Lielupe River Meadow Estuary

       

 

Your name E-mail Information Lielupe River Meadow Estuary https://www.visitjurmala.lv/en/see-and-do/tourism-attractions/nature-parks-and-objects/lielupe-river-meadow-estuary/ Security code

Send to

The nature reserve “Lielupe River Meadow Estuary” was established in 2004 to protect the floodplain meadows along the banks of the Lielupe River. Located within the city of Jūrmala, the reserve consists of six separate areas on both sides of the river. It is home to some of Latvia’s rarest and most threatened meadow habitats, as well as protected plant and bird species. The reserve is part of the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas.

The most valuable parts of the reserve are the floodplain meadows of the Lielupe, which host 16 rare and specially protected plant species, 5 protected habitat types, and 7 specially protected bird species. Among the most notable is the swamp helleborine (Epipactis palustris), protected under the EU Habitats Directive and extremely rare in Latvia. The most ecologically valuable habitat is the coastal meadow, formed by saline soils and home to several salt-tolerant plant species. Small areas of wet forest are also present within the reserve, whose ecological value will increase over time as plant communities stabilize.

Information stands throughout the 227-hectare reserve allow visitors to learn about the unique biodiversity and key features of the area.

If you wish to explore the Lielupe floodplain meadows, we recommend visiting:

– Dzintari – trail starts at the end of Plūdu Street, near a rest area. Use GPX coordinates.*
– Dubulti – access from Dadžupes Street. Use GPX coordinates.
– During the leafless season, you can complete a circular route with start/end point at the rest area at the end of Viesītes Street. Use GPX coordinates.

The reserve can also be explored from the water – by SUP board or boat – enjoying tranquillity, scenic views, and birdwatching opportunities. Several active leisure providers on the Lielupe offer SUP board and boat rentals, including SUP Brothers and Seakayak.lv.

*To open the file, you will need an application that supports GPX file viewing and display on your phone.