Strait of Baltiysk

The Strait of Baltiysk is the strait in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. It connects Gdansk Bay (Baltic Sea) and Vistula Bay, and separates Sambian Peninsula and Vistula Spit.

The strait is the main connection from the open sea to the important ports of Baltiysk and Kaliningrad in Russia, as well as to the Polish ports of Elbląg, Braniewo, Tolkmicko, Frombork, Sztutowo, Krynica Morska, and Nowa Pasłęka. [http://zalew.turinfo.pl/p/ak_id,23103,,zalew_wislany,mierzeja_wislana,ciesnina_pilawska,elblag,braniewo,frombork.html What Changes will a Canal on the Vistula Spit bring?] pl icon]

The strait was dug in 1497. In 1960s it was expanded and now it measures 400 m width and 12 m depth.

Since 1990s Russia periodically blocks navigation via the strait (both for Poland and Russia), therefore since 2006 Poland has been considering to dig another canal across the Vistula Spit, with various "pros" and "cons".

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