Kuršių Nerija National Park, Lithuania by fintlandia

Kuršių Nerija National Park has now become a popular tourist site and holiday resort, which is also one of the largest deposits of amber in the world.

Kuršių Nerija National Park contains of a range of pine forests and sand dunes, through which is sometimes referred to as the Baltic Sahara. The unique character of the landscape brought Curonian Spit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The larger part of the Curonian Spit in Lithuania is a part of Kuršių Nerija National Park covering an area of 265 km2 (98km2 are covered by land, and 167km2 by water). The park has been established in 1991 but the first steps to protect this area were undertaken already in 1960, when Curonian Spit became a Nature Reserve.

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When you chose to visit Italy, if you can manage to free up a single day during your trip, then you have to visit the popular lagoon islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. It is possible to visit all three of them in a single day if you plan ahead.

Murano, Italy by Alex Proimos

Murano Island is known as Glass Island. It was back in 1291 when glass production began on Murano. There are kilns dedicated to blowing glass all over the island and many different shops dedicated to selling the art. The most famous of the glassworks on Murano is that of Venini whose works are features in modern art museums all over the world. There is also a museum on the island that is dedicated to glassblowing. You will also find the 8th century Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato.

It is said that the Island of Burano is perhaps the most beautiful of the lagoon islands. Since back in the 16th century, the island of Burano has become known for the lace work done by the island’s artists. There is a museum on the island dedicated to lace and you can even see how it was woven centuries ago.

The island of Torcello is of course the most romantic of the three islands. The island is practically uninhabited which means you will be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of the island. It is also home to many archeological finds that are just waiting for you to explore. There is the Devil’s Bridge which is known as Ponte del Diavolo and comes complete with an amazing local legend. In the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta you will find an awe-inspiring mosaic of the Universal Judgment. The island is also home to the Estuario Museum which houses artifacts that date back to the Medieval, Byzantine and Roman periods.

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In the swimming complex you can find 7 external and 2 sheltered swimming pools, including a massage pool, external all-year sitting pool and a unique swimming pool with artificial waves, the only one in Slovakia, a Lagoon of 3800 m2.

Pools are supplied with thermal water from the depth of 130 m with a temperature of 39 °C.

The town Štúrovo is famous for its tolerance. The people coexist peacefully for centuries on the territory that is full of members of different nationalities and religions. This diversity gives the city a special atmosphere.

View Thermal water Štúrovo in Slovakia in a larger map

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The Danube Delta is considered to be the second largest Delta in all of Europe (just after Volga delta). It is also one of the most well preserved ecological destinations in the country. There are a number of lagoons, which can be found throughout the Delta region, including that of the 1015 square kilometres Razim-Sinoe Lagoon.

Danube Delta, Romania by Acaro

Today, the Danube Delta consists of three main distributaries which includes the Sfântul Gheorghe, Sulina as well as the Chilia. There are also a number of large lakes that can be found within the area that includes the Dranov, Gorgova as well as the Roşu. Among them you will find many of the most fertile and picturesque marshes and lagoons that have made the Danube Delta one of the most popular destinations not just in Romania but also throughout the entire region of Europe.

Thanks to its location along the Black Sea, the area around the Danube Delta features a unique microclimate which results in one of the driest as well as sunniest areas in all of Romania. It is estimated that every year, there are more than 2500 hours of sunshine, which equates to roughly 70 days of clear blue skies. And although there are more than 400 millimetres a year of precipitation there are more than 1000 millimetres a year of evaporation. As a result, the year-round climate associated with the Danube Delta makes it a pristine destination in the country.

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Flamingos on Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, Spain by rjime31

The Fuente de Piedra Lagoon is a beautiful and biodiverse ecosystem. There are more than 30 different species of birdlife that make their way to the lagoon every single year to breed. There are also countless priceless species of fauna that can be found only in the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. And of course while all these make visiting the lagoon a popular choice, it is the hundreds of thousands of pink flamingos that has attracted so many visitors over the years.

Today, thousands of newborn chicks see their first sunrise over the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. Thanks to help of more than 300 volunteers who monitor the flamingos as well as make sure that they are all healthy as possible. And while the pink flamingo can be seen throughout the year especially in the months between February and August, it is only during the middle of July that their eggs hatch.

It is important to point out, that the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon is not freshwater; but rather it is brackish. As a result, due to the amount of evaporation in the area, there is always a thin layer of salt crystals floating on the surface of the lagoon. As a result, some of the best photo picking opportunities imaginable will occur as assigned begins to set and its reflection can be seen across the surface of the lagoon as if there were a large perfectly smooth mirror.

Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, Spain by Tyk

It is simply amazing how far the pink flamingos travel here just to reach the waters of the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. However it is not uncommon for the birds to travel more than 1000 kilometres every single year. And what is more, is that for centuries, the pink flamingo has chosen to breed in the waters of the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon over any other location in the world.

After breeding, a pair of flamingos will share the responsibility of rearing their chick. The female will lay only a single egg per year and for 29 days will painstakingly monitor and incubate the eggs until it hatches. It is simply amazing to not only watch the courtship dance between flamingos, but also the loving and nurturing that the two, mother and father flamingos, show to the newborn chick as they bring into the world and raise it to maturity.

When you choose to visit the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, you are choosing to take part in one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders that the world has ever known.

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