Krynica Morska

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Krynica Morska
Coat of arms of Krynica Morska
Coat of arms
Krynica Morska is located in Poland
Krynica Morska
Krynica Morska
Coordinates: 54°22′57″N 19°26′40″E / 54.38250°N 19.44444°E / 54.38250; 19.44444
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Pomeranian
County Nowy Dwór Gdański
Gmina Krynica Morska (urban gmina)
Established 15th century
Town rights 1991
Government
 • Mayor Adam Ostrowski
Area
 • Total 102.04 km2 (39.40 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 • Total 1,371
 • Density 13/km2 (35/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 82-120
Area code(s) +48 55
Car plates GND
Climate Cfb
Website http://www.krynicamorska.pl
Lighthouse in Krynica Morska

Krynica Morska [krɨˈɲit͡sa ˈmɔrska] (German: Kahlberg) is a town and coextensive municipality (gmina) on the Vistula Spit in northern Poland with 1,364 inhabitants (2006). It has been a part of Nowy Dwór Gdański County in Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999; previously it was in Elbląg Voivodeship (1975–1998).

Overview[edit]

Before 1945 the area was part of East Prussia (within Germany from 1870) and was known as Kahlberg. The settlement was first mentioned in 1424, and became a summer resort around 1840. Following World War II the native German populace was expelled and replaced by Poles. When it came under Polish rule after the Second World War, it was given the name Łysica (the Polish root łys- corresponding to the German kahl, meaning "bald"). In 1958 it was renamed Krynica Morska (Krynica is an obsolete, poetic term for "spring"; Morska meaning "of the sea", i.e., "sea spring" or "seaside spring") as opposition to the other famous Polish resort of Krynica.

In 1991 three former villages, Krynica Morska, Nowa Karczma, and Przebrno of Gmina Sztutowo were united into a new gmina, Krynica Morska, which simultaneously was assigned the town status.[1]

Krynica Morska is the main tourist destination on the Vistula Spit. The administrative area of the town extends along most of the Polish part of the spit, up to the Russian border, also including a number of other localities such as Przebrno and Piaski (the latter being about 4 kilometres (2 miles) from the border, which is not crossable at present).

It has the smallest population of any urban commune (gmina) in Poland. Because of the inclusion of mainly rural areas of the spit within its boundaries, it has the lowest population density of any town (miasto) in Poland, with 11.74 persons/km².

The Lighthouse in Krynica Morska was originally built in 1895. It was destroyed in 1945 after being mined by retreating German forces. A new lighthouse, now open to visitors, was built in 1951. Adjacent to it is a small cemetery with a monument to the Soviet soldiers killed in the explosion that destroyed the original building.

Coordinates: 54°23′N 19°27′E / 54.383°N 19.450°E / 54.383; 19.450

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych". Isap.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 2012-09-14.