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The first barefoot trail created in the Baltic States in the recreation complex "Valguma pasaule", which is located on the forested shores of Lake Valguma. When walking on the path, the feet "massage" sand, wood chips, clay, peat, gravel, cones and various other materials. |
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The trail climbs up and down along the bluffs of lower River Pilsupe and reveals a fascinating sight of three white dune exposures (the largest is called the White Dune). The trail is 900m long, and the White Dune is ca 20m high. It has formed ca 6000 years ago, in the period of the Littorina Sea which is a foregoer of the Baltic Sea. Here the first Stone Age settlement on the North Western coast of Latvia has been found in 1934 by geologist S. Burhards. In the sand, some 500m from the sea, he found some pottery fragments, a sandstone hone, a piece of flint, parts of bones and an amber bead. He handed the findings over to the National Museum of History. In October 1934, the site was checked by archaeologist E. Šturms, who found the archaeological layer, typical for such settlements, in the landslides of the Pilsupe riverbanks. In 1936 he started larger excavations to continue by 1938. Totally seven, chronologically different settlements were detected and many artefacts found, including fragments of the so called Sārnate and pit-comb pottery, as well as some pieces of corded pottery. Based on these findings, the settlement is dated back to the beginning or middle of the 3rd millenary B.C., and it has been inhabited till the beginning of the 2nd millenary B.C. Especially remarkable are three clay figures in human shape which have probably been used for some religious cult purposes. Since 1993, archaeologist Ilzes Loze has discovered several pit-comb ware culture settlements in large area around Pūrciems village. They are known in research literature as „the Ģipka settlements”. |
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Three little lakes can be found on the left bank of the Pirita River with many erupting “eyes” of streams, each with its own colour (bluish-green, white, dark). This puts together various colour combinations. These are often known as the most beautiful streams in Estonia. Some pump out as much as 20-30 litres of water per hour. It is said that the waters are good medical resources, particularly for the eyes. There are improvements in the area of tourists.
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This is an uncommon trail. The visitor will learn all about quite “ordinary” trees such as the oak, the linden, the hazelnut, the fir and the pine. The information is quite interesting, however, making use of the heritage of Latvian folklore. The site is located near the Zvārte rock. Visitors will spend around one hour on the trail.
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Die mächtigste Steilküste im Baltikum (bis zu 24 m hoch). In den kalten Winter werden hier phantastische Gletscherstürze entstanden. Pakri Leuchtturm. |
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The largest NATURA 2000 territory in Latvia covers 6% of the country’s area. It is located in parts of the Limbaži, Valmiera and Valka districts, and it is a place of an enormously diverse range of landscapes, biotopes and species. The Salaca River is one of the most important rivers in the entire Baltic Sea region in terms of spawning grounds for salmon. The river valley and its sandstone cliffs attract many visitors. It is no accident that this is the second most popular river in Vidzeme for water tourism. The shore of the Bay of Rīga, which is not very long, also features a great diversity in landscapes and biotopes. At the northern end, we find the Randu meadows. In the central part there are sandy beaches, but at the southern end – 22 kilometres of rocky shoreline. The so-called Northern swamps are found on the border with Estonia, while the Seda heath is one of the most important places in the region for birds to rest and feed during migration. The reserve also features a diverse forest in which one can find all of the types of forest which are common in Latvia. Nature trails and viewing towers or platforms are found in the Randu meadows, on the banks of Lake Burtnieks, along the Planči and Niedrāji-Pilka swamps, on the banks of Lake Dziļezers and Lake Lielezers, and elsewhere. The Skaņākalns park in Mazsalaca is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Northern Vidzeme. The territory boasts many important cultural monuments, including one of the earliest known settlements in Latvia – a fishing settlement and burial ground which date back to the 5th to the 2nd millennium BC.
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The Staburags cliff of Rauna has been Latvia’s most distinct travertine cliff since the great Staburags cliff of the Daugava River sank under the waves during the construction of a hydroelectric power plant nearby. The cliff is approximately 8,000 years old and is still being formed as lime settles on moss and other plants. The Staburags cliff of Rauna is cited as the only location in Latvia of the Alpine butterwort, but it has not been seen there for the last 15 years. That is probably because of the many people who tramp across the cliff each year. The streams which deliver lime to the cliff are a biotope that is of priority at the EU level.
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This is a natural monument of protected dendrological plants. The park is in the Upmala Parish, covers 2.7 ha, has been protected since 2001 and is managed by the Vārkava Administrative District Council. Judging from the oldest oak trees (approximately 200 years old), the park was established in the early 19th century, with other plants from the latter part of the century. Local species of trees, including maples, elms, fir trees, aspens, oak trees, willow trees, linden trees and hazelnut trees grow in the park, as do more than 10 exotic types of trees and bushes, including various types of maple, aspen, willow, lilac and linden trees. |
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The area of the ancient Piusa River valley that is between the villages of Vana-Vastseliina and Ignasõ is around 15 km long, features some substantial rapids, and offers a view of beautiful Devonian period cliffs. The largest, Härma müür, is 43 metres high and is the highest sandstone cliff in Estonia. There are caves from old mines in the village of Piusa. A small part of the mines, which have tunnels that are more than 10 km long in all, has been tured into a local museum.
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This is an entirely forested island in the Bay of Finland, ~14 km from Tallinn. A network of small pathways covers the entire island. Recommended hike along the seashore of the island, which will offer dunes, as well as a coastline that is sandy in some parts, rocky in others, and covered with reeds in still others (~9 km). A ferry boat will take you to the island from the Pirita port.
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This is the only viewing platform in Latvia which is wheelchair-accessible. From the second level, you can see much of the restricted territory – areas of reeds, some wetlands, dunes and the estuary of the Daugava River. This is a good location for bird-watching.
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This is another important territory for the protection of reefs, is also opposite the Salacgrīva Administrative District, and covers 7,239 hectares.
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Bejas meža dabas liegums veidots no reljefa viedokļa - interesantā, pauguru un starppauguru ieplaku saposmotā teritorijā, kuru klāj vecs un varens egļu mežs. Bejas mežā atrodas viena no Alūksnes rajonā vairākām "Velna pēdēm" - dziļa, krāterveida ieplaka, ko veidojis kūstošais ledājs.
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This is the most visually impressive drumlin field in the Baltic States, and it is close to the village of Tabivere. The drumlins were established by ice glaciers, and they point in the direction in which the ice moved long ago. In terms of their appearance, the drumlins resemble loaf-shaped hillocks. From their “backs,” there are lovely views of the local landscape and the lakes that are around the area. The visitor centre is in the village of Äksi.
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This mixed-type park dates back to the latter half of the 19th century and has remained all but unchanged. It is in a lovely place between two lakes, and its spatial structure was preserved when it was restored. The park covers 10 ha and has two parts. One is a fairly precisely rectangular territory alongside the state, surrounded by a stand of linden trees and introduced trees. The other part has a natural forest. The largest oak tree in the park has been declared to be a protected element of natural heritage. The mighty trunk of the tree is 6.3 m around, has a 2m diameter and stands 30.5 m high. |
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The tower on the eastern shore of Lake Engure (next to the meadow for wild cattle, accessible from the side of Bērzciems) offers a view of the reeds, small islands, Great Island, cows and horses of the north-eastern part of the lake. The tower on the northern shore of the lake (accessible from the side of Mērsrags) offers a look at the boating facility and the very overgrown northern part of the lake. The tower at the north-western shore of the lake (accessible from the side of Ķūļciems) shows the Apaļrova island (a footpath), stands of juniper, the boating facility, and the mosaic-like landscape of the lake itself.
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This is one of the most interesting protected territories in the city of Rīga, and its aim is to protect coastline biotopes – dune and coastal meadows and the birds and plants which are found there (among them, 29% of the species of orchids). There is a marked information trail with a bird-watching tower. This is the only outdoor viewing tower in Latvia that has been adapted for the needs of people in wheelchairs.
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Riežupes dabas parks veidots g.k. Riežupes izteksmīgās ielejas, tai raksturīgo dabas vērtību – nogāžu un gravu mežu, dažādu ģeoloģisku dabas pieminekļu - smilšakmens atsegumu, alu, ūdenkritumu, upes straujteču posmu, dažādu sugu, mežu masīvu un ainavas aizsardzībai. Parka atrodas viens no Kurzemes populārākajiem tūrisma objektiem – Riežupes alas - garākais mākslīgo alu labirints Latvijā, kura eju kopgarums ir 460 m. Sākotnēji dabas veidotās alas 19. gs. vidū mākslīgi paplašināja baltās smilts ieguves nolūkos, kuras izmantoja stikla ražošanai. Parkā izveidots velotūrisma maršruts. |
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These sandstone cliffs were once known as the Pieškalni or Pieškaļi cliffs. They are around 7 km to the North from the centre of Cēsis. These are the most monolithic sandstone cliffs in the Baltic States – around 700 m long (with some 330 m along the Gauja River) and a maximum height of 22 m. There is a viewing area which offers a grand view of the Gauja River valley. Water tourists will boat up to the majestic wall of the cliff and will be surprised at what they see! The name of the cliffs, Ērģeles, is the word for "pipe organ" in Latvian, and the name was supposedly given to the cliffs because of the echoes which can be heard there – they reputedly sound like an organ. Hikers and boaters must be very careful when in this area – please make sure that you are safe! Please note, too, that the infrastructure of the cliff is scheduled to be renovated in 2012. |
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This is a small area with lots of different terrains – high hillocks, distinct river valleys, thermal streams, continental dunes, etc.
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