Dune Efa
Dune Efa is a 2.8 km long section of the Curonian Spit, located in the vicinity of the village of Morskoye, in the Kaliningrad region. The hiking route passing through this section of the sandy ridge is known for its picturesque views that attract numerous tourists here. By the way, the very name “Efa dune” is a simple name, the official and more geographically correct variant is Efa height.
History
Dune Efa is located on the 42nd kilometer of the Curonian Spit, stretching from Zelenogradsk (Kalinigrad region) to the Lithuanian Klaipeda. The sandy ridge was named after Wilhelm Franz Eph, a German scientist and engineer who was involved in the strengthening and landscaping of the spit.
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Strange as it may seem, a couple hundred years ago today’s landmark posed a serious problem for the local population. Many years of deforestation and cattle grazing led to the fact that in the XVIII-XIX centuries a real ecological disaster broke out on this section of the dune landscape. The place turned into a lifeless desert, and the sands in motion began to cover the houses of local residents. The German authorities (at that time the territory of modern Kaliningrad belonged to Prussia) decided to stop the dunes’ advance, having entrusted the development of the project on strengthening of especially dangerous parts of the spit to V. F. Efu. Thanks to the efforts of the engineer, today’s visitors to the Efa Heights can admire its desert landscapes without fear of being buried under the thickness of sand.
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A walk among the dunes
Regular excursions are organized to the Efa dune, at the same time, many travelers prefer to get acquainted with the natural beauty of the height on their own. Since the area of the site is small, it is easy to get around on foot. The tourist path passes through the southwestern slope of the Orekhova dune. The highest point of this majestic barchan is the height of Efa (64 meters above sea level).
.For your information: to avoid accidents, it is forbidden to walk on the Efa dune itself. The wooden decks leading to the main viewing areas are used for walks and excursions.
The sand ridge is located a little away from kilometer 42 of the highway, as indicated by a road sign. If you are traveling in your own car, leave it at the roadside parking lot and walk along the wooden boardwalk through the pine forest. Along the way you can meet a large number of information stands telling about the flora and fauna of the Curonian Spit, as well as the history of this amazing natural and anthropogenic landscape.
.Walking along the bridges winding among the snow-white hills, don’t be lazy to climb the Orekhovaya dune. It is from it that you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Curonian Lagoon, the Baltic Sea and the nearby village of Morskoye.
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Curious fact: the history of the village Morskoye began in the XIII century. The first settlement on this part of the spit was founded by the Teutonic Knights, giving it the name Pilkoppen. For all the time of its existence, the settlement was periodically covered with sands, because of which it changed its location three times.
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The Efa Heights are equipped with 2 observation platforms, from which you can not only admire the cosmic landscape of the ridge, but also see the remains of the fortification system of dunes, invented by a German scientist. On some slopes there are still fragments of fences made of dry reed stalks. Grasses with strong root systems were planted in these makeshift cells to help hold the sand mountains in place.
.How to get there
Since Efa Dune is located just off the highway, it is best to get here by car or bus. You can rent a car immediately upon arrival in Kaliningrad. Those who prefer to travel by public transport have two options: Bus route 593, which runs from Kaliningrad to the village of Morskoye, or travel by route 210, which leaves from Zelenogradsk.
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