Data

Year of establishment

1991 year

Area

27388 he.

Regional park group

Ph. No.
Email
https://nerija.lrv.lt/

Objectives of Establishment

The Curonian Spit National Park is distinguished by its unique landscape. It is undoubtedly the most valuable protected area in Lithuania. In 2000, the Curonian Spit was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Curonian Spit National Park was established to preserve:

• The Great Dune Ridge of the Curonian Spit, including the ancient parabolic dunes near Juodkrantė, the grey dunes in the Agila–Nagliai stretch, the shifting Parnidis dunes, the buried ancient soils, as well as the coastal and lagoon-side wetland complexes, the protective coastal dune ridge, the unique vegetation of the Curonian Spit, its forests with remnants of primeval forest, and its fauna;

• The unique cultural heritage, including authentic immovable cultural properties along the lagoon coast, ethnographic fishermen’s homesteads, historic villas in the settlements of Nida, Juodkrantė, Preila, and Pervalka, cultural layers of ancient buried villages, memorial sites, and to foster the characteristic traditions of wooden architecture.

Outstanding Value

The outstanding universal value of the Curonian Spit was internationally recognized in 2000 when it was inscribed on the World Heritage List. It represents a living landscape shaped by the sea, the wind, and humans — a narrow strip of sand stretching between the sea and the lagoon, with sandspits reaching into the lagoon. Along the seaward side, a man-made protective dune ridge mirrors the coastline. The Great Dune Ridge stands as the Spit’s dominant feature, highlighted by distinct dunes such as Parnidis, Vecekrugas, Sklandytojų, Hagenas, and others, ancient parabolic dune remnants near Juodkrantė, and the grey dunes between Nagliai and Agila. Unique buried ancient soils and lagoon peninsulas (spits) like Bulvikis, Žirgai, and Libis are found here.

Only here can one see a wealth of sand-dwelling plant species and fragments of ancient forests. Unique insects, not found elsewhere in Lithuania — species characteristic of southern and steppe regions — inhabit the area. The Curonian Spit is a critical segment of the White Sea–Baltic Sea migratory flyway, through which around 15 million birds pass annually.

The distinctive nature is reflected in equally distinctive human creations. The original fishermen's houses, the weather vanes of kurėnai (traditional boats) with their colorful carvings, and the historic villas harmoniously adapted to the delicate landscape show the deep connection between people and their environment. In the settlements, ethnographic fishermen’s house architecture blends seamlessly with ornately decorated villas, red-brick churches, and schools. One of the most unique ethnographic elements is the proudly spinning kurėnai weather vanes adorned with colorful carvings.

Landscape

The Curonian Spit National Park features a uniquely structured landscape, characterized by distinctive natural and cultural heritage sites and offering great potential for recreation and educational tourism. The Great Dune Ridge is central to the peninsula's identity, along with parts of lagoon-side settlements that have preserved their ethnocultural distinctiveness. In terms of landscape value, the Curonian Spit National Park belongs to the highest category.

The landscape diversity of the park includes the following main types:

• Open stretches of major sand dunes;

• Afforested sections of the Great Dune Ridge;

• Forested ancient parabolic dune zones;

• Forested small dune ridges;

• Sandy flatlands and rolling or dune-covered coastal wetlands;

• Sandy beaches and protective dune ridges;

• Sandy lagoon spits (peninsulas);

• Urbanized lagoon-side settlements;

• The lagoon waters of the Curonian Lagoon;

• Open Baltic Sea areas.

The Curonian Spit National Park represents the ethnocultural region of Lithuania Minor.

There are 704 plant species recorded, of which 1 is protected by the European Community and 21 are listed in Lithuania’s Red Data Book. There are 1277 recorded animal species: 48 mammals (17 protected by the European Community, 8 listed in Lithuania’s Red Data Book), 281 bird species (56 protected by the European Community, 61 listed in the Red Data Book), and 50 fish species in the lagoon (5 fish species and 1 lamprey species included in the EU Habitats Directive Annexes II and V). In the open sea, 70 fish species are found, of which 6 are protected by the European Community and 2 are in the Red Data Book. There are 13 amphibian and reptile species (6 protected by the European Community, 2 listed in the Red Data Book), as well as 889 butterfly, 746 beetle, and 26 ant species (2 protected by the European Community, 11 listed in the Red Data Book).

Reserves and Protected Areas

To preserve natural and cultural heritage, the Curonian Spit National Park includes 2 nature reserves and 14 sanctuaries (5 landscape, 2 geomorphological, 1 thalassological, 1 historical, and 5 urban).

In the nature reserves:

• Grobštas Reserve protects a unique natural complex, including the active Great Dune Ridge, distinctive tussock formations, wet coastal plains, protective dune ridges, sandy areas, sites of rare plant and animal species (listed in Lithuania’s Red Data Book), and habitats of European Community importance.

• Nagliai Reserve preserves unique landscapes, including grey dunes, tussock fields, Agila and Lydumas peninsulas, wooded coastal wetlands, protective dune ridges, and sandy areas.

In the landscape sanctuaries:

• Alksnynė Sanctuary protects afforested dunes and wetland formations;

• Garnių Kalnas Sanctuary preserves old-growth parabolic dunes and distinct peninsula features;

• Karvaičiai Sanctuary protects the highest dunes on the Lithuanian side of the Spit (Vecekrugas, Karvaičiai, and Preila dunes) and other notable features;

• Parnidis Sanctuary features forested and partially shifting large dunes and wetland areas;

• Raganų Kalnas Sanctuary protects ancient parabolic dunes and rare species sites.

In the geomorphological sanctuaries:

• Angių Sanctuary preserves small forested parabolic dunes and Angių Hill;

• Hagen Ridge Sanctuary protects the forested tip of the Great Dune Ridge with Hagen Hill.

In the Neringa Thalassological Sanctuary, shallow nearshore marine ecosystems with habitats of European Community importance are preserved.

In the Amber Bay Historical Sanctuary, the historically and archaeologically valuable former industrial part of Juodkrantė is preserved, including old plantings and structures.

In the urban sanctuaries:

• Juodkrantė, Nida, Pervalka, Preila, and Smiltynė preserve planning layouts, spatial structures, architectural values (especially historic villas), and memorial sites.

Heritage Sites

The national park features 11 natural monuments: the dunes of Vecekrugas, Agila, Karvaičiai, Skirpstas, and Vingis; the peninsulas of Lyguma and Nagliai; the hills of Angių, Raganos, and Urbas; and the marl outcrop at the lagoon.
Additionally, there are more than 200 protected cultural heritage sites within the park.