Gulf of Riga: description, location, resorts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

The bay, which will be discussed in this article, is located between two small states - Estonia and Latvia. It is located in the eastern part of the B altic Sea.

In brief about the Riga seaside

Speaking of him, many people first of all represent the well-known Jurmala - the resort of the Gulf of Riga. However, not everyone knows that this coast is located only on the left side of the mouth of the Daugava River, where the capital of Latvia, Riga, also stands.

There are also recreation areas on the right side of the coast, which are part of the Riga region and have the same magnificent beaches with golden sands, where you can have a great summer vacation. There is only one feature of this site - even at the height of the season it is much calmer here, which is also welcomed by many vacationers.

Gulf of Riga: location, description

One of the most popular tourist destinations is the Riga seaside.

On the north side of the bay are the islands of the Moonsund archipelago belonging to Estonia. Most of the banks of the reservoir are made of sand. The area of the bay, which flows into the land at a distance of almost 174 km, is 18.1 thousand square meters. km. In width, it stretches for 137 kilometers. Maximumthe depth of the Gulf of Riga is relatively small and equal to 54 meters.

The islands of the bay are separated from the mainland by the Irben Strait, located between the southern tip of Saaremaa and Cape Kolkasrags, as well as Väinameri (Strait). Among them there are islands belonging to Estonia. These are Kihnu, Manilaid, Ruhnu and Abruka. For the most part, the coast of the bay is lowland, and its bottom is mostly sandy.

Lielupe - the river of the Gulf of Riga. Pärnu, Zapadnaya Dvina, Salaca, Gauja and Age also flow into it.

The largest port of these places is Riga. It should also be noted that the western coast of the bay is called Livsky, and it is a protected area.

Splendid natural sights are located in the nearby territories to the bay: Pisiuras Park, Vella Kalva boulder ridge, Randu Plyavas botanical reserve, Vidzeme rocky seaside section, etc.

Current pattern and temperature

In summer the water temperature reaches 18 ° C, in winter it drops to 0-1 ° C. The bay is covered with ice in December and is hidden by it until April. The salinity of the waters reaches 6%.

The current is of a rotational type, and its average speed is about 8 cm/sec.

Resorts and cities

Beautiful Latvian towns and resorts attract numerous guests for holidays. On the southwestern coast is the glorious city of Jurmala, on the northern coast is the magnificent Pärnu, on the island of Saaremaa is the city of Kuressaare.

The Gulf of Riga placed on its shoresmany settlements. Each of them has its own characteristics and advantages.

One of the most beautiful resorts not only on the Riga coast, but also in Europe is Jurmala, located 14 kilometers from the capital of Latvia. This resort area stretches in a narrow strip along a long section (32 km) of the coast of the Gulf of Riga.

The most famous of the settlements are the following: Dzintari, Lielupe, Bulduri, Asari, Dubulti, Majori and Kemeri. Each of these villages is original and unique. Below is a brief description of some of them.

1. Dzintari is famous for its famous concert hall, where the New Wave music competitions, KVN festivals and concerts of world pop stars are held.

2. Lielupe is a large sports center with excellent tennis courts and a yacht club. The largest water park in Latvia is also located here.

3. Asari and Melluzhi are mostly designed for a more relaxing holiday.

4. Majori is notable for the lively Jomas pedestrian street, lined with numerous restaurants, cafes and shops.

5. Ķemeri and Jaunkemeri are mostly recommended for improving he alth. Excellent medical and resort centers with mud baths and healing sulfur springs provide their services here.

6. The magnificent water amusement park can be visited in Vaivari.

Mangalsala Peninsula

The Gulf of Riga washes this extraordinary peninsula. This territory is a place where amazingly greenpine forest gradually turns into soft golden beaches. The main man-made attraction of the peninsula is the Eastern Pier (Mangalsal Dam), built in 1861 during the reign of Alexander II.

Also here you can see with your own eyes the catacombs preserved from the period of the Russian-Swedish war. All this is protected by the Latvian state. Stunning picturesque sunsets look great here. The Gulf of Riga is rich in natural wonders.

A little about the history of the formation of the B altic Sea and the Gulf

The history of the formation of the youngest (in terms of geology) in Europe, the B altic Sea, with which the Gulf of Riga is also connected, is quite interesting.

The Holocene is the time of formation of its current boundaries. Much earlier (the Pleistocene period), continental ice kept its waters in a closed space (the B altic depression). During the melting of the ice, the sea turned into a lake. Then, as it filled up (10 thousand years ago), it again turned into the Yoldian Sea (named from the Yoldium mollusk that got into it from the Atlantic), which connected the White Sea with the North Sea. As a result of certain tectonic processes over the course of two thousand years, the central territory of present-day Sweden has risen. Thus, the connection with the ocean was closed, and the slightly saline Yoldian Sea turned into the freshwater Ancylus Lake.

Due to the gradual warming of the climate, the isthmus in the place of the Danish Straits sank, and the so-called Littorina Sea (also from a mollusk - Littorina litorea) reachedocean of the Atlantic. As a result, 4 thousand years ago, the B altic Sea arose. The outlines of its shores, of course, have changed over the course of 1.5 thousand years.

Since the level of the previous Littorina Sea was 6 meters higher than the mainland, the sea spilled over vast territories, forming bays, among which the smallest one was Riga.