Strait of Baltiysk
The Strait of Baltiysk is a strait enabling passage from the Baltic Sea into the freshwater Vistula Lagoon, located in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. The constructed strait separates the Sambian Peninsula and the Vistula Spit, and is at the northeastern side of the lagoon.
Shipping
The strait is the shipping connection from the open sea to the important Russian ports of Baltiysk and Kaliningrad in the northeastern lagoon, as well as to the Polish ports of Elbląg, Braniewo, Tolkmicko, Frombork, Sztutowo, Krynica Morska, and Nowa Pasłęka in the southeastern lagoon.[1]
History
The strait was dug in 1497. In the 1960s it was expanded and now it measures 400 m width and 12 m depth.
Since the 1990s Russia periodically blocks navigation via the strait (both for Poland and Russian Kaliningrad Oblast). Since 2006, Poland has considered digging another canal across the Vistula Spit in order to circumvent this lack of access.[1]
Kursenieki
While today the Kursenieki, also known as Kuršininkai are a nearly extinct Baltic ethnic group living along the Curonian Spit, in 1649 Kuršininkai settlement spanned from Memel (Klaipėda) to Danzig (Gdańsk). The Kuršininkai were eventually assimilated by the Germans, except along the Curonian Spit where some still live. 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.
References
Coordinates: 54°38′28″N 19°52′42″E / 54.64111°N 19.87833°E