Nature

Sigulda is situated at the western corner of Vidzeme highland on a relatively plane, agriculturally useful part of platform, near 100-102 m above sea level.

Sigulda is the center of Latvia tourism and Gauja National park.

Distinctive nature of the Sigulda District is defined by well-formed net of glens, which embay Gauja and its tributary banks. Glen density in Sigulda land is 600 m/km2.

By hydrographic classification Sigulda belongs to Gauja basin. Only small part – Sigulda marsh southern part with river Suda – belongs to Daugava confluence basin.

River Gauja flows through wide ancient riverbed near Sigulda, Turaida and Krimulda, which banks and surrounding hillock are overgrown by exuberant woods. This is where the ancient knight’s castle ruins and ancestral castle mounds are situated. You can see red sandstone rocks and its many caves in the banks of Gauja and on the slopes of ancient valley. Worth mentioning are Gutmana and Velna caves.

Territory is rich with water. The most important water course is Gauja, the second biggest and the longest (452 km), as well as the most beautiful and cunning river of Latvia. Riverbed by Sigulda is approximately 100 m wide with sharply changing depth (0,3 – 7 m). There are several springs and lakes (glacier made and marsh lakes) in the surroundings of Sigulda. The lakes are small, shallow and middle depth (0,8 – 3 m).