Curonian Spit Grey Dunes

The Curonian Spit is a 98-km long, narrow sand peninsula shared between Lithuania and Russia, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its most dramatic feature is the series of grey dunes — massive sand formations that tower up to 60 meters above sea level and have been shifting and reshaping the landscape for millennia. These dunes are among the highest in Europe, and their power is evident in the history of the spit. Over the centuries, migrating dunes have buried entire villages, forcing communities to relocate repeatedly. The 'Dead Dunes' trail near Nida takes visitors through a landscape of stabilized dunes, demonstrating the massive reforestation effort that has slowed (but not stopped) the sand's advance. The ecological diversity of the Curonian Spit is remarkable. In the space of a few kilometers, you move from Baltic Sea beaches through dune grasslands, pine forests, and lagoon shorelines. Wildlife includes elk, wild boar, foxes, and during migration seasons, millions of birds pass through this crucial flyway between Northern Europe and Africa.