Nemunas Delta

The Nemunas Delta is a major river delta and wetland complex located in western Lithuania. It is formed where the Nemunas River reaches the shallow Curonian Lagoon near the major port city of Klaipėda.

The delta is characterized by an intricate network of streams, floodplains, and shallow lakes, making it one of the most crucial wetland ecosystems in Europe. It serves as a major stopover site for millions of migratory birds traversing the continent.

While the primary, most expansive portion of the delta lies within Lithuania, the Nemunas River itself marks the natural border between Lithuania and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Parts of the river's lower reaches and floodplains historically extended across this modern political boundary.

Every spring, the melting snow causes the Nemunas River to flood, submerging vast areas of the delta's meadows and low-lying villages. This annual flooding creates an ideal spawning ground for fish and an crucial habitat for nesting waterfowl.