- What to expect from the sea?
- What is hidden from view?
- Rest at the sea in Riga
One of the most beautiful cities in the Baltic States, Riga bewitches the eye with slender rows of medieval mansions and cozy cobbled squares, creating the feeling of a complete stop of time. And although the sea in Riga is far from the main goal for which numerous delegations of travelers arrive, it still contributes to the common treasury of Latvia.
Riga is located on the shores of the Gulf of Riga, not far from the place where the Daugava River flows into the Baltic Sea. The beaches of Riga have been known for a long time, and in the Soviet era they acted as a worthy analogue of Turkey, Egypt and other sea resorts. Clear water, a wide sandy shore and lush pine trees framing it, exuding a spicy coniferous aroma - the Riga coast is unique and has its own unique character.
What to expect from the sea?
The Baltic Sea in Latvia and specifically in Riga has a number of its own characteristics. First of all, this concerns the color of the water - lovers of the azure beauty of the southern seas and turquoise palettes of tropical latitudes should say goodbye to their dreams right away - you will not see such beauty here.
The color of the Baltic Sea is much more trivial, a deep blue hue, and off the coast it is completely similar to the river one, and the transparency of the water is not so high. Industrial waste, which has poisoned the water area for a long time, adds to the negative. Fortunately, today in Latvia the ecological situation is close to ideal, and therefore the water is much cleaner.
Another disappointment for the pampered tourists is the water temperature. Even in the summer months, it rarely exceeds 20-22 °, so not everyone is comfortable swimming here. On the other hand, in the summer heat, such coolness will be a real salvation from overheating and pleasantly refreshing, driving away drowsiness and laziness.
Since the end of August, the water temperature has been steadily decreasing, and in winter the sea in Riga freezes over, inviting daredevils to take a walk on the ice-crusty surface. It is no coincidence that in translation from Latvian, the name is translated as "white". It frees itself from the shackles of ice at the end of April.
The most comfortable conditions for swimming are observed from June to August, when the beach season continues in local resorts.
The main features of the Baltic Sea:
- Low water temperature.
- Low tides.
- Changeable currents.
- Shallow depth within 50-100 meters.
- Lightly salted water.
What is hidden from view?
The underwater world of the Baltic is not as rich as its southern neighbors. This is due to the peculiarities of the climate, and with the temperature, and with the lower salinity of the water due to the many rivers flowing into the sea.
In the coastal waters there are no coral reefs, no colorful vegetation and a riot of colors, the fauna is also noticeably poorer. Flounder, gobies, eared aurelia, sticklebacks, sprat, herring, pike perch, eel, cod, perch, roach, trout, salmon - these are the more familiar inhabitants of the underwater kingdom.
And yet diving is popular in these parts as well - in Riga itself and in neighboring resorts, several diving centers have been opened, ready to teach beginners or keep a company of seasoned divers. True, instead of the colorful flora and fauna of divers, sunken warships and airplanes await, and the water temperature at depth can be very cold.
Rest at the sea in Riga
The beaches of Riga attract with their latitude, the alluring charm of the sand dunes and the illusion of wild, untouched nature. At the same time, it is clean, cozy and pleasant to have a rest here in any digging. There are two main beaches to choose from - Vecaki and Vakarbulli, between which a small nudist beach is lost.
The sea is clean and safe enough for swimming, moreover, not so salty, so it does not require an obligatory shower after each swim.
Any activity is available from snorkelling to attractions and sports. Windsurfing and wakeboarding are especially popular with excellent conditions. Kite surfing and parasailing, as well as sailing are popular. An exquisite pleasure - boat trips along the Gulf of Riga.
While some enjoy driving the wave, others are enthusiastically indulging in sea fishing. The sea in Riga is rich in commercial fish, and even if it does not differ in diversity, there are definitely no problems with the population. With the proper skill and luck, you can catch an excellent catch, you can fish both near the coast and in the open sea.
