LITHUANIAN MARITIME MUSEUM

 

What is Lithuanian Maritime Museum interesting for? Is it worth attending? Everyone living in Klaipeda without any doubtwould say: "Yes, it is!" Perhaps the most effective feature of Lithuanian Marine Museum is a complexity of it's exposition. Marine nature, history of shipping, old and modern fishery, necessity of marine study and pollution control - wide and versatile spectrum of relationships between mankind and sea is presented in the exposition. By that the museum differs from more specialized marine museums in neighboring Baltic lands.

The second one feature of Lithuanian Maritime Museum is it's multitude of exhibit. The first of all visitor's attention is attracted by alive exhibit: fish, marine mammal, birds. Rich corals and shells collection of high scientific value gratify eye in prepared marine fauna exposition. Those who take an interest in ships, can see ships models of different ages and types and ifthey go outside, they can have a view of real ships from the keels to the masts as well as to explore old and modern anchors constructions. The sea, perfect nature and Kopgalis fortress form the museum surroundings. Ethnographic fisherman house at the coast of Curonian spit reminds fishermen village which was situated there last century.

Next year Lithuanian maritime museum will celebrate it's twenty years activity anniversary-During this period it grew, the exposition became more full. Now you can see in the aquarium not only Lithuanian land-locked fish or Baltic Sea fish but such rare Baltic Sea animals as grey seals or ringed seals. The aquarium specialists for many years breed them and after send back to the native marine environment.

But it is not all! There are exotic penguins from the far south and unseen coral reef fish which not everybody can see even in the tropical seas. In summers at the square behind the museum everybody can see the merry show with fur seals from Northern seas

Delphinarium is a marine nature curiosity not only in Lithuania but in the Baltic region as well. Grown ups and children can learn many new things about dolphins unusual abilities by watching theatrical show with the Black sea dolphins-aphalins.

In the show also participate a pair of Californian fur seal which were born and brought up in Duisburg (Germany) zoological gardens. Marine study nowadays it is a matter of great importance as only this way people can understand necessity of pollution control and will take care of it. Lithuanian Maritime Museum joint this action on Baltic seaside.

A CLOCK MUSEUM

Here one can become acquainted with the appliances by means of which mankind tried to measure time in different ways during ancient times. There are solar, fire, water clocks as well as sandglass clocks presented in the museum. Here is also a significant collection of mechanic clocks made in 1th-19th centuries.

Modern watches are in abundance here too. These are electromechanical, electromagnetic, electronic and quartz clocks. Along with the exhibits the additional information - engravings, diagrams and explanatory texts is also available. The museum invites all the guests of Klaipeda to visit the exposition.

SEA FEAST

On the last weekend of July Klaipeda becomes very noisy city. There are a lot of people walking along the streets and the theatrical carnivals are held. This is because a merry Sea feast, which is annually celebrated in Klaipeda, starts.

On such days many cultural shows, exhibitions, concerts, artists actions take place, seamen who died in sea are honoured and immortalized in people memory.

Until 1977 the park, currently situated near the railway and bus stations, was city's main cemetery. Now there is a sculpture park located on the site of the former cemetery. Every year sculptors from Lithuania and other countries come to Klaipeda bringing their new works into the park.