Selected objects

No	Name	Description
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	The Ance swamps and forests	This comparatively large territory is found to the South of the Irbe River and Stende River, and it is unique with more or less virginal forests and dunes. The Irbe River has a system of ancient tributaries, and the Dižpurvs swamp is parallel to the shoreline. The Irbe has become a popular river for water tourism in recent years, but the tourist infrastructure on its banks remains insufficient. Territory has good road connections and has potential for nature education activities.
	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.
	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.
	Kaucers	Samērā liela teritorija ar mozaīkveida ainavu - mežiem, atklātām ainavām un ezeriem (Salmejs, Kaučers, Stupānu ezers, Limanu ezers u.c.), kas atrodas Latgales augstienes Feimaņu pauguraines rietumdaļā. Aizsargājamo ainavu apvidus veidots šejienes dabas un kultūrainavas (apdzīvotās vietas, Tišas vecticībnieku lūgšanas nams, krucifiksi) un daudzveidīgo biotopu (t.sk. - sugu) aizsardzībai. Apvidū atrodas arī samērā populārs tūrisma objekts - Šnepstu pilskalns.
	Puzes smilsu krupja atradne	Nature restricted area has been established in old and overgrowing gravel pit and where rare species in Latvia - Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) can be found. Natterjack toad needs open sand – gravel area therefore the population of it is decreasing once gravel pit is overgrowing by bushes. The population of this amphibian is depending on the activity of people in the area. There is very little chance to find Natterjack toad just by entering the restricted area, therefore please respect this area as especially sensitive.
	The Pape Nature Park	The most important aspects of this park are a shallow lagoon-type lake – Lake Pape, with its flood land meadows, the shore of the Baltic Sea, the Nida swamp, and the more than 270 different types of birds that have been spotted here. The oldest bird ringing station in Latvia (est. 1966) is found between Lake Pape and the Baltic Sea. Birds and bats are caught and ringed there. Lake Pape is the first place in Latvia where so-called “wild” horses (the “Konik” breed) were released with the aim of managing the flood land meadows.
	Veclaicene	This territory was established so as to preserve the natural and cultural landscape of the most distinct part of the Alūksne highlands – a landscape which is made up of the highest hillocks in the area – Dēliņkalns Hill, Dieva Hill, Saules Hill, the Drusku castle hill, and the Kornetu-Peļļu sub-glacial river bed (one of the most significant terrain differences in Latvia). There are lakes, too – Lake Pilskalns, Lake Dzērve, Lake Ieva, Lake Raipals, etc. There are also significant biotopes – hillside and gully forests, various kinds of swamps and meadows, damp forests, etc., all with their own species of flora and fauna. There are nature trails and tracks for cross-country and downhill skiing in the area. There are three restricted natural areas in the territory – Korneti-Peļļi, the Avotu forest, and Dēliņkalns Hill.
	Uzavas lejtece	Open landscape area within farming lands on both banks of Uzava River about 10 km before it flows into the Baltic Sea. There is a good open view over the area from the Vendzava-Ziri road going through the nature park. Protection of migratory birds and corncrakes has been one of the main reasons for establishment of the nature park. Bird watching is possible from the road Vendzava-Ziri during migration period in spring and fall. There is no tourist infrastructure in the nature park.
	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.
	Abava River Valley Nature Park	The ancient Abava River Valley between Kandava and the place where the river flows into the Venta River is the most expressive river valley segment in Kurzeme in terms of landscape and terrain. The valley is 30 to 40 metres deep and as much as 300 metres wide. The territory is distinguished by great diversity of a biological nature (more than 800 kinds of plants), featuring many different biotopes and natural monuments such as streams, waterfalls, cliffs, huge rocks, and many cultural and historical monumentssmall towns such as Kandava and Sabile. In both cases, the town centres are national monuments of urban construction. Popular tourist destinations include Vīnakalns hill in Sabile, where wine-making grapes are grown, as well as the open-air art museum at Pedvāle. To protect cultural treasures, a cultural and historical territory, “Abava River Valley” has been established. Wild livestock live at Drubazas and Tēvkalni to “maintain” the landscape. There are nature trails for tourists, and the Abava is the most popular river for water tourists in Kurzeme. Information is available at the tourist information centres in Kandava and Sabile. such as castle hills, churches, ancient burial grounds, and
	Klanu purvs	There is picnic area and information stand at the end of the forest path leading from Muiznieki to Klanu Bog. Klanu Lake was formed in the place of Littorina marine lagoon. Nature restricted area was established to protect biotopes in the area of Klanu, Dziru and Stavu Lakes. There is wide information about the area available on the information stand.
	Embute	This lovely territory includes the hillocks of Embūte, which are in the ancient Embūte valley. The aim of establishing the park was to protect the landscape, biotopes and species of the region. An ecological tourism trail has been established in the valley, as has a forest trail through the nature park (accessibly only in the company of a guide). Visitors will learn about the hillocks and ravines left behind by the Ice Age. The ravines and the forests along their sides are protected biotopes. There are also important natural and cultural monuments, including the Embūte castle hill and the ruins of a baronial estate, castle and church. Other points of interest include the death place of the Courlandian warrior Indulis, the Joda dam, meadows, a viewing tower, etc. Three unmarked bicycle trails are in the area.
	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!
	Naturpark Daugavas loki (Daugavabögen)	This nature park is one of the richest and most unusual nature parks in Latvia in terms of its natural resources, the surrounding environment, the landscapes, the biological diversity of the area, and the cultural monuments which are found there. The main treasure there is the little-changed Daugava River valley, where there are eight major curves in the river at a length of four to eight kilometres. There are also the gullies of river tributaries. Outstanding views can be found on the steep shores of the Daugava River valley, particularly the Slutiški and Ververi cliffs and the Elerne gravel hill. There are some 20 archaeological monuments on the shores of the valley -- ancient castle hills at Najene, Markova, Vecračina, etc., countless churches -- the Juzefova, Sprukti, Borovka, Elerne, Sīķele, Kaplava and other churches, the Rozališki, Lielborne and other baronia estates, and the unique village of Slutiški, which is home to the Old Believers. There are interesting nature trails and bicycling trails in the area. Horseback riding is available, and there is a viewing tower along with other elements for tourists. Boating down the Daugava River is an interesting way to spend time.
	The Pavasaru-Odinu polder	This is an open territory which is 3.5 km long and 2 km wide. It is located on the left bank of the Lielupe River between the village of Pavasari and the Odiņi homestead. The polder was established during the Soviet era to obtain farmland, and back then it was used very intensively. Today, it is slowly becoming overgrown, and despite this, this is one of the most important locations in Europe for corn-crakes. A gravel road crosses the polder from the North to the South, and this is an excellent place to hear the songs of the corn-crake.
	Augszeme	This territory is meant to protect the large hillocks and lakes of the Augšzeme highlands – Lake Svente, Lake Medums, Lake Ilga and others, with their islands, landscapes and species. The nature park which has been established around Lake Svente and Lake Medums is part of this territory, and there are several areas that are restricted for environmental reasons – Lake Bardinskis, Lake Skujine, and the islands of Lake Medums and Lake Svente. There is a viewing tower on Egļukalns Hill, along with downhill ski routes.
	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.
	Augsdaugava	The aim of this territory is to regulate the natural and cultural landscapes of the upper reaches of the Daugava River valley, where there is a great deal of biological diversity. Nature trails have been installed in the park, as have bicycle routes. The river is good for boating in this area, too. The Curves of the Daugava nature park is part of the territory (see “Nature Parks”).
	Teicu dabas rezervats	The Teiči Nature Reserve was established in 1982 and is one of the largest areas of moss swamps in the Baltic region. It consists of the Teiči and the Pelečāre swamps, with a variety of plants and animals, as well as adjacent territories which are under protection. The Teiči swamp is the largest nesting ground for a number of bird species, including the common crane, the whimbrel, the golden plover and the wood sandpiper. During migratory seasons, thousands of geese of various kinds are found in the area. The reserve can be toured only in the company of a guide from reserve headquarters, and one must apply in advance for such a tour. Visitors will see the pathway of footbridges on Lake Silda, as well as Siksala island, which offers a magnificent view of Latvian swampland from a viewing tower.
	Beberbeki	This territory is meant to protect the “green zone” of Rīga. Most of the park is covered with pine forest and dunes with shrubs on them, but Lake Beberbeķi is found at the southern end of the park. The area around the lake has been improved.