Gauja
Gauja Koiva jõgi |
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Data | ||
location | Latvia , Estonia | |
River system | Gauja | |
origin | Elkas kalns near Skujiene ( Amatas novads ) 57 ° 4 ′ 57 ″ N , 25 ° 36 ′ 17 ″ E |
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muzzle |
Gulf of Riga coordinates: 57 ° 9 '30 " N , 24 ° 15' 48" E 57 ° 9 '30 " N , 24 ° 15' 48" E |
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Mouth height |
0 m
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length | 452 km | |
Catchment area | 9080 km² | |
Drain |
NNQ MNQ MHQ |
13.7 m³ / s 70.7 m³ / s 300 m³ / s |
Medium-sized cities | Valmiera , Cēsis , Sigulda | |
Ērgļu klintis (Eagle Rock) on the Gauja |
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River catchment area of the Gauja |
The Gauja (German name Livländische Aa ; Estonian: Koiva jõgi ) is a river in the historic Livonia (Latvian: Vidzeme ) landscape in Latvia .
location
With about 452 kilometers of all rivers, the Gauja covers the longest distance in Latvian territory and is sung about in many songs.
In the past, the Alauksts lake was considered the origin of the Gauja. Due to the lowering of the water level in this lake, however, the river Ežupītis, which rises on Elkas kalns, is richer in water than the Gaujiņa from the Alauksts lake.
The Gauja flows through several lakes near its source. The river flows in a wide arc around the Livonian Heights, forms the border between Latvia and Estonia for a few kilometers and then turns in a south-westerly direction. After the influence of the Abuls above Valmieras , the valley becomes deeper. The river flows in a sandy riverbed through the Gauja National Park and flows into the Gulf of Riga at Carnikava .
- Tourist attractions are the rock formations on the banks and the many caves. Boat trips are also popular.
- Undersunk sandbanks are sometimes a danger for anglers and bathers.
Word origin
The linguist August Bielenstein traced the word Gauja back to livisch keùv , or Estonian kõiv . The name would therefore mean birch river . The former German name Livländische Aa is an ancient word for river (see list of waters called Aa )
Largest tributaries
left side:
right side:
literature
- Nicodemus Oļģerts: Latvijas fiziskā ģeogrāfija, section [1]
Web links
- Article Gauja in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (BSE) , 3rd edition 1969–1978 (Russian)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Nicodemus Oļģerts: Latvijas fiziskā ģeogrāfija, section Latvijas lielākās upes
- ↑ upes.lv (Latvian)