Gallery. Baltic Sea coastline. RDC ScanEx

Gallery

Title
Baltic Sea coastline

Acquisition date
July 31, 1999

Sensor
Landsat 7 ETM+

1500 x 1452
JPEG (256 KB)

Baltic Sea coastline

Baltic Sea coastline, shown on the image acquired on July 31, 1999 by Landsat 7 ETM+ is a unique natural complex. Kaliningrad Region near-shore area is represented by contrasting landscapes of quickly changing natural zones: from sand-desert relief to softwood forests and birch groves in the west of Russia, etc. Courland and Baltic Spits are the unique natural objects of this territory. They separate off two desalted lagoons from the sea – Couronian and Kaliningrad lagoons. They can be easily seen on the image: salt sea water is blue, whereas desalted lagoon water is greenish. In the upper half of the image the navy blue sea surface has clear cut highlights indicating bioactivity (plankton). The form of such biological components can be used as a guide for water flow distribution in the marine environment.
The westernmost point of Russia (19038”E) is located on the Baltic Spit, from where the land frontier with Poland starts. From the Russian side the spit tip is separated from the mainland by a canal near the town of Baltiysk. Kaliningrad city, located in the month of the Pregolya river, is clearly seen on the image. Kaliningrad seaport is operational all round the year due to the ice-free bay.

Couronian (Courland) Spit – is a sandy peninsular with a lagoon at the south-western Baltic Sea coastline. White spots of sandy beaches and dunes with a height of up to 70 m can be seen along the coastline on the image. Most part of dunes is covered by pine forest with black alder, oak, linden and elm trees. In 1987, the “Couronian Spit” national park was established on the Russian part of the spit, put into the UNESCO list as a reserve with unique fauna. Couronian Spit is also called a bird bridge, as it is the migration route for 150 bird species from northern European parts to southern areas and to North Africa.

The state frontier between Russia and Poland is visible on the image due to different farming in two neighboring countries. Small blocks of fields in Poland are typical for private landholding unlike the collective farming in Russia.

Title:	Baltic Sea coastline
Acquisition date:	July 31, 1999
Sensor:	Landsat 7 ETM+

©2005-2010 R&D Center ScanEx. All Rights Reserved.mailto: webmaster@scanex.ru

©2005-2010 R&D Center ScanEx. All Rights Reserved.
mailto: webmaster@scanex.ru