Nemunėlis

Nemunėlis (Latvian: Mēmele) is a river in northern Lithuania and southern Latvia. It originates 6 km south of Rokiškis. It is 191 kilometres long (75 km in Lithuania, 76 km on the Latvia–Lithuania border and 40 km in Latvia) before its confluence with the Mūša, near Bauska, forming the Lielupe.

Nemunėlis, Mēmele
Mēmele in Bauska city
Location
CountryLithuania and Latvia
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationLūšna lake in Rokiškis district
  elevation73 m (240 ft)
MouthLielupe
  location
Bauska
  coordinates
56°24′09″N 24°09′25″E
Length191 km (119 mi)
Basin size4,048 km2 (1,563 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average95 m3/s (3,400 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionLielupeBaltic Sea
Tributaries 
  leftBėnupė, Apaščia
  rightNereta, Dienvidsusēja, Viesīte

Names

This river does not belong to the basin of the larger river Neman, but the two rivers' names are related in several languages:

  • in Lithuanian, "Nemunėlis" is a diminutive form of "Nemunas" (Neman)
  • in German, "Memel" is used for both the Neman River and the city of Klaipėda, and "Memele" is its diminutive form
  • in Latvian, the river is called "Mēmele", possibly derived from German, or directly from Old Prussian in which it is thought to mean "surrounded by water"
  • in Estonian, it is called "Memele jõgi"

Tourist development

The European Union gave 100,000 euros to establish tourist routes along the Nemunėlis. It is expected that the Latvian and Lithuanian initiative will be completed in 2007, as new kayak and boat rental businesses open and new campsites, tourist guides, and information signs are prepared.[1]

References

  1. (in Lithuanian) Kęstutis Slavinskas, Nemunėlis pritaikomas turizmui, Šiaurės rytai, May 17, 2006. Hosted on Turistas.lt portal. Accessed August 1, 2006.


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