Gulf of Riga

Gulf of Riga
Location in Northern Europe.
Gulf of Riga is located in Latvia
Gulf of Riga
Gulf of Riga
LocationEurope
Coordinates57°45′N 23°30′E / 57.750°N 23.500°E / 57.750; 23.500
Primary inflowsDaugava, Pärnu, Lielupe, Gauja, Salaca
Surface area18,000 km2 (6,900 sq mi)
Average depth26 m (85 ft)
Max. depth54 m (177 ft)[1]
Water volume424 km3 (344,000,000 acre⋅ft)
Residence time30 years
FrozenMost or all during winter
SettlementsRiga, Jūrmala, Pärnu, Kuressaare, Salacgrīva, Saulkrasti, Ainaži

The Gulf of Riga, Bay of Riga, or Gulf of Livonia (Latvian: Rīgas līcis, Estonian: Liivi laht, Livonian: Piški meŗ, lit.'Small Sea')[2] is a bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia.

The island of Saaremaa (Estonia) partially separates it from the rest of the Baltic Sea. The main connection between the gulf and the Baltic Sea is the Irbe Strait.

The Gulf of Riga, as a sub-basin of the Baltic, also includes the Väinameri Sea in the West Estonian archipelago.

  1. ^ "Gulf of Riga | Baltic Sea". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  2. ^ "Old Kolka lighthouse". visit.dundaga.lv. Retrieved 20 July 2023.