Neman River is a waterway in eastern Europe. The Neman rises southwest of the city of Minsk in Belarus. It flows generally westward through Belarus and Lithuania and empties into the Baltic Sea. The Neman flows 582 miles (937 kilometers) through a landscape of lakes and forests. Its chief branches are the Neris (Viliya), Shchara, Sheshupe, and Merkys rivers. The Neman is called the Nyoman in Belarus and the Nemunas in Lithuania. Its historical names include the Memel and the Niemen.
The Neman is frozen from late November until March. Barges can sail up the river for about 400 miles (644 kilometers) from its source. A dam on the Neman near the city of Kaunas, Lithuania, has a hydroelectric power plant. The Nemunas River Delta Regional Park, at the mouth of the river, serves as a breeding ground for endangered birds.
