Svetupe, Latvia

The Svētupe River runs from the north of Dūņezers, and flows into the Gulf of Riga near Svētciems village. The major part of the river basin is located in Metsepole Plain, the upper course in wavy plain of Limbaži, but the bottom course in coast of Vidzeme. The river basein is rich of forests and large swamps (Svētupe, the Great Ērgļi swamp, the Great Rustūži swamp). Svētupe in the upper course reaches flows along the shallow, paludified valley, in the middle course - through a deep valley (near Pale its depth - 10 m). By Pērļupīte River it flows to the north, further up the estuary – to the south. The largest tributaries: on the right bank – Lūdiņupe River (22 km), Šķirstiņa or Pērļupe River (21 km), Sausupe River (11 km), Vedamurga River (8 km). On the left coast – Ārupīte River (16 km), Kulaurga River (5 km). The Svētupe River is internationally defined as the salmon river, where besides salmon and sea trout also many other European significance protected animals - otters, thick shelled river mussel etc. can be found.
It is suitable for boating in spring, during high water level period, in autumn, or after long rainy periods. It should be kept in mind that the river has quite a lot of beavers and there are various drift dams what make the boating difficult. It is recommended to boat from Pāle or Lauvas, the boating is possible up to Jaunupe channel through which you can proceed the trip to the Salaca, or try to boat through Svētciems, where the river flows into the Gulf of Riga. After Jaunupe channel that was artificially created in the 17th century Svētupe becomes much narrower because around 2/3 of the river water goes to the Salaca. Boats hire operators:
Baiļi (rafts/Canoe) (+371) 29284119 baili@valm.lv
Campo (Inflatable/Canoe/Kayaks/SeaKayaks) (+371) 29404049 campo@laivas.lv
Čiekurlaivas (Inflatable/Canoe) (+371) 29174728 ciekurlaivas@ciekurlaivas.lv
Eži (Inflatable/Canoe) (+371) 27852852 noma@ezi.lv
FF laivas (Inflatable/Canoe/Kayaks) (+371) 27852852 facha@inbox.lv
Īveja (Inflatable/Canoe) (+371) 29217004(+371) 64021704
Jeņču laivas (Canoe) (+371) 20607509 jenculaivas@gmail.com
Jūras laivas (SOT/Canoe/Kayaks/SeaKayaks) (+371) 29464901 avoti@juraslaivas.lv
Lāču laivas (Canoe/Kayaks) (+371) 26612520 Marcis.saklaurs@gmail.com
Laivinieks.lv (Inflatable/Canoe/Kayaks/SOT/SUP) (+371) 27878757 laivinieks@inbox.lv
Laivot.lv (Canoe/Kayaks) (+371) 22151577 laivot@inbox.lv
Marabu (Inflatable/Canoe) (+371) 29286220
Mēs – sabiedrībai (Inflatable/Canoe) (+371) 26388070
Mezmalas laivas (Inflatable/Canoe/Kayaks) (+371) 26649575 info@mezmalaslaivas.lv
Mučas (+371) 26132961 info@laivunoma.com
R. Spravņikovs (Inflatable/Canoe) (+371) 29256663
Tubers (Inflatable/Canoe) (+371) 29265452 info@tubers.lv
Zaļā Salacgrīva (Inflatable) (+371) 26617186 zalasalacgriva@gmail.com