Kolka Pine Path

Pine Path of Kolka (1.2 km) lies on the coast of Baltic Sea about 1 km from Cape Kolka (Kolkasrags). Along the path you can follow the changes of dunes in the course of the time. Here you can see the oldest dunes that have become overgrown with forest. Because of the poor soils and the proximity of the sea, dry pine forests specific only to seacoast have formed. In these forests you can find Sand Pink Dianthus arenarius -- a plant species rare in Europe. Old pine-trees and fallen trees are home to rare species of plants and animals. Near the path you can see hundred-year old pine-trees covered with sand up to two metres deep. Between the forest and the beach lie fore dunes. On the seashore the wind-blown sand that piles up at the plants forms embryo dunes. As these dunes are the closest to the sea they are the first to get washed away during storms. Here you can find a rare beetle -- Dune Tiger Beetle Cicindela maritima -- that suffers from too intensive trampling of dunes and beaches elsewhere.