Gauja National Park
| Gauja National Park | |||
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| Location: | Latvia | ||
| Next city: | Sigulda , Cēsis | ||
| Surface: | 917.45 km² | ||
| Founding: | September 14, 1973 | ||
| Address: | Gaujas nacionālā parka administrācija Baznīcas iela 3, Sigulda |
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The Gauja National Park (Latvian: Gaujas nacionālais parks) is the oldest and, at around 920 km², the largest national park in Latvia .
location
It was created in September 1973 and is located in the area of the cities of Sigulda (German: Segewold) and Cēsis (German: Wenden). The national park is named after the Gauja River . The historical German name of the area is "Livonian Switzerland" - it is derived from the red and yellow glowing sandstone cliffs from the Devonian .
Protection goals
According to a survey by the park administration, there are around 900 plant species as well as 149 bird, 40 fish and 48 mammal species to discover, which use the area permanently or as a resting place. In addition to salmon, you can also see bears here. About 47% of the national park is covered with forest. The national park thus serves to protect the landscape and species throughout Europe.
Attractions
The national park is divided into five zones, which offer different tourist destinations, adventure and educational offers. In addition to the two cities of Sigulda and Cēsis with their castles, palaces, parks and sports facilities, there is the opportunity to visit an open-air museum in Āraiši, a replica of a medieval wooden Latgalian moated castle and the associated village. This is part of the Āraiši Archaeological Park . The Ungurmuiža estate near Cēsis offers insights into the region's recent past - it was once owned by the Baltic German family Campenhausen .
Boat tours or canoeing on the Gauja between Valmiera and Sigulda, which pass the 700-meter-long eagle cliffs (Latvian: Ērģeļu Klints) near Cēsis, are popular with tourists . The Sietiņiezis rocks offer a panoramic path for hikers. The Gutmana that Viktor Cave and the Devil's Cave originated thousands of years ago in the cliffs on the banks of the river in Sigulda. A three-day guided boat tour opens up the 84 km long section of the river, in which there is a steady current without whitewater passages.
In the national park, guided hikes are offered, which among other things have the animal world as a theme. Līgatne (German: Ligat) has an animal park and a sculpture garden .
literature
Jochen Könnecke, Vladislav Rubzov: Latvia . In: DuMont art travel guide . DuMont Reiseverlag, Ostfildern 2005, ISBN 3-7701-6386-9 , Der Gauja National Park, p. 185-200 .
Web links
- Homepage of the national park (German)
