Liepona

Liepona
Basin
Main source 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Kybartai
54°29′37.3″N 22°45′7.8″E / 54.493694°N 22.752167°E / 54.493694; 22.752167
River mouth Širvinta, tributuary to Šešupė
54°41′4″N 22°43′35″E / 54.68444°N 22.72639°E / 54.68444; 22.72639Coordinates: 54°41′4″N 22°43′35″E / 54.68444°N 22.72639°E / 54.68444; 22.72639
Basin area 105 km2 (41 sq mi)
Country Lithuania, Russia
Length 35 km (22 mi)
Avg. discharge 0.65 m3/s (23 cu ft/s)

Liepona (German: Lepone, Russian: Lipovka) is a small rivulet that flows for 22.9 km (14.2 mi) on the border of Lithuania and Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia.[1] Left tributary to Širvinta, Liepona originates in Lithuania, near Kylininkai village. In 1980, a 26-hectare (64-acre) pond for irrigation was built about 16 km (9.9 mi) from the mouth.[2]

It is famous for an incident in June 1940 when President of Lithuania Antanas Smetona had to cross the shallow river in order to reach Nazi Germany in the aftermath of the Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania.[3] Liepona served as a natural border between Prussia and Lithuania since the Treaty of Melno of 1422 with the Teutonic Knights.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Šešupės pabaseinis" (in Lithuanian). Aplinkos apsaugos agentūra. 2009-04-27. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  2. ↑ Zinkus, Jonas; et al., eds. (1985–1988). "Liepona". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija (in Lithuanian) II. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. p. 543. LCC 86232954.
  3. ↑ Rudokas, Jonas (2004-08-12). "Pirmasis Lietuvos prezidentas, tapęs diktatoriumi". Veidas (in Lithuanian) 33.
  4. ↑ Sužiedėlis, Simas, ed. (1970–1978). "Melno, Treaty of". Encyclopedia Lituanica III. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. p. 505. LCC 74-114275.
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