The source of the Western Dvina River is near the village of Sheverevo. Western Dvina (river) Left tributaries of the Western Dvina

The first city on my way of “real Latvia” (as opposed to “separate” Latgale) was Koknese (6 thousand inhabitants), located on the Daugava on the road from (or rather,) to Riga. In Polotsk it was called Kukeinos, among the Baltic Germans it was called Kokenhausen, and in fact its only attraction is in the introductory frame.

Koknese is no longer Latgale, about which the last dozen posts were, but Vidzeme is the southern half of the Livonia province, the land of Lutheranism, castles and deep forests, “Latvia by default”, from where Atmoda spread - the “national awakening” of Latvians. But “deep” Vidzeme is very different from the Daugava valley - its Vidzeme part is essentially a distant suburb of Riga with a 100-kilometer chain of towns Ikskile, Ogre, Kegums, Lielvarde, Aizkraukle, Koknese, Plavinas... There are not even bus stations everywhere - only stops on the highway. This is where I arrived from Jekabpils, where I left in Lielvarde:

Koknese is a really small and, frankly speaking, poor town. But - clean and with two or three supermarkets, which is so typical for Latvia. Most of Koknese looks something like this:

And instead of the historical center there is a huge park near the Daugava:

The well-keptness of the parks is something that makes me envious in the Baltics. To a greater extent in Lithuania, but also in Latvia.
The fountain at the entrance is called “Faun’s Head” and was created back in the 1930s by sculptor Voldemar Jacobson, and moved to its current location in the 1960s.

A little over 8 centuries ago, the first proto-states began to take shape in the Baltic states, mostly small principalities, among which three stood out in size on the territory of Latvia: Talava (north of the country), Gersik (prototype of Latgale) and Kukeinos. The Orthodox prince Vyachko ruled in Kukeinos - according to one version, the Slav Vyacheslav Borisovich, and according to another, a Latgalian or Liv, whose nickname simply meant Leader (Vetseke). Some consider him a vassal of Polotsk, others that he simply skillfully maneuvered between powerful neighbors, wresting benefits from Polotsk for its merchants through Orthodox Baptism, and through his marriage to a Lithuanian woman, peace with their southern neighbors. And when the swordsmen knocked on the door, Vyachko tried to negotiate with them, but was captured and taken in chains to the Bishop of Riga. I don’t know what they agreed on, but once free, the prince burned down his castle and left with his retinue for Polotsk in 1208.

The principality and the Daugava valley in general entered the possession of the Riga Archbishopric, which (together with three other Livonian bishoprics) was actually a principality, and soon turned into perhaps the main enemy of the Livonian Order. But among the archbishop's possessions, Kokenhausen essentially became point No. 2 after Riga - a southeastern outpost that gave access to both Lithuania and Rus', and therefore, in wars with the Order, it always ultimately remained with the archbishop. The archbishop appointed the best of the best as governors here - for example, in 1229-1395, the Tyzengauzes, one of the most powerful families of Livonia and Lithuania, ruled here (see). However, not everything was smooth with the archbishop’s vassals - for example, in 1292, Hans Tyzenhaus was excommunicated for imprisoning Archbishop John II in a basement, extorting money and privileges (not without collusion with the Order), and a few years later the same procedure was followed here with his successor John III.

In 1420, Koknese even became the summer residence of the Archbishop of Riga, and from the 1520s, when the Reformation won in Riga, it became simply the center of Catholicism in Livonia, where both the archbishop himself and the monks who left Riga lived. This was the heyday of the city - there was even a mint here. Here, in Kokenhausen, in 1547, the last Riga Archbishop Wilhelm von Brandeburg from the Hohenzollern family was captured by the Livonians.

However, even after all the storms of the 16th century, Kokenhausen developed regularly, and in Swedish Livonia it was the third most important city, after Riga and Dorpat (Tartu), in fact becoming the capital of the future Vidzeme. In 1656-61, Kokenhaus even managed to be the Russian city of Tsarevich-Dmitriev - Alexei Mikhailovich planned to establish the capital of Russian Livonia here if he failed to conquer Riga, and during the war, under the leadership of the governor Ordin-Nashchekin, the city became the main supply base for the army. Well, it came to an end in 1701, with the beginning of the Northern War - with a quick blow, the Polish-Saxon-Russian troops that captured the fortress, when the main forces of the Swedish army approached, blew up the castle and left for Courland. During the years of the war and plague of 1709-10, the city also fell into disrepair, and by the middle of the 18th century it had become a backwater.
For a detailed history, I refer you to Renata Rimsha’s website, but for now let’s move on.

To the gazebo on the hill:

10.

From which there is a view of the mouth of the Perse River and the ruins of a huge castle on the cape:

11.

This is what the same place looked like a hundred years ago - the fact is that in 1960-67, down the Daugava, the second hydroelectric power station on the Plavinska river was built (after the pre-war Kegumska), the city of which was originally called Stuchka (in honor of the main Latvian Bolshevik of the times Civil), and since 1991 Aizkraukle. The water level in the river rose, as I was told in the castle museum, by 60 meters - and when looking at old photographs, it seems that this is so.

12.

On the neighboring hill, before the First World War, there stood the New Castle, built in the 1890s by Otto von Livenstern - a super-typical case for Vidzeme, the same in Cesis and Sigulda.

13a.

In 1846, an Orthodox Latvian parish was founded - in those days, many Latvians converted to Orthodoxy. Peter and Paul Church (1877) destroyed before filling the reservoir:

13b.

But now we are approaching the castle cape. Further entry is paid, although this is a classic example of “raising funds to repair a failure so that it doesn’t fail completely” - as such, the “museum” is represented by several old photographs (which is actually higher) and one stand in the same room as the ticket office, but here’s the price as elsewhere in Latvia, it’s noticeable - with our money, 120 rubles. The ladies there, however, are very nice, they told me a lot and gave me a map of the city.

14.

This is what you can't do in a castle. The third icon with Spider-Man is especially good:

14a.

Mouth of Perse, high water:

15.

But the white stone ruins are stunningly majestic and picturesque. Renata again has a detailed description of its structure on the website - in short, the castle had a triangular shape, at different times there were from 5 to 7 towers, including at the “edge” Long Henning in honor of Archbishop Henning Scharpenburg, who lived here in exile. The castle took on its last appearance before destruction in 1625 after the conquest by Sweden, that is, despite the apparent Middle Ages, these walls are mainly from the 17th century.

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The castle is not big at all, but it is impressive, and the water comes close to it:

21.

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A cannon in the ruins of Long Henning aims downstream:

23.

The foundation was strengthened only in 1993-98 - before the walls went straight into the water, but now a narrow cornice has appeared. Walking on it is generally prohibited, but this is the most unusual sensation in the ruins of Kokenhausen.

24.

But it’s still not worth calling Koknese “Atlantis” - as can be seen from old photographs, there was nothing special under the mountain. And Koknese was not a town in the 20th century - just an estate, two churches of different faiths and a tavern near the road. Let's go back:

25.

From the castle I walked through the park, hoping to make a circle and get out to the same stop. After about ten minutes of walking along the river, past the summer theater, lonely cottages, piers with boats, you will come to the church (1681) - it still remembers the times when the city stood here.

26.

I don’t know what time these portals are - but I want to believe that this is not an “antique” decoration from the times of the Livenshterns. The bicycle belongs to the caretaker who was sitting next to me - he invited me to climb the tower, but I was too lazy - it was hard, and anything interesting was hardly visible from there.

27.

Church decoration. Nothing extra:

28.

Then I went out into the city, bought some pies at the nearest supermarket and had them for breakfast, and then the bus arrived. The day started off very well. Finally, here’s a sketch: I admit that with wheels as solar signs

The source of the Western Dvina River is located on the Valdai Hills in the Penovsky district of the Tver region at an altitude of 215 m, 2.1 km northwest of the village of Shcheverevo in the Penovsky district of the Tver region. The Anuchinsky stream flows from the southern part of the Koryakinsky swamp, which is the source of the Western Dvina.

After about five hundred meters it merges with the Koryakinsky stream, and after six hundred it flows into the small picturesque forest lake Koryakino (Dvinets), with an island in the middle. The Dvinets stream flows from its southeastern part. If you go downstream, then after four kilometers it will lead to the northern end of Lake Coverage (Aphoto). Having passed almost 10 kilometers through Okhvat, having absorbed the waters of the Netysma and Volkota rivers, the Western Dvina flows out of the lake already wide (10 - 15 meters).

In 2001, Penovo enthusiasts installed a log three-slope arch pavilion as a symbol of the fact that the Western Dvina carries its waters through the territory of three states - Russia, Belarus and Latvia. This is evidenced by three steps that lead along a wooden bridge, bordered by railings, to the pavilion.

Western Dvina (Belarus. Western Dzvina, in Latvia - Daugava, Latvian. Daugava, Latvian. Daugova, Liv. Vēna) is a river in the north of Eastern Europe, flowing through the territory of Russia, Belarus and Latvia. It is connected by the inactive Berezinskaya water system to the Dnieper River. Ancient names - Eridanus, Rudon, Bubo, Rubon, Sudon, Khesin.

The Western Dvina flows through Lake Okhvat, then flows first to the southwest, but after Vitebsk it turns to the northwest. The Western Dvina flows into the Gulf of Riga (Riga) of the Baltic Sea, forming an erosive delta near the former island of Mangalsala, which today is a peninsula, since the mouth of the second branch was filled in in 1567.

The length of the Western Dvina River is 1020 km: 325 km are in the Russian Federation, 328 in Belarus and 367 in Latvia. Basin 87,900 km², water flow 678 m³/s (at the mouth). The total fall of the river on the territory of Belarus is 38 m, the density of the river network is 0.45 km/km², and the lake content is 3%.

The river valley is trapezoidal in shape, deeply incised or featureless in places. The width of the valley in the upper reaches is up to 0.9 km, on average 1-1.5 km, in the lower reaches 5-6 km. The floodplain is predominantly two-sided. The channel is moderately winding, weakly branched, with rapids in places. Above Vitebsk, Devonian dolomites reach the surface and form rapids 12 km long.

The width of the Western Dvina River behind the lake Coverage is 15-20 meters, the banks are wooded, moderately steep sandy loam with boulders, low on the coastal plain. The bed is rocky, with individual rifts and small rapids.

On the Andreapol - Western Dvina section, the width of the river increases to 50 meters, and beyond the city of Western Dvina, having overcome another rapids section, the river receives large tributaries - Veles, Toropa and Mezha, after which it expands to 100 meters.

Behind the mouth of the Mezha there is a large trap intended for collecting timber rafted along the Mezha. Below the river, the river flows in high banks covered with mixed forest. The forest disappears in front of the city of Velizh. Beyond Velizh the river is navigable.

Between the Latgale and Augšzeme uplands, the Daugava flows through an ancient valley. Here the width of the Daugava reaches 200 meters. In the area from Kraslava to Daugavpils there is a natural park Daugavas loki (Bends of the Daugava). Passing Daugavpils, the Daugava reaches the East Latvian Lowland. Here the flow of the river slows down and the banks become low, because of this, during spring floods, ice jams often form in this area and water floods large areas.

From Jekabpils to Pļavinas the Daugava flows along steep banks with steep cliffs made of gray dolomite. The river valley from Pļaviņas to Ķegums was especially interesting and beautiful. There were many rapids and shallows in the riverbed. The shores were decorated with beautiful rocks Olinkalns, Avotinu-Kalns, Staburags. After the construction of the Plavinas hydroelectric power station, the water level increased by 40 m and the entire section of the ancient valley was flooded with the waters of the Plavinas reservoir.

From Jaunelgava to Ķegums the reservoir of the Ķegums hydroelectric power station extends, and at Salaspils the road to the river is blocked by the dam of the Riga hydroelectric power station.

Below Dole Island the river flows through the Primorskaya Lowland. Here its valley is formed by loose sediments of the Quaternary period. The river banks in this area are low, and the valley is filled with river sediments. Alluvial sand islands appear in the Riga area - Zakusala, Lucavsala, Kundzinsala, Kipsala, etc.

The width of the river at the Riga bridges is about 700 m, and in the Milgravis area it reaches 1.5 km. The depth of the river here is approximately 8-9 m. The average annual water flow is 678 m³/s. The concentration of a number of pollutants exceeds 10 MAC.

Observations of the hydrological regime on the territory of Belarus have been systematically carried out since 1878 (16 posts). In 1983, the hydrological posts Surazh, Vitebsk, Ulla, Polotsk, and Verkhnedvinsk were in operation.

High water, low water. In 2015, on June 30, Daugavpils (since 1876) and Jekabpils (since 1906) recorded the lowest river level for the entire period of observation in these cities.

At the mouth of the Western Dvina you can find “tears of Heliad” - amber.

Throughout history, the Western Dvina River had about 14 names: Dina, Vina, Tanair, Turun, Rodan, Dune, Eridan, Western Dvina and others. Thus, in the 15th century, Gilbert de Lannoa notes that the Semigallian tribes called the Dvina Samegalzara (Semigals-Ara, that is, Semigallian water). In ancient times, the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” passed along it.

The name “Dvina” was first mentioned by the monk-chronicler Nestor. At the beginning of his chronicle, he writes: “The Dnieper flowed from the Volkovsky forest and flowed at noon, and the Dvina from the same forest flowed at midnight and entered the Varangian Sea.”

According to V. A. Zhuchkevich, the hydronym Dvina is of Finnish origin with the semantic meaning “quiet, calm.”

The name “Daugava” was apparently formed from two ancient Baltic words, daug - “many, abundantly” and ava - “water”.
According to legend, Perkons ordered birds and animals to dig a river.

The settlement of the Western Dvina basin began in the Mesolithic era.

The main largest tributaries flowing into the Western Dvina are the following rivers: Volkota, Netesma, Velesa, Mezha, Kasplya, Ulla, Ushacha, Disna, Lautsesa, Ilukste, Kekavinya, Toropa, Luchosa, Obol, Polota, Drissa, Dubna, Aiviekste, Perse and Ogre .

Left tributaries of the Western Dvina (Daugava): Goryanka, Netsema, Fedyaevka, Velesa, Medveditsa, Fominka, Usoditsa, Mezha, Kasplya, Vitba, Krivinka, Ulla, Turovlyanka, Ushacha, Nacha, Disna, Volta, Meritsa, Druika, Lautse, Ilukste, Eglaine, Sala, Lautses,

Right tributaries of the Western Dvina (Daugava): Krivitsa, Volkota, Zhaberka, Gorodnya, Grustenka, Lososna, Okcha, Svetly, Toropa, Zhizhitsa, Dvinka, Stodolskaya, Oleska, Usvyacha, Luzhesyanka, Obol, Sosnitsa, Polota, Drissa, Uzhitsa, Saryanka, Rosica, Indrica, Liksna, Dubna, Nereta, Aiviekste, Perse, Brasla, Ogre.

The following cities are located on the banks of the Western Dvina River: Andreapol, Western Dvina, Velizh, Vitebsk, Beshenkovichi, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Disna, Verkhnedvinsk, Druya, Kraslava, Daugavpils, Livany, Jekabpils, Plavinas, Aizkraukle, Jaunelgava, Lielvarde, Kegums, Ogre, Ikskile, Salaspils and Riga.

Hydroelectric power station.
Thanks to the Western Dvina hydroelectric station, built under Soviet rule, it is the only large own source of energy for Latvia, giving the country up to 3 billion kWh per year.
The following hydroelectric power stations were built on the Western Dvina River:
- Plavinska HPP
- Riga HPP
- Kegums hydroelectric power station (built before Soviet rule - in 1939)
- The Polotsk and Vitebsk hydroelectric power stations are being built, agreements have been concluded on the construction of the Verkhnedvinskaya and Beshenkovichi hydroelectric power stations (all on the territory of Belarus). - - The construction of the Daugavpils hydroelectric power station was started, but suspended. The Jekabpils hydroelectric power station was designed. The unused potential of the river exceeds 1 billion kWh per year.

Coordinates: 56°52′11″N 32°32′3″E

Cities: Riga, Daugavpils, Vitebsk, Polotsk, Ogre, Jekabpils;
Pool area: 87,900 km²;
Length: 1,020 km;
Water consumption: 678 m³/s;
Mouth: Gulf of Riga;
Source: Valdai Upland;
Bridges: Cable-stayed bridge, Riga railway bridge.

The Daugava is not just a river flowing through the territory, it is a real life artery of an entire people. Fishermen, artisans and farmers have long settled on the banks of the Daugava. On both banks, powerful knights built castles, and servants of God built temples.

To this day, like many hundreds of years ago, the Daugava participates in human life. Ships move along the river, and the river's power is transformed into electricity. This reservoir has always been admired and inspired by poets and painters, and now it attracts the attention of tourists from all over the world with its picturesque view.

Daugava, river – description

The Daugava River is interesting not only for its beauty, but also because it flows through the territory of several countries:

The source of the river is in the Tver region on the Valdai Hills of Russia. Its length in Russia is 325 km.
Then it flows through Belarus at a distance of 327 km. Here and in Russia it bears the name Western Dvina.
On the territory of Latvia, the Daugava flows from southeast to northwest and has a length of 368 km. Its first Latvian populated area becomes , the final point is , and the mouth of the river is .

The total length of the Daugava is 1020 km, the width of the valley is 6 km. The maximum width of the river near the bay is 1.5 km, the minimum width is 197 m in Latgale, and the depth of the Daugava ranges from 0.5-9 m. Its main channel lies on a plain with many low-lying places. Because of this, every spring the Daugava overflows heavily, flooding entire cities.

Attractions near the Daugava

The Daugava is stunning with its beauty and originality. Along its entire length, Latvia is home to many picturesque settlements and attractions, the most famous of which include the following:

In Latgale, in the region and before, the river makes eight sharp bends, which creates indescribable beauty that can be seen from the hills and viewing platforms of the Daugava Bends National Natural Park.
Further, the river flows in a northerly direction, sheltering on its left bank another natural park - the Dviete Poima. Every spring, this park is flooded for almost 24 km, but this does not prevent it from welcoming guests who come here to study rare birds and plants, or simply stroll through the picturesque valley, forests and meadows.
Then, from the right bank, where the Dubna River flows into the Daugava, there is a city. Then the river goes northwest. About three dozen kilometers later, with a bridge across the river, stands Jekabpils.
After another 17 km, where the Daugava meanders again, stands with its Plavina reservoir. 40 km from the city, the Plavinska hydroelectric power station blocks the river.
Between Aizkraukle and Jaunelgava, at the junction of two important Latvian regions - Vidzeme and Zemgale, stretches a magnificent park - the Daugava Valley.
Further along the river there is another reservoir called Kegumskoye. After it, on the right bank there is a small town. A few kilometers later, the river is again blocked by a dam - the Kegums hydroelectric power station.
A few tens of kilometers from the hydroelectric power station, the Ogre River flows into the Daugava from the right bank, and in this delta there is a city. After the city, already on the Riga reservoir, stands, and behind it and. The reservoir abuts a huge dam – the Riga Hydroelectric Power Station. Here, on the river island Dole, there is a natural park, in the past - a large fortification, on the territory of which there is a museum of the history of the Daugava.

Daugava, Riga

Every year, athletes from all over the world raft along the Daugava in boats and kayaks. On pleasure yachts, river buses and motor ships, people enjoy the views of this picturesque river. The silence and serenity of these places will captivate you at first sight and will forever remain in the heart of the traveler.

Western Dvina(in Belarus - Zahodnyaya Dzvina, in Latvia - Daugava, Daugava) - a river in Russia, Belarus and Latvia, basin. Ancient names: Eridan, Khesin.

The source of the Western Dvina (Daugava) river is located in the swamps of the Valdai Upland, approximately forty kilometers south of the source , where the river flows from a small lake Koryakino near the village of Shcheverovo, Penovsky district, Tver region. It flows into the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea in the capital of Latvia, Riga.

The Western Dvina (Daugava) has a length of 1020 kilometers, of which 325 kilometers are in Russia, 328 in Belarus and 367 in Latvia. The basin area is 87.9 thousand km2. The width of the Western Dvina River in the upper reaches after Lake Okhvat is 15-20 meters and increases towards the mouth to 1.5 kilometers. The river first has a southwestern flow direction, after the city of Vitebsk in Belarus it changes to the northwestern. The river slope is 0.2 m/km.

Settlements.

Along the banks of the Western Dvina River there are many settlements in Russia, Belarus and Latvia. Among them are the cities: Andreapol, Western Dvina, Velizh in Russia; Vitebsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Verkhnedvinsk in Belarus; Kraslava, Daugavpils, Livani, Jekabpils, Ogre, Salaspils and Riga in Latvia.

On the territory of Russia along the Western Dvina River there are also settlements - Lauga, Okhvat, Bdyn, Kurovo, Troskino, Rogovo, Sobolevo, Reksovo, Milavino, Sinichino, Lubenkino, Erokhino, Zhelezovo, Novaya, Khotino, Lavrovo, Novoivanovskoye, Tyukhovo, Mozhaitsy, Matings, Zagorye, Zaluzhye, Gorokhovka, Scrubs, Shlyki, Dachny, Chunks, Konovo, Pashkovo, Kovali, Solovo, Brod, Sevastyanovo, Pavlova Luka, Trubniki, Mikhalevo, Belyankino, Pervomaisky, Agryzkovo, Petrovo 1st, Torhovo, Vekoshane, Shcherbino, Ustye (Tver region), Shinkovo, Dubrovka (Pskov region), Khlebanikha, Krutiki, Guba, Dubrovka (Tver region), Rusanovo, Vyrvino, Velishchi, Borovye, Khukhovo, Crosses, Marfelevo, Usoditsa, Rubezhnik, Dorozhkino , Chetvernya, Ustye (Pskov region), Goryanye, Poimishche, Serteya, Drakes, Podpoyaski, Bakhtei, Klimovo, Belousovo, Makuni, Naumovka, Varnyshi, Uzvoz, Yastreb 1st, Yastreb 2nd, Upper Krasnoe, Lower Krasnoe, Boloshki, Upper Sekachi, Lower Sekachi, Kozye, Panfilovo, Belyaevo, Dyatlovo, Luchenki, Tarasenki, Verkhovye, Maloe Verkhovye, Gredyaki, Orlyaki.

Main tributaries.

The main largest tributaries flowing into the Western Dvina are the following rivers: Volkota, Netesma, Ulla, Ushacha, Disna, Lautsesa, Ilukste, Kekavinya, Luchosa, Obol, Polota, Drissa, Dubna, Aiviekste, Perse and Ogre.

Relief and soils.

In the Western Dvina River basin, the relatively large uplands of Vitebsk, Gorodok, Latgal, Vidzem alternate with the wide lowlands of Polotsk, East Latvian, and Central Latvian.

Almost along its entire length, the Western Dvina flows through a deep valley with wooded steep and moderately steep sandy loam banks. The valley is predominantly trapezoidal in shape, deeply incised or featureless in places. The width of the river valley in the upper reaches is no more than 0.9 kilometers, increases on average to 1-1.5 kilometers, and in the lower reaches to 5-6 kilometers. Below 150 kilometers from the source, in a small area, the valley is already weakly expressed. The river here passes through lakes Luka and Kalakutskoye. On the coastal plain near the Western Dvina there are low banks. In the lower reaches the river is divided into branches. In the mouth zone, the valley is an erosive delta about 35 kilometers long. When it flows into the Gulf of Riga, the river forms an underwater bar. The river's floodplain is predominantly two-way.

Hydrological regime.

Freeze-up on the Western Dvina River lasts from December to March. The diet is mixed, with a predominant share of snow and a significant part of soil. In spring, high water occurs from late March to early June. Summer low water is interrupted by rain floods. Autumn floods occur more often. Low water in winter lasts from December to mid-March. In some years, in winter there may be floods caused by thaws. The average water flow at the mouth is about 700 m 3 /sec.

The Western Dvina River basin is located in an area of excess moisture. The channel is moderately winding, weakly branched, and is distinguished by numerous rapids, which are associated with the accumulation of boulders and, in places, bedrock outcrops of dolomite. Above Vitebsk, Devonian dolomites reach the surface and form rapids reaching a length of 12 kilometers.

The Western Dvina begins as a small stream and a few kilometers from the source it flows into Lake Okhvat. After it, the width of the river becomes 15-20 meters. Further, in the section between the cities of Andreapol and Western Dvina, the width of the river increases to 50 meters. After the city of Western Dvina, the river, having overcome the rapids section, receives the waters of the large tributaries Velesa, Toropa, Mezha and expands to 100 meters.

Below the mouth of the Mezha, a large tank was built to collect timber rafted along the Mezha. After it, the river flows in high banks covered with mixed forest. At the city of Velizh, after which the Western Dvina becomes navigable, the forest ends.

From the Latgale to Augshzeme uplands, the Western Dvina flows through an ancient valley. The width of the river here already reaches 200 meters. After Daugavpil, the Western Dvina enters the East Latvian Lowland. The flow of the river slows down, the banks become low. During spring floods, ice jams often form in this area, and large areas are flooded with water.

Between Jekabpils and Plavinas, the Western Dvina has steep banks, with steep cliffs made of gray dolomite. From Plavinas, after the construction of the Plavinas hydroelectric power station, the river valley was flooded with the waters of the Plavinas reservoir, the water level increased by 40 meters. After Jaunelgava to Kegums, the Kegums Hydroelectric Power Station reservoir was created in the riverbed, and at Salaspils the river was blocked by the Riga Hydroelectric Power Station dam.

Below Dole Island, the Western Dvina (Daugava) flows through the Primorskaya Lowland. The valley is formed by loose sediments of the Quaternary period. The banks of the river here are already low, river sediments fill the valley. Near Riga, sand deposits form the islands of Zakusala, Lucavsala, Kundzinsala, Kipsala and others. In Riga, the width of the river becomes about 700 meters, downstream it reaches 1.5 kilometers, and the depth is 8-9 meters.

The average water flow in the Western Dvina is 678 m³/s.

Ichthyofauna.

In the Western Dvina (Daugava), the reservoirs of its basin and in the estuary, the following fish species were noted: Sea lamprey, River lamprey, Brook lamprey, Sterlet, Atlantic sturgeon, Finta, Salmon, Taimen, Brook trout, European vendace, Peled, Sea whitefish , Migrant whitefish, Smelt, Wallfish, Pike, Roach, Dace, Chub, Ide, Minnow, Rudd, Asp, Verkhovka, Tench, Gudgeon, Bleak, Bystryanka, White bream, Bream, Blue bream, Vimba (full), Chekhon, Gorchak, Golden crucian carp, Silver crucian carp, Carp, Amur carp, Char, Spike, Loach, Catfish, Eel, Burbot, Nine-headed stickleback, Three-spined stickleback, Pike-perch, Perch, Ruff, Eelpout, Sculpin, Sea goby, Flounder.

Economic importance.

The Plavinas, Kegums, and Riga hydroelectric power stations were built on the Western Dvina in Latvia. Thanks to the river it is the only major national source of energy in Latvia. In some sections the river is navigable. Connects an inactive water system to.

Tourism and rest.

The abundance of fish species indicates the attractiveness of the Western Dvina (Daugava) River for fishing enthusiasts.

Reference Information.

Length: 1020 km

Basin area: 87,900 km²

Pool: Baltic Sea

Water flow: 678 m³/s (at the mouth)

Slope: 0.2 m/km

Source: Lake Koryakino, Valdai Upland, Shcheverovo village, Penovsky district, Tver region

Altitude: 215 m

Coordinates:

Latitude: 56°51′15.6″N

Longitude: 32°32′25.4″E

Estuary: Gulf of Riga Baltic Sea, Riga, Latvia

Coordinates:

Latitude: 57°3′43″N

Longitude: 24°1′33″E

: Russia, and. Length 1020 km, basin area 87.9 thousand km2. It originates on the Valdai Hills, and then flows through Lake Okhvat (a series of large reaches connected by channels) and flows into the Gulf of Riga, forming a delta. The river is very winding, the banks are mostly high. Along the banks of the Western Dvina, rivers predominate, alternating with fields. There are shoals, riffles, and rapids in the riverbed. In the lower reaches the river splits into branches. The average water flow is 678 m2/s. Within the Smolensk region, the river flows along a slightly undulating, partially swampy plain. The main tributaries are Mezha, Kasplya, Ushacha (left), Drissa, Aiviekste (right).

The Western Dvina originates from the small lake Dvina or Dvintsa, lying at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level, among the forests of the Tver region, about 15 km from its sources. About 15 km downstream the Dvina flows through Lake Okhvat. The general direction of the flow of the Western Dvina is from east to west in an arcuate direction, to the south - in a curved direction. After leaving Lake Okhvat, the Dvina goes south until the Mezhi River flows into it, then it heads southwest and, after a sharp turn, reaches its southernmost point.

Before flowing into Lake Okhvat, the Western Dvina flows for 16 km in the form of a stream, and at the exit from the lake its width reaches 20 m. Near Vitebsk, the width of the river increases to 100 meters. During the flood, in many places the width of the Dvina reaches 1500 meters. The valleys adjacent to the Western Dvina are flooded with it only in a few places during the spring flood. Spring floods occur from mid-April to mid-May, and sometimes cover part of the month of June.

In the Tver and Smolensk regions along the banks of the Western Dvina there are outcrops of layers, mountain limestones overlying sands and sandstones. In the eastern part, the banks of the Western Dvina consist of sediment. Further, it has the character of a meadow, thanks to the low sandy banks. There are limestone boulders. Even lower, the banks rise and take on a forest character. Further, the area becomes more and more sandy and, finally, not reaching 10-13 km from Vitebsk, bedrock (dolomite with layers of blue clay) appears, especially in the river bed, with perfectly preserved fossils.

Somewhat lower, the bedrock layers in the riverbed form bends that create dangerous rapids. The river bed becomes deeper, the coastal layers lie in ledges and are so high above the water that they are beyond its influence. The river bottom, consisting of the same layers, is eroded and forms ledges; Huge granite boulders come across. Between Vitebsk, Polotsk and Disna, sediments with high banks of red clay are again observed. Near Dvinsk, the Western Dvina becomes deeper, white sand is exposed, and then the banks become lower. In connection with the nature and formation of the banks of the Dvina, there are also features of its channel. The Dvina in many places separates branches that go around the islands from Dvinsk to Riga. Such sleeves are formed several times. Above Riga there are sharp turns and rapids.

The tributaries of the Western Dvina are numerous, but not large and do not have any special significance in themselves. Of these, only the Mezha River reaches a greater length (259 km). The basin area is 9,080 km2, the average water flow at the mouth is 61 m2/sec. It, like the Western Dvina, originates on the Valdai Hills. The other most significant tributary of the Western Dvina, the Veles, also flows from there. The length of this river is 114 km, the basin area is 1420 km2. The remaining tributaries are even shorter and insignificant.

The Western Dvina, despite its short length, is the largest river flowing into. Its current is fast and the water is clean, but there are few fish in the river, due to its shallow waters.

The lake systems of the Western Dvina basin contain about 4 km2 of fresh water. The banks of the river are covered mainly by mixed forests. The upper reaches of the basin are represented by forests dominated by spruce; in the middle reaches, birch, alder and aspen are more common. In the Polotsk lowland there are magnificent pine forests.

The river valley was formed relatively recently, about 13-12 thousand years ago, and therefore looks unformed. On the territory of Belarus, the width of the Western Dvina channel varies from 100 to 300 m. Rapids and rifts are often found in this area. In some places, the river valley is narrow, canyon-like, and the depth increases to 50 m. After entering the Baltic Plain, the Western Dvina becomes full-flowing. The width of the river bed reaches 800 m, and the valley expands to 5-6 km.

The Western Dvina is a typical river. The river is fed mainly by melting accumulated during the winter. The Western Dvina is characterized by spring floods. Flood usually occurs over the course of only two months - most often it begins at the end of March, and at the beginning of June there is already a decline in water. The rest of the year is determined by rainwater. During rainy periods in summer and autumn, minor floods are also possible. In winter, water consumption and level decrease significantly, since the basis of nutrition is made up of. In the spring, the channel of the Western Dvina becomes clogged with ice floes and forms. At the same time, the river level also rises sharply, flooding large areas of the valley.