THE LANDSCAPE OF DAUGAVA

The valley of Daugava is among the oldest geological structures in Latvia. It begun to shape on the last stage of glacier period in Europe some 13 000 – 15 000 years ago, and the process concluded only 3000 – 5000 years ago in the delta region of Daugava today. The total confluence of Daugava is 87 900 km2 with 24 700 km2 of it on the territory of Latvia. The total length of Daugava from the Valdai heights in Western Russia is 1005 km, in Latvia – 352 km. There are four hydrogeological regions of the Daugava valley in Latvia containing different geographic characteristics for each stage. Human activities have constantly influenced and reshaped the Daugava landscape for nearly 10 000 years, today the upstream region from Krāslava to Daugavpils (70 km) is the less-changed part of the valley. Eight majestic curves of the river situated here are protected by law from any further interference that might significantly change natural landscape there. Yet the main part of Daugava valley has been subjected to changes of such extent that preset day view has few things in common with the one of mid-20th century.

The final part of exposition is devoted to history of Daugava landscape lost in the 20th century but preserved in memory, recorded in stories, descriptions and historical images of the valley. Industrialization of society has been the main precondition for these changes, and the result is irreversible in most cases. Therefore, our intention has been to show both the previous and contemporary landscape to remind of constant choice between the nostalgia of past and the challenges of the future. For this is the space where answer to question: what is Daugava today? could be found – a historic communication route in the past, a complex of natural and cultural heritage sites, or the core of national electric power resource?