Nemunas

Nemunas, also known as Neman, is a major river in the Baltic region and the most significant river system in Lithuania. The river runs roughly 910 kilometers (about 565 miles) from its headwaters in eastern Belarus through southern Lithuania to the Baltic Sea, draining a basin of about 98,000 square kilometers. It is known by different names in various languages: Nemunas in Lithuanian, Neman in English, Нёман in Belarusian and Russian, and Nemunas in German.

Course and features

The Nemunas rises in eastern Belarus and flows westward, then turns toward the northwest as it traverses Lithuania. It passes key towns such as Kaunas and Alytus, and its lower reaches lie near Klaipėda where the river enters the Curonian Lagoon before reaching the Baltic Sea. The Kaunas Reservoir, created by a dam on the central stretch of the river, and the Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant regulate flow and support water supply and energy generation. The lower river forms part of the regional hydrological connection to the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea.

Hydrology and use

The Nemunas experiences seasonal variation in discharge, with higher flows in spring due to snowmelt and rainfall. It supports shipping on navigable sections, hydroelectric generation, and fisheries, while also sustaining diverse floodplain and riverine habitats. The basin includes protected areas and serves as an important ecological corridor in the region.

Name and significance

The river has played a long historical role as a transportation route and political boundary in parts of Belarus and Lithuania. Variants of its name reflect linguistic and national contexts, with Lithuanian, Belarusian, Russian, German, and English usages in common reference.