Kaliningrad region is the most western territory of Russia. What do you know about her? Kaliningrad Oblast has not always been Russian territory. Before that, it belonged to Germany, which lost this land after the end of World War II. The city was then called Koenigsberg. The Kaliningrad region has an unusually rich history. She survived the conquest of the conquerors of the German Order, the war of Lithuanians and Poles, the Seven Years, as well as the Second World War, which destroyed most of the historical buildings of the region. Before Crimea entered Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast was the last territorial “acquisition” of the Russian Federation.
Location of the Kaliningrad region
But the greatest interest in the Kaliningrad region is that it has a rather unusual location in relation to Russia. She does not border her native country. The largest cities are Kaliningrad, Sovetsk, Gvardeysk, Baltiysk, Chernyakhovsk, Gusev. The region is located in the middle of forests, rivers and lakes. The land borders of the Kaliningrad region are Poland and Lithuania, and on the other hand, the Baltic Sea. Proximity to the sea and a pleasant climate contributed to the emergence of resort towns: Svetlogorsk, Zelenogradsk, Pionersky.
Border with Lithuania
The border line between the Kaliningrad region and Lithuania was established after the Second World War. It is located in the west and southeast of the region, dividing the Curonian Spit. In fact, almost the entire border line runs along the rivers, Lake Vishtynetsk and the Curonian lagoon. It should be noted that the part of the Curonian Spit adjacent to Lithuania and the territory next to Lake Vyshtynetsk are locations that are closed for visiting and allocated to the border zone.
The access system of the Russian-Lithuanian border includes eight checkpoints. The most popular, of course, Queen Louise's bridge over the Neman River. An interesting fact: this bridge was a border point before the Russian period. When the Kaliningrad region was the territory of Germany, this object also served as customs and a checkpoint between Lithuania and Germany.
Polish border
The border of the Kaliningrad region with Poland stretches for almost 210 km. Unlike the Lithuanian, the border with Poland extends only overland. In addition, it does not include any geographical features. As in the case of Lithuanian, Polish was established after the end of World War II. The border line starts from the southwestern part of the Kaliningrad region near the Kaliningrad Bay and reaches Lake Vyshtynetskoye, at the junction of Russia, Poland and Lithuania. It has seven checkpoints, of which three are railway. The most famous automobile border crossing is PP Mamonovo 2 - Gzhehotki. It passes about 4000 vehicles daily, while the rest of the points are no more than 2000. It has separate lanes for buses, trucks and cars.
Maritime border
The coastal territories of the Baltic Sea are considered the sea border of the Kaliningrad region. It originates on the Baltic Spit near Poland, stretches along the coast of the Kaliningrad Region and ends on the border of the Curonian Spit border with Lithuania. The closest "neighbor" of the region on the other side of the sea is Sweden. The border of the Kaliningrad region can also be crossed by sea. Kaliningrad, River, Passenger, Light, Baltic and Sea ports - water crossing points of the Kaliningrad region.
Ways to cross the Kaliningrad border
Since both Poland and Lithuania are countries of the European Union, Russians need a Schengen visa to cross the border of the Kaliningrad region of Russia, which allows them to move freely around the countries of the European Union. However, there is a so-called simplified document allowing citizens of the Russian Federation to cross the border of the region through Lithuania and Belarus. Paper is issued in two ways: as a simplified transit or railway transit document. To apply for a simplified transit document, you must have a passport and be registered in the Kaliningrad region. This gives the right to enter the territory of Lithuania and Belarus by any transport. But in Lithuania you can stay only for 24 hours. The second option is issued when you buy a train ticket. The tourist orders a simplified transit railway document and receives it from the conductor on the train. Such a ticket gives the right to move around the territory of Lithuania for six hours.
Due to the difficulties of visiting another region of Russia by crossing the borders of other states, almost 90% of Kaliningraders have passports that are issued to them for free. About 30% of the population issued Schengen visas, and some residents of the region purchased special small border travel cards to cross the border of the Kaliningrad region with Poland and visit places near the border without a visa.