Birštonas

a city in the Lithuanian SSR, on the right bank of the Nemunas (Neman) River, 39 km south of Kaunas. Population, 1,700 (1969). Formerly a settlement, it became a city in 1966. Birštonas is a balneological, mineral-water, mud, and climatic resort. The climate is marine-continental, with warm, mild summers (average July temperature 18° C) and moderate, mild winters (average January temperature -5° C); annual precipitation is about 680 mm. Therapeutic remedies include mineral spring water, which is used for baths, drinking, and bottling; there is also peaty mineral mud. Persons suffering from diseases of the support and motor apparatus, digestive and circulation organs, and nervous system and gynecological diseases are treated at the resort. There is a sanatorium and a water and mud clinic. The Puniai Pine Forest, which is a wildlife preserve, is near Birštonas.