"Neringa" by V. Ignas 1983 linocut

Lithuanian legends & lore:

Neringa

On the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea near the mouth of the Nemunas (Memel) River, there is a bay known as the Couronian Sea. The bay is bounded by mainland in the east and south, by a narrow strip of sandy ground and sand dunes jutting out from the mainland and separating it from the Baltic in the west, and is open to the Baltic in the north. The soil of the sandy strip is held in place by the roots of pine trees and some hardy shrubs. Legend has it that the sand was scooped up and brought here by a local giantess named Neringa to shelter the local fishermen from the violent storms on the Baltic Sea. This sandy strip is now called Neringa after its legendary builder. (Click here to read more legends.)