The dunes of the Nagliai Nature Reserve, Lithuania covered with snow

A cold wave affected Eastern Europe in January 2026, bringing sub-zero temperatures which caused widespread frost and sustained snow cover across Lithuania.

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 24 January 2026, shows the Nagliai Nature Reserve, part of the Curonian Spit UNESCO World Heritage site. The reserve’s snow-covered dunes appear bright white, contrasting sharply with the dark green forest inland and the deep coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. The image also shows the Curonian Lagoon completely frozen at the time of acquisition.

Satellite imagery helps monitor these fragile environments throughout the seasons, supporting conservation activities and providing insight into the impacts of increasingly variable winter conditions.