Lithuanian sea museum
2007-01-12 09:34
The Lithuanian sea museum is the only Lithuanian museum dedicated to maritime nature and history. It is located in Kopgalis, the northernmost point of the Curonian Spit. The museum is surrounded by the Baltic Sea and the Curronian Lagoon from the three sides. The museum has been established on the grounds of the old coastal fortress consisting of a redoubt designed to house the garrison, a defensive moat, ramparts and casemates, located beneath the ramparts, as well as several gunpowder magazines. The main exposition of the Lithuanian maritime museum opened after the restoration of the fortress in 1979.
In the outdoor pools next to the central building, visitors are greeted by the Baltic grey and East Atlantic harbour seals, North sea lions, and penguins.
On the first floor of the central building, Lithuanian freshwater, the Baltic and tropical fish species are exhibited. Although there are about 40 species of freshwater fish living in the Lithuanian rivers and lakes, even the most experienced fishermen fail to know all of them. Predatory fish appear to be of most interest to the visitors.
According to scientists, the Baltic Sea has nearly 30 species of sea fish, plus roughly 30 freshwater fishes, swimming into the sea from the rivers and lagoons. In the museum, the Baltic Sea fishes live in two big aquariums. Because the Baltic Sea is cold, the water in those tanks should be cold as well to be similar to the natural habitat of the fishes.
The big pool features huge sturgeons.
Tropic seas aquariums are designed for stony and soft corals, as well as for other invertebrates and coral fishes.
The capacity of the museum aquariums ranges from 1 to 6 m3.
On the second floor of the central building, visitors can get acquainted with maritime fauna. There are no traditional aquariums, however. Stuffed sea animals, alongside the up-to-date lighting technologies, create an exposition integrating several themes. “The Sea, the Cradle of Life” tell the visitors about the origin of life in the sea and evolution of sea animals. The evolution scheme featured at the exposition shows the animals, from which the currently existing ones have developed. “The Development of Life at Sea” is devoted to development of life.
Nearly the most exciting expositions are named “The Fauna of Tropical Seas” and “Predatory and dangerous sea animals: myths and reality”. By means of special light effects, computer graphics, and natural-size moulded copies of predators, a mysterious and even dangerous world of the tropical seas is represented. The exposition is aimed at recreating the natural seabed environment. As visitors walk, they pass various predators separated from them by iron bars only. The exposition showcases 35 fish moulded copies.
Under the fortress ramparts, in the former gunpowder magazines, an exposition of Lithuanian navigation history is arranged. In the four halls located beneath the ramparts, models of sea vessels, archaeological finds, as well as some documents illustrating the history of Lithuanian navigation are put on display. On the ramparts, in the former cannon platforms, a collection of old and modern anchors is featured.
On the shore of the Curonian lagoon, in the old Kopgalis fishermen village, an ethnographic fisherman’s farmstead has been built. Here, one can see a house, a cattle-shed, a barn, a bath-house, and a smoking shed that used to belong to a prosperous fisherman who used to make his living by fishing, breeding cattle and cultivating the land. There are also poles that were used to dry nets and fish. One of the premises hosts an exhibition covering Lithuanian fishery on the shores of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon.
Next to the fisherman’s farmstead, there is a ground featuring fishing vessels that gave rise to industrial fishing in Lithuania.
In the dolphinarium, visitors can be entertained by the Black Sea dolphins and California sea lions.
The hall has the biggest pool (1300 m3 in capacity and 5,5 m in depth), in which performances are held. There also a 340m3 capacity and 4 m depth pool for the dolphins to rest. In the case of the dolphin’s getting ill or giving birth, a quarantine pool is available. The water in the pools is pumped from the Baltic Sea.
In the dolphinarium, dolphin therapy sessions are held. It is the fourth year that children from Lithuania, as well as from Latvia, Poland, Belarus, Russia and other countries, have been coming to Klaipeda for the dolphin therapy. The sessions take place in the performance pool, only in cold seasons, when the dolphins are not busy with their shows and have more time for children with health problems.
The Lithuanian Sea Museum is one of the most highly-attended museums in Lithuania. On a summer day, one can find it difficult to get to the dolphinarium. In cold seasons, however, visitors’ numbers reduce considerably. In winter, the museum works on weekends only.
There are also guided tours to pre-book in the museum.
Maritime Museum and aquarium are open: Dolphin performances: North sea-lion:
06-08 month 10.30-18.30; II-VII 12.00, 14.00, 16.00 11.15, 13.15, 15.15
05 ir 09 month 10.30-18.00; III-VII 12.00,15.00
10 month 10.30-17.00; VI-VII 12.00, 15.00
11-04 month 10.30-17.00; VI-VII 12.00, 15.00
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