The Curonian Spit is a 98 km long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast located in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia and southwestern Lithuania. It was formed about 5,000 years ago. A glacial moraine served as its foundation; winds and sea currents later contributed enough sand to raise and keep the formation above sea level. Since 2000, the Curonian Spit has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
The Curonian Spit is home to the highest moving (drifting) sand dunes in Europe. Their average height is 35 meters, but some attain the height of 60 meters. Several ecological communities are present on and near the Spit, from its outer beaches to dune ridges, wetlands, meadows, and forests. Its location on the East Atlantic Flyway means it is frequently visited by migratory waterfowl. Between 10 and 20 million birds fly over the feature during spring and fall migrations, and many pause to rest or breed there.
Kuršių Nerija National Park is one of the five national parks in Lithuania. It was established in 1991 to protect the unique ecosystems of the Curonian Spit and Curonian Lagoon.
The stamp is from a set of 2 stamps issued in 2008 to commemorate the XXIX Olympic Games in Beijing.
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