LATVIA

LATVIA / LATVIJA.

EUROPA issue.
Gauja National Park.
Second stamp in a set of 2, issued on 20.03.1999.
Face value: 60 Latvian santims.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 200,000 copies.
Size: 33 x 28.5 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 500.
- Michel No. 497.
- Scott No. 485.
- StampWorld No. 467.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 519.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 465.

Gauja National Park (Latvian: Gaujas nacionālais parks), in Vidzeme, is the largest national park in Latvia, with an area of 917.86 km² (35,439 sq mi) running from north-east of Sigulda to south-west of Cēsis along the valley of the Gauja River, from which it takes its name. It was established in 1973 in order to protect slightly disturbed natural areas, promote nature tourism and ensure sustainable development in the area. In the national park, there are over 500 monuments of history and culture – hillforts, stone castles, churches, manors, water and windmills, as well as other archaeological, architectural and art monuments.

LATVIA

LATVIA / LATVIJA.

EUROPA issue.
Krustkalni Nature Reserve.
First stamp in a set of 2, issued on 20.03.1999.
Face value: 30 Latvian santims.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 200,000 copies.
Size: 33 x 28.5 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 499.
- Michel No. 496.
- Scott No. 484.
- StampWorld No. 466.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 518.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 464.

Krustkalni Nature Reserve (Latvian: Krustkalnu dadas rezervāts), founded in 1977, is located in eastern Latvia, within the Madona Municipality. Its area is 2,978 hectares. Since 2004, this institution has been part of Natura 2000, the European network of protected areas. The reserve is managed by the regional administration Latgale. It has 32 species of plants and 37 species of animals listed in the Red Book of Latvia. The territory of the Reserve is rich in lakes, rivers and springs. Among the lakes is the Dreimaņa (also known as Svētes, Latvian: Dreimaņa ezers), from which the Svetupe River flows.

LATVIA

LATVIA / LATVIJA.

Nature Reserves.
Teiči Nature Reserve.
Second stamp in a set of 2, issued on 30.04.1998.
Face value: 30 Latvian santims.
Printing; Offset lithography.
Print: 300,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 28.5 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 481.
- Michel No. 478.
- Scott No. 465.
- StampWorld No. 443.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 490.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 442.

Teiči Nature Reserve (Latvian: Teiču dabas rezervāts) is a nature reserve situated in eastern Latvia, spread across Madona, Varakļāni and Krustpils municipalities. The nature reserve was created in 1982. Its purpose is to protect the eponymous bog, one of the largest in Latvia and the Baltic states. The nature reserve covers an area of 197.80 km² (76.37 sq mi), of which 136.80 km² (52.82 sq mi) is composed of Teiči bog. In this wet area, veritable little lakes have formed in places and there are in total 18 such lakes within the area, but in other places raised patches of firmer ground form little islands in the bog. The bogs have been designated as a protected Ramsar site since July 25, 1995. Since 2004, it is part of the EU-wide Natura 2000-network.

LATVIA

LATVIA / LATVIJA.

Nature Reserves.
Grīņu Nature Reserve (Grīņu dabas rezervāts)
First stamp in a set of 2, issued on 30.04.1998.
Face value: 10 Latvian santims.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 500,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 28.5 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 480.
- Michel No. 477.
- Scott No. 464.
- StampWorld No.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 489.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 441.

Grīņu Nature Reserve (Latvian: Grīņu dabas rezervāts), a natural habitat under protection, is located in Pāvilosta Municipality (Courland region) in the Latvia far west. Its area is 15.05 km² (5.81 sq mi). The reserve was founded in 1936, but during the II World War and in the first years after, the Grīņu forests were practically neglected, and in 1957 these areas were again declared a nature reserve. It was created to protect a very rare for Latvia plant - cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix), as well as it inherent special biotope locally called grīnis. In addition, significant thickets of sweetgale (Myrica gale) have been preserved, an endangered species of shrubs, source of raw materials to make the famous Riga Black Balsam. Other rare plants, in particular several species of orchids, have been found in the flora of the reserve. The Grīņu Reserve is subordinated to the Regional Council for Nature Conservation Courland and it belongs to the European Conservation Network Natura 2000.

LATVIA

LATVIA / LATVIJA.

Nature monuments.
The White Dune (Baltā Kāpa).
Stamp issued on 24.03.2007.
Face value: 22 Latvia santims.
Design: Ludis Danilāns (b. 1956).
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 3,120,000 copies.
Size: 32 x 32 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 697.
- Michel No. 698.
- StampWorld No. 689.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 695.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 672.

The White Dune (Baltā Kāpa) is an asymmetric undulating sand cliff between 15 and 21 m (49 and 69 ft) high on the banks of the Lielupe River. Its northern slope, between 100 and 200 m (328 and 656 ft) long, is flat, while its shorter southern slope, between 30 and 50 m (98 and 164 ft) is steep. It is located between the towns of Priedaine and Vārnukrogs, in the eastern part of the municipality of Jūrmala. The dune was formed when the Liliupe was connected with the Daugava, due to the displacement, by the wind, of large masses of sand. Since 1991 it has been classified as a natural phenomenon of geological interest and in an area of 32 ha it enjoys protection of local importance.

LATVIA

LATVIA / LATVIJA.

Nature monuments.
Vaiķi Boulder (Vaiķu dižakmens).
Stamp issued on 07.06.2008.
Face value: 22 Latvian santims.
Design: Ludis Danilāns (b. 1956).
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 3,000,000 copies.
Size: 32 x 32 mm.

Catalogues
- AFA No. 735.
- Michel No. 735.
- StampWorld No. 729.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 730.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 709.

Vaiķi Boulder (in Latvian, Vaiķu dižakmens), also known as Napoleon Boulder, is a rock produced by erosion located in the Vīpe Parish (Krustpils municipality, Latgale region), of about 650 inhabitants, on the right bank of the Daugava river. The easily accessible rock is made of red crystal granite and is 7.5 m (24.6 ft) long, 5.7 m (18.7 ft) wide, 2.6 m (8.53 ft) high, and 22.30 m (73.16 ft) in circumference, and its volume is about 50 m³ (1,766 ft³). There are two legends about the Boulder: one says that it was left there by the devil; the other, that Tsar Peter I of Russia and Napoleon had lunch on the stone.

LATVIA

LATVIA / LATVIJA.

Nature monuments.
Gauja National Park. Zvārtes rock (Zvārtes iezis).
Stamp issued on 11.03.2006.
Face value: 22 Latvian santims.
Design: Ludis Danilāns (b. 1956).
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 3,120,000 copies.
Size: 32 x 32 mm.

Catalogues
- AFA No. 664.
- Michel No. 665.
- StampWorld No. 652.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 661.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 636.

The Gauja National Park (in Latvian, Gaujas nacionālais parks), in the Vidzeme region, north of Latvia, is the country’s largest national park, with an area of 917.86 km² (354.39 sq mi) along the valley of the Gauja River, from which takes its name. It was established in 1973 in order to protect slightly disturbed natural areas, promote nature tourism and ensure sustainable development in the area. Since 2004 is a part of Natura 2000 network as a territory, which is designed for conservation of protected species and biotopes.

Zvārtes Rock is one of the most picturesque sandstone cliffs on the banks of the Amata River and within the entire Gauja National Park. Its height is 20 m (65.6 ft) and it is estimated to be more than 350 years old. It is famous for the many mythical stories associated with it. Legend says that long time ago it was a gathering place for witches who would dance and rejoice around it until the crack of dawn.