the port of Elbląg, bypassing the current transit route through the Russian Strait of Baltiysk.

References

  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. 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.
  6. RDLP: wycinka na Mierzei Wiślanej jest zakończona

External links

Places on the Baltic coast of Poland

54°24′N 19°30′E / 54.400°N 19.500°E / 54.400; 19.500

Categories: