Rewa Spit (Cypel Rewski)

From the beach in Rewa you can walk straight out to sea: a narrow strip of sand runs about one kilometre into the water, with a different bay on each side. The Kashubians call it Szpërk; visitors simply call it the Rewa Spit. Beyond its tip a sandbank continues under the surface towards the Hel Peninsula – and once a year people cross the sea along it on foot.

How the spit was formed

The spit is a natural sandbar built up by the same sea currents that created the Hel Peninsula. It separates the calmer, warmer waters of Puck Bay from the cooler, saltier Bay of Gdańsk. It continues as an underwater ridge known as Mewia Rewa or Rybitwia Mielizna ("Seagull Reef" or "Tern Shoal"), with an average depth of about 1 metre. The only deeper section is a channel called Głębinka (Dëpka in Kashubian), around 700 m wide and up to 5 m deep in places. When the water is low, small sandy islets appear above the surface.

What to see

• The spit itself – a walk on sand with water on both sides and views over Puck Bay, the Hel Peninsula and Gdynia.
• The Sea Cross with arms shaped like anchors, at the base of the spit.
• The Avenue of Distinguished People of the Sea, named after Marshal Józef Piłsudski, where stars bearing the names of seafarers are set into the ground.
• The seaside promenade, an easy walk from the village to the spit.
• Birds resting on the shallows and the small islands of the sandbank.

Interesting facts

Once a year, in summer, the Herring March (Marsz Śledzia) takes place: hardy walkers cross the shoal on foot from Kuźnica on the Hel Peninsula to Rewa. Wild boar sometimes use the same route, wading and swimming between the mainland and the peninsula. The shallow, sheltered water has made Rewa one of Poland's most popular places to learn windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing, and in summer the bay is busy with sails.

Tripto tip

The spit is open all year and free of charge. How much of it is dry depends on the water level and the wind, so do not count on reaching the very end. Do not try to walk along the sandbank towards Hel on your own – the Herring March is an organised event, and the Głębinka channel is several metres deep. Allow 45–90 minutes for a walk and photos, wear shoes that can get wet, and come early in the day or outside the high season, as Rewa fills up quickly on summer weekends. Tourist information is available at the Kosakowo Cultural Centre, ul. Morska 56.