378 Phyfical Obfervations - 
Curifch Haff is of the fame. nature with the Frifch Haff, . 
and yet no one’ refers its origin to. any tempeftuous wind of 
the like kind. It is, on the other hand, certain that. great 
changes have taken place in regard. to, the ftrait by which 
the Baltic is connected with this, lake. At firft it was fitu- 
ated immediately under the mountain on which the caftle of 
Lochftedt ftands, and at that time was deep and roomy; 
but in the year 1311, or according to other accounts 1395, 
it was. entirely choaked up. with fand by an uncommonly 
violent ftorm of wind which prevailed in the months of 
Auguft and September; and this account is highly proba- 
ble,, as the valley between the Haff and the fea ftill thews 
eyident traces of the courfe of the water, while the fand 
hills, raifed towards the fhore, are a further proof of this 
natural revolution. An opening was confequently formed 
oppofite to the caftle of Balea, between the villages Faglee 
and Schineergrube, which was fifteen ells in depth; but 
which, in a few years, experienced a like fate, being choaked’ 
up with fand; The irruption of the Haff then followed, 
clofe to the fo called Pfundbude or light-houfe, fituated on 
‘a mountain as a guide to fhips which enter it, and the water 
was nine fathoms in depth; but, at length, this ftrait being 
filled up with fand, the Haff became united to the fea at 
Pillau, in the year 1510. The depth of this opening was 
at firft nine fathoms; but it from time to time increafed, fo 
that, at prefent, it can be entered by the largett veffels. 
It has long been obferved that the water in the Baltic is 
eooler, even in the hotteft fummers, than that of other feas, 
The waves alfo never rife here to fuch a height as in the 
North Sea, but they follow each other with greater rapidity. 
In calm weather, therefore, it breaks with much lefs violence 
om the coaft.than is the cafe in other feas, when the weather 
is equally fill, It has been. remarked alfo, that when it 
breaks.on the fhores of Pruffia; in particular, there arifes a 
ftronger {pray and agitation than on any of the neighbouring: 
coats.of other countries; and this is faid to be abferved, 
above 
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