Selected objects

No	Name	Description
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	Nida - Perkone	The “Nida-Pērkone” protected marine territory is one of the most biologically diverse marine territories along the shore of the open part of the Baltic Sea, and it is enormously important for environmental protection. The most important reef territories are found here. During migration season, most species of migrating birds that are found in Latvia cross the area. The territory is particularly important to protect the goosander and the little gull. The territory is opposite the Rucava and Nīca administrative districts and covers 36,703 hectares. It overlaps the marine section of the Pape Nature Park and the Bernāti Nature Park.
	Slitere National Park	The Slītere National Park (established in 2000) is known, with good reason, as an open-air museum which shows the historical development of the Baltic Sea. Nowadays evidence of geological events is seen in the Blue Hills of Slītere, which stand 20 to 30 metres high above what was the shore of the Baltic lake of ice 10,000 years ago. The Stiebri hills were former 8,000 or 9,000 years ago, while the Littorina Sea formed Europe’s largest set of dune ramparts and damp hollows between those ramparts. This occurred between 4,000 and 7,000 years ago. The gentle climate of Northern Kurzeme is the reason why so many rare plants are found in the park – some 860 in all including Common Yew (Taxus baccata) and Baltic Ivy (Hedera helix var. baltica). Of certain value in the preservation of these treasures was the Soviet military machine, which has left behind army bases and other military objects in the area. The presence of the military meant that the area of what is now the Slītere National Park remained largely undisturbed for 50 years. The park includes one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latvia – the Cape of Kolka, which is visited by more than 50,000 travellers each year. During the spring migration of birds, more than 60,000 birds cross the cape each hour. Along the shore of the Baltic Sea is the so-called Livonian coast, which stretches from Kolka to Sīkrags and Ovīši. Fishing villages and other cultural objects established by the world’s smallest ethnic minority, the Livonians, can be found here. Tourists will enjoy interesting four nature trails, bicycling routes, viewing tower, etc. The visitors centre is located at the Slītere lighthouse. Administration of National park is organising environmental education events on regular basis open to everyone.
	Tervete	The Tērvete Nature Park is located in an area which is not particularly typical of the Zemgale region – the distinct Tērvete River valley. Along its banks there are vast forests which have been nicely adapted to leisure activities. There are natural treasures, as well as an outstanding cultural and historical heritage in the area. The Tērvete Nature Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Zemgale. People are interested in the Park of Old Pines, the lovely pine forest, the Sprīdīši arboretum, the Tērvete, Klosterkalns and Svētkalns castle hills, the memorial museum “Sprīdīši” which commemorates the great Latvian author Anna Brigadere, various attractions for children, lovely landscapes, a dense network of pathways, etc. The nature park was nominated as the most family-friendly location in Latvia in 2004.
	Viresi	This is a segment of the Gauja River which is full of rapids in some places. It stretches from Vidaga and the place where the Vecpalsa River flows into the Gauja. Along the Gauja and its tributaries, dolomite outcrops can be seen on the shores, and the largest of these are the Randati cliffs. The restricted area was established mostly to protect various kinds of forests, meadows, outcrops and their habitats. This is an interesting part of the central section of the Gauja for people who enjoy beautiful landscapes and for those who are water tourists.
	Carmana ezers	Dabas parks, kura lielāko daļu aizņem neprastās formas un līčiem bagātais Cārmaņa (arī Cārmins) ezers. Ezera ūdens ir ļoti tīrs, tādēļ tajā sastopamas Latvijai retas augu sabiedrības. Tā kā parka teritorijā nav tūristiem veidota infrastruktūra, interesenti var baudīt skatus, kas paveras uz ezera un tā apkārtni no Aulejas – Grāveru ceļa.
	The Randu Meadows Nature Reserve	This area is full of coastline meadows, lagoons, muddy little lakes and sandy shallows, all full of reeds. This area of the eastern shore of the Bay of Rīga is found between Ainaži and Kuiviži. The Randa meadows are an enormously important location for water birds and rare plants – some 500 in all. A new bird-watching tower and a nature trail have been established for those who wish to study the meadows.
	Adazi	Baltijas mērogā unikāls dabas un cilvēkizmantots apvidus, kas veidojies kādreiz - padomju, mūsdienās - Latvijas Nacionālo bruņoto spēku pārvaldītā armijas poligona teritorijā. Poligona lielāko daļu aizņem smilšains vai ar zemiem lakstaugiem un krūmāju apaudzis kāpu masīvs ar atsevišķiem lielākiem kāpu vaļņiem. Rudens laikā šeit lielās platībās zied virši. Unikālā virsāju un aprimušo kāpu ainava un daudzu sugu dzīves vieta bija daži no iemesliem, kādēļ šai militārai teritorijai ir piešķirts arī aizsargājamas dabas teritorijas statuss. Jāatgādina, ka poligona apmeklējumi privātpersonām bez iepriekšēja saskaņojuma ir aizliegti!
	Parabaine	Salīdzinoši liela un cilvēka mazskarta teritorija ziemeļos no Lubāna ezera, kas izceļas ar lielu purvu un mitro mežu, kā arī tajā dzīvojošo organismu daudzveidību. Cauri teritorijas austrumu daļai tek Aiviekste. Dabas liegums ir grūti pieejams, tajā nav izveidota ar tūrismu saistīta infrastruktūra, tādēl vislabākais veids ir to aplūkot no Lubānas - Gaigalavas ceļa, kā arī putnu vērošanas torņa pie Gomeļa ezera (Gūmelis), kurš gan 2007. g. rudenī bija cietis no apmeklētāju vandālisma. Teritorija ietilpst Lubāna mitrāja kompleksā.
	Korneti-Pelli	One of the most distinct sub-glacial depressions in Latvia, with 11 lakes of various sizes and depths. This is a magnificently lovely territory, with particularly good views from the Drusku castle hill. On a clear day, one can even see the Hanja highlands of Estonia. The restricted territory was set up to protect boreal and hillside forests I the area.
	Krustkalni Nature Reserve	The Krustkalni Nature Reserve was established in 1977, and the diversity of plants in the region is based both on the terrain – the Madona-Trepe embankment, a series of hillocks with low areas among them, swamps and small lakes – and on the biotope – natural meadows, forest glades, places where underground streams bubble up to the surface, and vast areas of forest with very old stands of trees. Some 800 types of plants have been defined in the reserve. It can be toured only in the company of a guide from reserve headquarters, and one must apply in advance. Visitors can visit the Krāku streams, Lake Svēte-Dreimaņi, and other sites.
	Vecpiebalga	This area was established to protect the cultural and lake-related landscapes of the central section of the Vidzeme highlands, with Lake Alauksts, Lake Inesis, Lake Tauns, etc., with their species and biotopes. There are many important cultural objects in this territory – the Vecpiebalga Lutheran Church, the Vecpiebalga castle ruins, the Vecpiebalga baronial estate, as well as locations where several distinguished figures from the Latvian world of culture have lived and worked. Memorial museums have been established to commemorate them. The lakes are great for fishing, and cross-country competitions are traditionally held in the area of Lake Alauksts during the winter. The Sproģi nature reserve has been established on the islands and peninsula of Lake Inesis.
	Moricsalas dabas rezervats	This is Latvia’s oldest nature reserve and, indeed, the country’s oldest protected natural territory. Moricsala is an island in Lake Usma, which is the fifth largest lake in Latvia. The reserve was established in 1912 at the initiative of a group of nature students from Rīga. They wished to protect the deciduous forest of oak trees on the island, along with the local flora and fauna. The nature reserve also includes the Lielalksnīte island. Visits to the reserve, however, are strictly prohibited.
	Piejuras dabas parks	This is a segment of the shore of the Bay of Rīga that is around 40 km long and features the valleys of three major rivers – the Lielupe, Daugava and Gauja river. There are dune formations, biotopes, seashore meadows and forested seashore dunes which are an important recreational resource.
	The Little Sigulda of Pilskalne	The Little Sigulda of Pilskalne is a place for longer or shorter hikes. Here you will find a number of trails – the Sprīdītis trail (1.6 km, featuring wooden sculptures of characters from fairy tales by Anna Brigadere), the Forest landscape educational trail (3.8 km), and the Highland landscape trail (8 km in each direction). The trails are in a sub-glacial depression with a number of little lakes and swamps that are connected by streams. This is a restricted environmental area aimed at protecting the landscape and its treasures. At the beginning of the trails (near Pilskalne) there is the Melnaiskalns (Rāmavas) castle hill, which is around 30 m high.
	The Tervete Nature Park	This park is located along the shores of the Tērvete River Valley. It is a vast forested area which has been adapted successfully for travellers. In 2004, it was nominated as the most family - friendly destination in the land. There is a web of trails for one-day hikes. Viewing tower on the shore of the Tērvete River, views also from the Tērvete castle hill and Zviedru (Swedish) Hill.
	Durbes ezera plavas	Nature restricted area includes eastern side of the lake with Lanupe River and North-east and South-east coastal areas. Restricted area has been established for protection of birds and floodplain meadows of the lake. To see the nature restricted area visitors do not have to enter it. There are great view points with wind generators of Grobina on the background from the road Vecpils – Rava – Aistere. Coastal areas which are not included in the restricted area are perfectly suitable for bird watching. There is located the smallest city by its population in Latvia to the South from the lake.
	The Dviete ancient river valley	The Dviete ancient river valley is a unique territory of environmental, cultural and historical importance between Kaldabruņas, Bebrene and Dviete. The small Dviete River flows through the ancient river valley, through Lake Skuķi and Lake Dviete, and through the wetland meadows that are alongside the valley. During flooding season, these wetlands store up water from the Daugava River, rapidly absorbing masses of floodwater and then slowly returning the water to the river. The views during wet springs are incomparable to anything else that can be seen in Latvia. The specifics of the shifting water level in the ancient river valley are the reason why this is an important place for plants and birds during migration and nesting season. The Dviete Wetlands Nature Park has been set up to protect the territory. It is interesting that higher areas which do not disappear underwater during the floods are known as islands. Archaeologists who have studied the Dviete ancient river valley have found 15 possible settlements of the ancients (from the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age). They found a wealth of ancient objects of various kinds. There is reason to believe that this is one of the oldest and most important settlements in what is now southern Latvia.
	Uzavas augstece	Nature restricted area is located to the South from former railroad Ventspils-Liepaja and includes approximately 6 km of Uzava River (and the old drainage system). The territory was used for agriculture during Soviet time, now it starts overgrow by scrubs. The protected nature values – rare bird species, including corncrakes, variety of grassland habitats and plant species. Territory is not useable for tourism activities. There is a possibility to get good insight into the North part of restricted area from the road Alsunga – Berzkalns where information stand is located.
	The Meadows of Lake Burtnieks Nature Reserve	Periodically flooded flood-land meadows on the eastern and southern shores of Lake Burtnieks are an important nesting location for the rarely seen corncrake. A nature and information trail has been established at Vīsrags with directions, information stands and a viewing tower.
	Svente	The Svene Nature Park is in the central part of the Augšzeme highlands, and Lake Svente is at its centre. This is one of the cleanest lakes in Latvia. There is also Egļukalns Hill, which offers one of the most beautiful views in all of Zemgale from its viewing tower. Visitors can gaze at the hillocks and lakes of the Svente area. Egļukalns Hill also has ski trails and a nature trail.