Dune Efa: attractions, descriptions, interesting facts and reviews

One of the attractions of the Baltic is the dune of Efa. It is a large sandy ridge stretching for 4.5 kilometers along the Curonian Lagoon. This dune is the largest in Europe, so it attracts many tourists from neighboring Lithuania, the Kaliningrad region, and from all over Russia and Europe.

What is Dune Efa?

In fact, this is a large mountain of sand, which in fact is called Nut. However, more often it is called by the name of the highest point - the height of Efa, which, by the way, rises upwards by 64 meters. The dune starts at about 16 km of the Curonian Spit and stretches to the border with Lithuania.

Throughout the length of the spit are laid hiking trails. Desert landscapes are picturesque: the sky, the waves of the bay and vegetation - this is what the dune Efa is unique. The Curonian Spit is also a place for migrating birds, for example, at the end of summer and in the autumn you can find a lot of gulls here. Nearby, by the way, there is also an ornithological station, where birds are ringing. But there is nothing to see except gulls.

History of strengthening the "dancing" sands

Once the dune Efa was surrounded by trees, but in the 18th century they were cut down. Why, why and who - on these questions history has no answer. But everyone knows exactly what happened after - the sands, no longer restrained by roots and tree trunks, commanded by the force of the wind, began their free movement. Over the years, they destroyed 14 surrounding villages - the sand slowly penetrated into the houses, fell asleep in the cracks and gradually crushed under him all. It is said that local houses even had double doors - if sand starts to prop it, one narrow leaf can be opened.

In the year the dune was 20 meters ahead. To stop this natural phenomenon, people were not able to and just throwing houses and moving away. Soon the sands began to threaten not only the villages, but also shipping, as well as rich fishing. Therefore in 1768 in Europe they decided to fight with the elements. Nobody knew how, so they announced a contest for the best solution to the problem. The winner was Professor Titius, who suggested that the spit be restored to its original form and planted again with trees. To do this, built cells from dry reeds, which hold up the sands and allow the dune to grow up. When the desired height is reached, in the same cells planted herbs that grow well in the sun and have long roots that restrain the barkhan in one place. And then planted bushes and pines, which with their roots help the common cause.

Work stretched for as long as 100 years, 40 of which were supervised by a silviculturist and dune inspector Franz Efa, it was in his honor named the highest point of the dune. Such a gratitude he earned from the inhabitants of the local village of Pillkoppen (now he belongs to Russia and is called Marine). It was the contribution of Efa that stopped the sand coming to the village and saved its inhabitants and houses. On the dune even stood a commemorative plaque dedicated to the forester, but today it is no longer there.

To date, work on deforestation of the dune is still ongoing, it remains to plant about 15 percent of all the sands. Although, according to some sources, these 15 percent is the most mobile dune of Efa, which was left as a highlight of this place. Like the cells from the branches designed by Efa, modern technologies would support the sands without them, but the uniqueness of the object encourages keeping everything the way it was intended a century ago.

Hiking not on special decking is strictly prohibited and punishable by a fine. However, the reality is that the tourist groups go to the dune directly under the forbidding signs and descend to the bay, risking the destruction of the long two-century work.

What to see

The most important thing that the dune of Efa offers is natural attractions, namely spectacular views. For admiring nature two observation platforms have been created here. From here you can see amazing views of the Curonian Lagoon, the Baltic Sea on the other side, the village of Morskaya and the extraterrestrial landscapes of the dune itself.

When the wind rises in good sunny weather, millions of grains of sand in the air create a feeling of being in a real desert, as if caught in a sandstorm. This is an amazing experience for the Baltic region.

From the first observation platform is visible Staroselskaya mountain. Here (according to legends), the local Curonians worshiped their pagan gods, and the Crusaders in the 18th century built a fortress for themselves. But all this is buried and destroyed by nomadic sands. From the second site you can see and Marine - a picturesque village with houses under a red tile roof.

Walking routes

Since the very dune is strictly forbidden to walk, there are wooden platforms along which you can make a hike. The length of the road is about 2.8 kilometers, the whole road will take about 2 hours.

The entrance to the trail starts at the 42nd kilometer of the dune and is indicated by a sign, but it's difficult to drive past - there are always a lot of tourists, cars and buses, souvenir tents. The route is called "Elevation of Efa" and it is laid along the south-west slope of the dune.

So, the route begins in the forest clearing, after passing through which only 200 meters, you can climb to the first observation platform. It leads to a wooden staircase along a very picturesque pine forest. The second site is set a little further, at the highest point of the dune. Keep in mind that the playground is small, and the staircase leading to it is narrow. In a season because of a plenty of tourists on it it will be difficult to go down and rise.

Visit Features

Since the dune Efa is a national park, it is necessary to issue a pass for its visit by car. It is decorated at the checkpoint of the park. The journey to the territory costs 250 rubles.

The weather in the Baltic is very changeable - the rains are replaced by the sun, and vice versa, so take an umbrella or a raincoat, as well as a cap and sunglasses, in any weather, to see the local sands with which the Efa dune is unique. Reviews of tourists and local residents say: if the weather does not like, wait five minutes. However, and if you like, then in five minutes everything can change.

The hiking trail, laid on a wooden platform, is rather narrow, the flooring is old and sometimes rotten, so look under your feet. In addition, after the rain or in the fog is slippery.

Dune Efa: how to get there

You can get to see the dune Efa by car. If you go from Kaliningrad, then before the Sea, to the right of the road, there will be an index.

You can also come by bus from Kaliningrad. There is a route right up to the Sea, but it rarely goes, so you can get to Zelenograd and there you change to the bus "Zelenograd-Morskoye". By the way, big buses on this route go longer than small minibuses.

Where to stay

Stop overnight to inspect the dune and the entire Curonian Spit, you can in Kaliningrad or in the village of Morskoye. In the city there are many offers for accommodation - from luxury hotels to inexpensive hostels and private apartments. Marine, as they say, is an actively developing tourist village, where it is pleasant to relax. There are a lot of boarding houses and recreation centers, which are open all year round.