Editing Neman (section)

==River course==
===Nemunas loops===
[[File:Liskiava Neman.jpg|thumb|left|Nemunas bend in [[Liškiava]]]]
[[File:Nemunas loops - 500 litai.jpg|thumb|right|500 [[Lithuanian litas|litas]] banknote featuring Nemunas loops]]
Due to their location, "the Nemunas loops" are often described using the Lithuanian name for the river. In 1992 [[Nemunas Loops Regional Park]] was founded. Its goal is to preserve the loops (Lithuanian: ''vingis'') that the river makes in the [[Punia, Lithuania|Punia]] forest. Near [[Prienai]], the river makes a {{convert|17|km|mi|sp=us|adj=mid|-long}} loop (like a teardrop) coming within {{convert|1.2|km|mi|frac=8|abbr=on}} of completing the loop. Nemunas flows along the double bend between [[Balbieriškis]] and [[Birštonas]] for {{convert|48|km|abbr=on}} and then moves in a northerly direction for only {{convert|4.5|km|mi|frac=8|abbr=on}}. The loops are not conventional river [[meander]]s; they follow underlying [[tectonic]] structures. The [[Fault (geology)|fault]]s are the source of local mineral springs.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Great Nemunas Loops |publisher=[[Nemunas Loops Regional Park]] |url=http://www.nemunokilpos.lt/?pg=112&lang=2&menu_id=13 |access-date=2009-01-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226064913/http://www.nemunokilpos.lt/?pg=112&lang=2&menu_id=13 |archive-date=February 26, 2008 }}</ref> The area is historically and culturally significant. Its castles served as the first line of defense against forays by the [[Teutonic knights]].

===Delta===
{{main|Nemunas Delta}}
At its [[river delta|delta]] Nemunas splits into a maze of river branches and canals mixing with [[polder]]s and [[wetlands]] and is a very attractive destination for [[eco-tourism]]. The four main [[distributary|distributaries]] are Atmata, Pakalnė, Skirvytė (the southern mouth, marking the international border) and Gilija. The river plays a crucial part in the ecosystem of the [[Curonian Lagoon]]. It provides the main water inflow to the lagoon and keeps the water almost fresh. This allows fresh water and [[brackish water]] animals to survive there. As the delta extends north the lagoon opposite narrows. Since the delta is in Lithuania, it is often referred to as ''Nemunas Delta''. [[Nemunas Delta Regional Park]] was created in the delta in 1992.

===Tributaries ===
The following rivers are tributaries to the river Neman/Nemunas (from source to mouth):

*Left: [[Servach]], [[Mowchadz’ River|Mowchadz’]], [[Shchara River|Shchara]], [[Zelvyanka River|Zelvyanka]], [[Svislach (Neman)|Svislach]], [[Lasosna]], [[Czarna Hańcza]], [[Zembrė]], [[Peršėkė]], [[Šešupė]], [[Tylzha]]
*Right: [[Western Berezina]], [[Gauja (Neman)|Gauja]], [[Kotra (river)|Kotra]], [[Haradnichanka]], [[Merkys]], [[Verknė]], [[Strėva]], [[Neris]], [[Nevėžis]], [[Dubysa]], [[Mituva]], [[Jūra]], [[Minija]]

===Largest settlements on the river===
From west to east, the largest settlements are [[Sovetsk, Kaliningrad Oblast|Sovetsk/Tilsit]], [[Neman (town)|Neman]], [[Kaunas]], [[Alytus]], [[Druskininkai]], [[Grodno]], and [[Masty, Belarus|Masty]].