Lake EngureLake Engure

Location Location

On the West side of the On the West side of the Gulf of Rīga, between Gulf of Rīga, between Mērsrags and Engure, Mērsrags and Engure, lies Lake Engure, lies Lake Engure, separated from the gulf separated from the gulf of Rīga by 1-3 km wide of Rīga by 1-3 km wide strip of land. strip of land.

• Lake had been transformed when the canal was dug in 1842, Lake had been transformed when the canal was dug in 1842, and the northern tip of Lake Engure near the village Mērsrags and the northern tip of Lake Engure near the village Mērsrags was connected to the Rīga gulf.was connected to the Rīga gulf.

• The lake level dropped after excavating the canal by 1.5 m, but The lake level dropped after excavating the canal by 1.5 m, but the size shrunk in half – from 90 km2 to 45 km2. Canal has the size shrunk in half – from 90 km2 to 45 km2. Canal has been running very effectively not only in lowering the lake been running very effectively not only in lowering the lake

level, but also allowing gulf water to affect the lake.level, but also allowing gulf water to affect the lake.    • Engure Lake is the third largest lake in Latvia Engure Lake is the third largest lake in Latvia

With the lake level falling With the lake level falling population’s minds were population’s minds were overwhelmed with the amber-overwhelmed with the amber-rush and findings in the new rush and findings in the new territories. Amber extraction territories. Amber extraction process did not disappear process did not disappear without any effect, because the without any effect, because the byproduct has been gathered - byproduct has been gathered - leftovers of mussel shells leftovers of mussel shells (calcium is an additive to (calcium is an additive to domestic birds feeding).  domestic birds feeding). 

Fish in the Lake Engure:Fish in the Lake Engure:

Pike (Esox lucius) Bream (Abramis brama)

Roach (Rutilus rutilus)Rudd (Scardinius erythrothalmus)

Tench (Tinca tinca)Cruciam carp (Carassius carassius)

Perch (Perca fluviatilis)

Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus)

Silver bream Burbot (Lota lota)

Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Eel (Anguilla anguilla)

The history of Lake Engure The history of Lake Engure Nature Park Nature Park 

• Engure Lake Nature Park was originally founded just as the Engure Lake Nature Park was originally founded just as the Lake’s ornithological reserve starting from 1957 taking up to Lake’s ornithological reserve starting from 1957 taking up to 3268 hectares. In 1977 the buffer zone, around the perimeter 3268 hectares. In 1977 the buffer zone, around the perimeter of Lake was created on the east coast, including forested area of Lake was created on the east coast, including forested area between the Lake and the sea, but on the West side more than between the Lake and the sea, but on the West side more than 2 km's wide buffer zone was created. This area is around18, 2 km's wide buffer zone was created. This area is around18, 000 hectares. The Nature Park is found near Ķūļciems, 000 hectares. The Nature Park is found near Ķūļciems,

Mērsrags, Engure and Zentene civil parishes.Mērsrags, Engure and Zentene civil parishes. • Engure Lake is one of the wetlands that is protected by Engure Lake is one of the wetlands that is protected by

Ramsar Convention in Latvia. It is also referred as one of the Ramsar Convention in Latvia. It is also referred as one of the internationally important areas for birds. internationally important areas for birds.

Lake Engure Nature ParkLake Engure Nature Park

• It is surrounded by forests up to 36.5% of the park territory; It is surrounded by forests up to 36.5% of the park territory; mostly coniferous forests - 22.2%, leafy forests - 7.6%, mixed mostly coniferous forests - 22.2%, leafy forests - 7.6%, mixed

forests - 6.7%, scrub -8.9%.forests - 6.7%, scrub -8.9%. • Lake Engure Nature Park is rich in many plants and bird Lake Engure Nature Park is rich in many plants and bird

species. The biodiversity and ecosystem of Lake Engure is one species. The biodiversity and ecosystem of Lake Engure is one of the richest in Latvia.  of the richest in Latvia. 

Birds’ species in Engure Nature Birds’ species in Engure Nature ParkPark

• The Lake The Lake Engure NEngure Nature ature PPark has a rich bird life; with over ark has a rich bird life; with over 186 nesting bird species have been observed.  186 nesting bird species have been observed. 

• Sometimes in the Lake at the time can concentrate more than Sometimes in the Lake at the time can concentrate more than 20,000 birds. In autumn, it is important for cranes and geese as 20,000 birds. In autumn, it is important for cranes and geese as a resting place.  a resting place. 

Bird watchingBird watching

The reserve is easily accessible for the general public and there The reserve is easily accessible for the general public and there are bird observation points. For visitors, there is more than one are bird observation points. For visitors, there is more than one observation, bird-watching tower. On the Eastern coast of observation, bird-watching tower. On the Eastern coast of Engure Lake there is an ornithological research centre, and a Engure Lake there is an ornithological research centre, and a

unique floating house modeled by ornithologists.unique floating house modeled by ornithologists. Territory is Territory is suitable for holiday-makers, also walkers, cyclists and bird-suitable for holiday-makers, also walkers, cyclists and bird-watchers. There is a resting point close to the ornithological watchers. There is a resting point close to the ornithological research center and a small exhibition house.  research center and a small exhibition house. 

The Floating house and the The Floating house and the Recreation centreRecreation centre

Orchid pathOrchid path

In Lake Engure Nature Park, grow 22 out In Lake Engure Nature Park, grow 22 out of 32 occurring orchid species in Latvia. of 32 occurring orchid species in Latvia. Total length of the path is about 3500 m. Total length of the path is about 3500 m. At the beginning, path winds through dry At the beginning, path winds through dry pine forest, where among moss and pine forest, where among moss and blueberries can be found small, white blueberries can be found small, white flowers - bloomy orchid – Sneak Orchid. flowers - bloomy orchid – Sneak Orchid. A real paradise for the orchids is A real paradise for the orchids is calcareous herbal marsh narrow gully in a calcareous herbal marsh narrow gully in a pine forest because there grow Fly pine forest because there grow Fly Orchid, Butterfly Orchid and Lady’s Orchid, Butterfly Orchid and Lady’s slipper Orchid.slipper Orchid.

Wild animal lairWild animal lair

2 km's away from Engure Lake 2 km's away from Engure Lake ornithological centre one can ornithological centre one can meet wild beasts, freely meet wild beasts, freely grazing on the lake damp grazing on the lake damp meadows. You can go to a meadows. You can go to a view tower and get a real nice view tower and get a real nice view of the area (unless with view of the area (unless with gumboots) where from the gumboots) where from the birds-eye view, Latvian Blue birds-eye view, Latvian Blue cows and wild horses grazing cows and wild horses grazing can be seen. can be seen.

InformationInformation from: from:

• http://www.ldf.lv/pub/?doc_id=27945

• www.bf.lu.lv/grozs/.../Prezentacija%20botanikuwww.bf.lu.lv/grozs/.../Prezentacija%20botaniku%20pasakumam.ppt%20pasakumam.ppt

• http://www.livoniamaritima.eu/index.php?page=82&http://www.livoniamaritima.eu/index.php?page=82&

• http://www.elmmedia.lv/en/films/nature/http://www.elmmedia.lv/en/films/nature/engure_the_lake_given_by_the_sea_%282006%29/engure_the_lake_given_by_the_sea_%282006%29/

Thank you!Thank you!

Engure Secondary School, 2011