This is a small river in a very deep and broad valley that is crossed by the Vecumnieki-Ilūkste road. Vilkupe was named in relation to the ambitious plan of Duke Jacob of Courland to link the river basins of the Daugava and the Lielupe rivers. Vilkupe was meant to be one of the components in this canal. This is a good place to think about the scope and innovation of Medieval people and their ideas. A fragment of the canal is marked and can be seen a bit less than 4 km from the populated location that is also called Vilkupe.

This is a territory that is unique at the Latvian and the Baltic level, one which stretches from Valmiera to the Gulbene District. Here we find the irregular Gauja River valley with a dense system of ancient rivers. The meadows on the banks of these rivers are important in terms of biological diversity. There are stands of oak and broad-leaf trees. Many rare and protected birds live and next here – the corn-crake, the woodpecker, etc. The territory is excellent for bird watching, nature studies, ecological tourism and various kinds of active tourism.

The nature park in the Ogre River valley is found along the middle section of the river. It has been established so as to protect the unregulated river valley and its surrounding territory, as well as biological diversity and habitats. For instance, this is an area in which rare park-type meadows can be found in Latvia. The Ogre is one of Latvia’s most popular rivers for water tourism in the spring, particularly downriver from the town of Ērgļi, where the technically complicated Braži rapids are found.

The Brasla River flows through a lovely valley that is approximately 300 m wide and up to 30 m deep. It is near the Inčukalns-Valka highway. The river has among the most beautiful rapids in the country, with mighty cliffs (the Brasla cliffs) that can be seen at nearly every curve in the river (except along the lowest reaches of the river). During the winter, various unusual frozen waterfalls can be seen in some of the cliffs, including the Krauļukalns cliff and the Jāņavārti cliff. On the left bank of the Brasla, opposite the Brasla fish farm, there are the Aņīte cliffs -- a series of sandstone cliffs that are 1 km long. The cliffs are between 2 and 35 m in height, and the sandstone cliffs are separated by ravines. On the right bank of the Brasla, there are major cliffs such as the Vāršavu cliff, the Kraukļukalns cliff, the Jāņavārti cliff, the Slūnu cliff, the Virtaka cliff and the Buļi cliff. How can you best learn about them? Boat down the river from the aforementioned highway or even from Straupe, which is further upstream. An alternative is hiking down the right bank of the river, though please take into account that the terrain is fairly extreme, and you are going to have to think about what to do when you arrive at the place where the Brasla River flows into the Gauja.

Above and below the town of Kuldīga, the Venta River is distinguished by a variety of biotopes – hillside forests, sandstone and dolomite cliffs, meadows, protected plants and animals, and diverse landscapes. There are popular tourism objects in this part of Kurzeme – the Venta dam, the stone bridge of Kuldīga, the Veckuldīga castle hill, etc. An ecological tourism trail runs along the banks of the Venta, and a bicycling trail has been installed on its left bank.

The Vecročupe river flows out of the artificial Vaide pond.  It was created by blocking the Vaide and the Kukšupe rivers.  This happened during the Soviet occupation, when forestry people decided to establish a fishing pond and an area for recreations.  A wooden pergola has been installed at the pond, and there is an information stand, as well.  On the northern shore of the pond is the Vaide cemetery, which dates back to 1928 and has interesting wooden crosses.