Water tourism in Gauja national park
A turning point in the recreative use of the Gauja national park territory was the year 1973, when national park was founded, and one of its establishment tasks was to secure a preservation of recreations potential in the territories. It means that already 28 years ago, since the beginning of the foundation, Gauja NP considered as its task to protect nature and cultural heritage from too anthropological influence which can be caused by an excessively high and unorganized number of visitors. 
A base for planning of recreation is the functional zoning where the kinds of recreational activities in definite territories of the park are foreseen
 The well-started work in planning of recreation in the beginnings of Gauja NP was not continued in sequential years. The activities of Gauja NP were mainly practical measures: preparing and organization of public services and facilities in the most popular tourism objects, arranging of halts for water and motor tourists, and arranging of wide system of informative signs.
Gauja National Park and ancient Gauja valley begins with picturesque landscapes, ravines, uncovered sandstone, cliffs, caves, rappids. Bonfires and overnight on the river bank will make the trip even more romantic. In the territory of Gauja National Park tenting and fire building is only alloved in 22 specially marked places that can seen from the river. From Valmiera to Murjāņi travelers can llook at beautiful sights Sietiņiezis, Kazu rock, Ērģeļu cliff, Ķūķu rock, Spriņģu rock, Gūdu cliff and many others. During the spring floods boaters favor the Gauja tributaries Amata, Brasla, Rauna. The Amata is famous among experienced water tourists. Detailed information is available in Gauja NP Visitor centre, Baznīcas Str. 3, Sigulda, Ph.+371 2971345, fax: +371 2971344 e-mail ic@gnp.lv
|