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Coordinates: 54°27′N 19°45′E / 54.450°N 19.750°E / 54.450; 19.750
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{{Short description|Fresh water lagoon on the Baltic Sea}}
{{Short description|Fresh water lagoon on the Baltic Sea}}
{{Infobox body of water
[[Image:Vistula Lagoon.jpg|thumbnail|270px|right|Landsat photo of the Vistula Lagoon]]
| name = Vistula Lagoon
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[[Image:Port we Fromborku.JPG|thumb|270px|right|Small port on the Vistula Lagoon in [[Frombork]], Poland]]
| native_name = {{Native name|pl|Zalew Wiślany}}
| image = Vistula Lagoon.jpg
| caption = Landsat photo of the Vistula Lagoon
| location = [[Poland]], [[Russia]]
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| coordinates = {{coord|54|27|N|19|45|E|region:PL_type:waterbody|display=it}}
| type = [[Lagoon]]
| etymology = [[Vistula River]]
| inflow = Bauda, [[Elbląg (river)|Elbląg]], [[Nogat]], [[Pasłęka]], [[Szkarpawa]], [[Pregolya]], [[Prokhladnaya (river)|Prokhladnaya]], Wisła Królewiecka
| length = {{convert|90.7|km|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|13|km|abbr=on}}
| area = {{convert|838|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth = {{convert|2.7|m|abbr=on}}
| salinity = 3‰
| cities = [[Tolkmicko]], [[Frombork]], [[Krynica Morska]], [[Baltiysk]], [[Primorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast|Primorsk]]
| pushpin_map = Poland#Baltic Sea#Europe
}}
The '''Vistula Lagoon''' ({{lang-pl|Zalew Wiślany}}; {{lang-ru|Калининградский залив}}, transliterated: ''Kaliningradskiy Zaliv''; {{lang-de|Frisches Haff}}; {{lang-lt|Aistmarės}}) is a [[brackish water]] [[lagoon]] on the [[Baltic Sea]] roughly 56 miles (90&nbsp;km) long, 6 to 15 miles (10 to 19&nbsp;km) wide, and up to 17 feet (5&nbsp;m) deep, separated from the [[Gdańsk Bay]] by the [[Vistula Spit]]. The modern German name, ''Frisches Haff'', is derived from an earlier form, ''Friesisches Haff''.<ref name=PWB>Erhard Riemann, Alfred Schoenfeldt, Ulrich Tolksdorf, Reinhard Goltz, Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur (Germany), Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz, ''Preussisches Wörterbuch: Deutsche Mundarten Ost- und Westpreussens'', 6th edition, Wachholtz, 1974, p.595, {{ISBN|3-529-04611-6}}</ref>
The '''Vistula Lagoon''' ({{lang-pl|Zalew Wiślany}}; {{lang-ru|Калининградский залив}}, transliterated: ''Kaliningradskiy Zaliv''; {{lang-de|Frisches Haff}}; {{lang-lt|Aistmarės}}) is a [[brackish water]] [[lagoon]] on the [[Baltic Sea]] roughly 56 miles (90&nbsp;km) long, 6 to 15 miles (10 to 19&nbsp;km) wide, and up to 17 feet (5&nbsp;m) deep, separated from the [[Gdańsk Bay]] by the [[Vistula Spit]]. The modern German name, ''Frisches Haff'', is derived from an earlier form, ''Friesisches Haff''.<ref name=PWB>Erhard Riemann, Alfred Schoenfeldt, Ulrich Tolksdorf, Reinhard Goltz, Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur (Germany), Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz, ''Preussisches Wörterbuch: Deutsche Mundarten Ost- und Westpreussens'', 6th edition, Wachholtz, 1974, p.595, {{ISBN|3-529-04611-6}}</ref>


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The lagoon is split between [[Poland]] (including the localities of [[Elbląg]], [[Tolkmicko]], [[Frombork]], and [[Krynica Morska]]) and [[Russia]]'s [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] (including the localities of [[Kaliningrad]], [[Baltiysk]], and [[Primorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast|Primorsk]]). Before 2022, the only water route from the lagoon out to the Gdańsk Bay was the [[Strait of Baltiysk]], in Russia's portion of the lagoon. The Polish port of [[Elbląg]] used to see a substantial amount of trading traffic on the lagoon, but that declined due to international tensions and silting. Between 2019 and 2022, Poland built the [[Vistula Spit canal]] in their own portion of the lagoon, to create another water route out of the lagoon. Kaliningrad and Baltiysk are currently major seaports on the lagoon.
The lagoon is split between [[Poland]] (including the localities of [[Elbląg]], [[Tolkmicko]], [[Frombork]], and [[Krynica Morska]]) and [[Russia]]'s [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] (including the localities of [[Kaliningrad]], [[Baltiysk]], and [[Primorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast|Primorsk]]). Before 2022, the only water route from the lagoon out to the Gdańsk Bay was the [[Strait of Baltiysk]], in Russia's portion of the lagoon. The Polish port of [[Elbląg]] used to see a substantial amount of trading traffic on the lagoon, but that declined due to international tensions and silting. Between 2019 and 2022, Poland built the [[Vistula Spit canal]] in their own portion of the lagoon, to create another water route out of the lagoon. Kaliningrad and Baltiysk are currently major seaports on the lagoon.
⚫
[[Image:Port we Fromborku.JPG|thumb|right|Small port on the Vistula Lagoon in [[Frombork]], Poland]]

It is an [[Important Bird Area]] of Poland.<ref>[http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/vistula-lagoon-iba-poland Vistula Lagoon], a fact sheet of [[BirdLife International]]</ref>
It is an [[Important Bird Area]] of Poland.<ref>[http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/vistula-lagoon-iba-poland Vistula Lagoon], a fact sheet of [[BirdLife International]]</ref>


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=== Kursenieki ===
=== Kursenieki ===
{{Further|Kursenieki}}While today the [[Kursenieki]], also known as ''Kuršininkai'' are a nearly extinct [[Balts|Baltic]] ethnic group living along the [[Curonian Spit]], in 1649 Kuršininkai settlement spanned from [[Klaipėda|Memel (Klaipėda)]] to [[Gdańsk|Danzig (Gdańsk)]], including the area around the Vistula Lagoon. 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, [[Klaipėda|Memel]], and other territories of [[East Prussia]] which would be later dropped.[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1979-084-05, Ostpreußen, Flüchtlingstreck.jpg|thumb|left|185x185px|East Prussian refugees after crossing the lagoon]]
{{Further|Kursenieki}}While today the [[Kursenieki]], also known as ''Kuršininkai'' are a nearly extinct [[Balts|Baltic]] ethnic group living along the [[Curonian Spit]], in 1649 Kuršininkai settlement spanned from [[Klaipėda|Memel (Klaipėda)]] to [[Gdańsk|Danzig (Gdańsk)]], including the area around the Vistula Lagoon. The Kuršininkai were eventually assimilated by the [[Germans]], except along the Curonian Spit where some still live.


=== Historical events related to the lagoon ===
=== Historical events related to the lagoon ===
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* [[Battle of Vistula Lagoon]]
* [[Battle of Vistula Lagoon]]
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}

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{{coord|54|27|N|19|45|E|region:PL_type:waterbody|display=title}}


{{Tributaries of the Vistula}}
{{Tributaries of the Vistula}}

Revision as of 13:40, 21 January 2023

Vistula Lagoon
Zalew Wiślany (Polish)
Landsat photo of the Vistula Lagoon
Vistula Lagoon is located in Poland
Vistula Lagoon
Vistula Lagoon
Vistula Lagoon is located in Baltic Sea
Vistula Lagoon
Vistula Lagoon
Vistula Lagoon is located in Europe
Vistula Lagoon
Vistula Lagoon
LocationPoland, Russia
Coordinates54°27′N 19°45′E / 54.450°N 19.750°E / 54.450; 19.750
TypeLagoon
EtymologyVistula River
Primary inflowsBauda, Elbląg, Nogat, Pasłęka, Szkarpawa, Pregolya, Prokhladnaya, Wisła Królewiecka
Max. length90.7 km (56.4 mi)
Max. width13 km (8.1 mi)
Surface area838 km2 (324 sq mi)
Average depth2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Salinity3‰
SettlementsTolkmicko, Frombork, Krynica Morska, Baltiysk, Primorsk

The Vistula Lagoon (Template:Lang-pl; Template:Lang-ru, transliterated: Kaliningradskiy Zaliv; Template:Lang-de; Template:Lang-lt) is a brackish water lagoon on the Baltic Sea roughly 56 miles (90 km) long, 6 to 15 miles (10 to 19 km) wide, and up to 17 feet (5 m) deep, separated from the Gdańsk Bay by the Vistula Spit. The modern German name, Frisches Haff, is derived from an earlier form, Friesisches Haff.[1]

Geography

The lagoon is a mouth of a few branches of the Vistula River, notably Nogat and Szkarpawa, and of the Pregolya River.

The lagoon is split between Poland (including the localities of Elbląg, Tolkmicko, Frombork, and Krynica Morska) and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast (including the localities of Kaliningrad, Baltiysk, and Primorsk). Before 2022, the only water route from the lagoon out to the Gdańsk Bay was the Strait of Baltiysk, in Russia's portion of the lagoon. The Polish port of Elbląg used to see a substantial amount of trading traffic on the lagoon, but that declined due to international tensions and silting. Between 2019 and 2022, Poland built the Vistula Spit canal in their own portion of the lagoon, to create another water route out of the lagoon. Kaliningrad and Baltiysk are currently major seaports on the lagoon.

Small port on the Vistula Lagoon in Frombork, Poland

It is an Important Bird Area of Poland.[2]

Etymology

The earliest version of the name of the Vistula Lagoon has been recorded in historical sources by Wulfstan of Hedeby at the end of the 9th Century as Estmere.[3] It is an Anglo-Saxon rendition of the Old Prussian Aīstinmari, which was the name for the lagoon. The name was the fusion of two Old Prussian words:

  • Aistei
  • *mari - "lagoon (a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand), fresh water bay".[4]

So, the oldest known meaning of the name of the Vistula Lagoon was "The lagoon or sea of the Aesti". The Old Prussian name is still used in Modern Lithuanian as Aistmarės, which preserves the original meaning.

German period

Over three hundred years later, in the first half of the 13th Century, the name of the Vistula Lagoon occurs in deeds issued by the Teutonic Order in Latin as Mare Recens (1246 - "mare" - a pool or lake or sea and "recens" - fresh) in contrast to the contemporaneous name for the Baltic Sea - Mare Salsum (Salty Sea). Then in 1251 there is a reference to Mare Recens et Neriam and finally in 1288 Recenti Mari Hab, which evidently corresponds with the German "Frisches Haff".[5]

History

From the first half of the 13th c. the lagoon was part of the State of the Teutonic Order, then Ducal Prussia and eventually the Kingdom of Prussia, which became part of the German Empire in 1871. From 1466 to 1772 its western part belonged to the Polish province of Royal Prussia, and from 1920 to 1939 it was split between Germany and the Free City of Danzig. Since 1945 its eastern part belongs to the Russian (formerly USSR) Kaliningrad Oblast, and Poland has 43.8% of its area on the western side bordering the Pomeranian and Warmian-Masurian voivodships.

Curonian-populated area in 1649

Kursenieki

Further information: 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), including the area around the Vistula Lagoon. The Kuršininkai were eventually assimilated by the Germans, except along the Curonian Spit where some still live.

From January until March 1945, throughout the evacuation of East Prussia, refugees from East Prussia crossed the frozen lagoon on their way west after the Red Army reached the coast of the lagoon near Elbing on January 26. Attacked by Soviet aircraft, thousands of these refugees were killed or fell through the broken ice.[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Erhard Riemann, Alfred Schoenfeldt, Ulrich Tolksdorf, Reinhard Goltz, Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur (Germany), Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz, Preussisches Wörterbuch: Deutsche Mundarten Ost- und Westpreussens, 6th edition, Wachholtz, 1974, p.595, ISBN 3-529-04611-6
  2. ^ Vistula Lagoon, a fact sheet of BirdLife International
  3. ^ Janet Batley, Wulfstan's voyage and his description of Estland: the text and the language of the text, in: Wulfstan's Voyage. The Baltic Sea region in the early Viking Age as seen from shipboard, Maritime Culture of the North, 2, Roskilde 2009, p. 15.
  4. ^ Klussis, Mikkels (2006). Dictionary of revived Prussian: Prussian - English, English - Prussian. Vilnius. p. 47.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ Codex diplomaticus Warmiensis oder Regesten und Urkunden zur Geschichte Ermlands. Bd. 1, Urkunden der Jahre 1231-1340, (ed.) Johann Martin Saage, Carl Peter Woelky, Mainz 1860, No. 13, p. 18 - 22, No. 26, p. 46 - 49, No. 79, p. 133 - 136.
  6. ^ Max Egremont Forgotten Land: Journeys Among the Ghosts of East Prussia (2012), ISBN 978-0374533564
  7. ^ Patricia Clough The Flight Across The Ice: The Escape of the East Prussian Horses (2009), ISBN 978-1906598341
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vistula Lagoon.
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