- Vistula Lagoon
The Vistula Lagoon ( _pl. Zalew Wiślany or "Zatoka Fryska" in 1910 ["Zatoka Fryska" on a 1910 map at polishroots.org [http://www.polishroots.org/images/maps/mapa%20narodowosciowa%201910.jpg] ] ; _ru. Калининградский залив or "Kaliningradskiy Zaliv"; _de. Frisches Haff; _lt. Aismarės) is a
fresh water lagoon on theBaltic Sea separated fromGdańsk Bay by theVistula Spit . It is sometimes known as the Vistula Bay or Vistula Gulf.The lagoon is a mouth of a few branches of the
Vistula River, notably theNogat , and thePregolya River. It is connected to Gdańsk Bay by theStrait of Baltiysk .Localities on the lagoon include
Kaliningrad ,Baltiysk , and Primorsk in Russia'sKaliningrad Oblast andElbląg ,Tolkmicko ,Frombork ,Krynica Morska in Poland. The Polish port ofElbląg used to see a substantial amount of trading traffic on the lagoon, but that has declined owing to the current border situation. Kaliningrad and Baltiysk are currently major seaports on the lagoon.Proposed Canal
Digging a canal to connect the lagoon with the Baltic Sea is in consideration as a major EU-supported project. The canal, 1 km in length, would re-activate the Elblag port. It would also free its dependence on Russia, which time and again revokes the right of passage for Polish ships through
Strait of Baltiysk as a form of pressure on Polish authorities. It would cost an estimated PLN 80 million. However, major ecological considerations stand in the way. For example, mammalmigration along the lagoon could be disrupted. Also, the inflow ofbrackish water s from the Baltic sea could result in serious unbalancing of the lagoon's freshwater ecosystem.History
From 1871 until 1919, the Lagoon was part of
German Empire . Between 1919 and 1945 it was split between Germany and theFree City of Danzig . From January until March 1945 throughout theEvacuation of East Prussia refugees fromEast Prussia crossed the frozen Lagoon on their way to the west after theRed Army had reached the coast of the Lagoon nearElblag . Attacked by fighter aircraft thousands of them were killed or broke through the ice. Today the Vistula Lagoon is politically split betweenPoland andRussia 'sKaliningrad Oblast .ee also
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Curonian Lagoon
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