Nemunas Delta

Where the Nemunas reaches the Curonian Lagoon it breaks into a flat delta of channels, polders and reedbeds, sometimes called the Lithuanian Venice for the village of Rusne that floods each spring. It is a vast wetland and one of the most important bird migration stops in Europe, watched from towers and boats.

The landscape

• Rusne island - the delta village that half-floods every spring.
• Bird migration - huge flocks pass through the reeds and floodmeadows.
• Ventes Ragas - the cape and bird-ringing station at the lagoon's edge.
• Polders and channels - the dyked farmland and waterways of the delta.

When to go

Spring and autumn migration are the peak, when birdlife is at its greatest; spring floods turn Rusne into an island. Summer is greener but quieter for birds.

What to expect

This is a flat, subtle wetland for birdwatchers and slow travellers, not a place of dramatic scenery. It is far in the south-west corner, a long drive from most of the country. Bring binoculars, insect repellent and patience.

Nearby

Ventes Ragas bird station is on the same lagoon shore; the Curonian Spit lies across the water.

Key facts