The Baltic states include three separate nations: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
getty
Europe is dwelling to huge swathes of pristine pure land to discover, and the Baltics are not any exception. Encompassing greater than 67,000 sq. miles throughout three counties, the mixed territory of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia is rife with pure magnificence spanning from the shores of the Baltic Sea to the heavily-wooded landscapes alongside the Russian and Belarussian borders. As you propose your subsequent nature-focused European trip, don’t miss out on these spectacular wildlife-filled preserves.
Curonian Spit Nationwide Park
The Curonian Spit was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Web site in 2000.
getty
Working roughly 60 miles throughout the Lithuanian-Russian border, the Curonian Spit is a very fascinating pure area to discover—and the aptly-named Curonian Spit Nationwide Park gives ample alternative to take action. This sprawling protect is greatest identified for its sweeping sand dunes, with the famend Parnidis Dune serving as one of many space’s hottest climbing locations. Whereas the coastal panorama is unbelievable to soak up, you should definitely maintain your eye out for a few of the area’s native wildlife as properly. Mammals just like the moose, river otter, and purple fox can all be noticed on land, whereas near 300 totally different forms of chicken have been recorded within the park over the many years.
Matsalu Nationwide Park
The nationwide chicken of Estonia is the barn swallow.
Common Photographs Group through Getty Photographs
Birders take word—Estonia’s Matsalu Nationwide Park affords a degree of avian biodiversity that’s robust to search out elsewhere throughout Europe. This wetland-rich panorama is perched completely alongside the East Atlantic Flyway, ushering in an enormous array of migrating species every spring. The majority of those guests are waterfowl—barnacle geese, tufted geese, and customary mergansers, to call a number of—whereas mammals like moose and golden jackals will also be noticed roaming all through the marsh. In the course of the autumn, large widespread crane flocks descend upon the park, utilizing the realm as a resting level earlier than heading south for the winter.
Ķemeri Nationwide Park
Latvia joined the European Union in 2004.
getty
Planning a visit to the charming Latvian capital metropolis of Riga? Don’t miss out on Ķemeri Nationwide Park, an unlimited protect that’s discovered lower than an hour west of metropolis limits. Whereas the majority of the park is made up of dense forest, Ķemeri is greatest identified for its pristine bogs, providing guests a possibility to get up-close with a few of Latvia’s native plant species. The Nice Kemeri Lavatory Boardwalk is a well-liked vacation spot throughout the park, outfitted with a roughly two-mile-long raised path and commentary deck that provides an awesome view of the encircling panorama. For visiting birders, Lake Kaņieris gives friends with a wide selection of native shorebirds and passerines to find.
Aukštaitija Nationwide Park
The nationwide chicken of Lithuania is the white stork.
getty
Deep within the japanese reaches of Lithuania, a pristine hub for native wildlife exists within the type of Aukštaitija Nationwide Park. There are a couple of hundred lakes scattered all through the protect, making it a prime vacation spot for kayaking and swimming, together with a number of lookout towers that present guests with stellar views of the encircling panorama. A paradise for plant biodiversity, Aukštaitija Nationwide Park is dwelling to greater than half of all plant species recorded throughout Lithuania—lots of which give some much-needed nectar for the area’s bees. For just a little perception on how Lithuanians have lived in concord with these bugs over the centuries, head to Stripeikiai to discover the village’s prime attraction, the Museum of Historic Beekeeping.
Lahemaa Nationwide Park
Lahemaa Nationwide Park was established in 1971.
getty
Situated roughly an hour east of the Estonian capital metropolis of Tallinn, Lahemaa Nationwide Park serves as the proper out of doors escape for many who want a break from metropolis life. With greater than 288 sq. miles to discover, Lahemaa is the most important nationwide park within the nation, and its huge forests present refuge for a wealth of iconic European mammals together with brown bears, grey wolves, and Eurasian lynx. Whereas there are spectacular pure landscapes to discover all all through the park, Lahemaa can also be identified for the opulent historic mansions scattered throughout its grounds, together with the charming centuries-old Sagadi Manor within the japanese reaches of the protect.
