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Gulf of Riga Facts

Gulf of Riga Facts
The Gulf of Riga is located in the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Latvia. It is a bay covering approximately 6,900 square miles. The Gulf of Riga is also referred to as the Bay of Riga and the Gulf of Livonia. It is partially separated from the Baltic Sea by the Island of Saaremaa. The Gulf of Riga is connected to the Baltic Sea mainly via the Irbe Strait.
Interesting Gulf of Riga Facts:
The Gulf of Riga has an estimated water volume of 424 km3. Its maximum depth is 177 feet and its average depth is 85 feet, making it a shallow body of water.
The main inflows to the Gulf of Riga are the Salaca, Gauja, Lielupe, Parnue, and Daugava rivers.
The Gulf of Riga is frozen for most of the winter.
Major islands that can be found in the Gulf of Riga include Ruhnu, Kihnu, and Saaremaa. These islands are Estonian islands.
Main cities along the Gulf of Riga include Kuressaare, Jurmala, Parnu, and Riga.
Because of the narrow connection to the North Sea from the Baltic Sea, the water that remains in the Gulf of Riga is there for an average of 30 years.
There is low salinity in the Gulf of Riga, which results in freezing for most of the winter. This also partially closes the gulf's entrance. In the winter people often walk across the Gulf of Riga.
Ice fishing is common in the Gulf of Riga, which provides an important food source for residents in the regions surrounding the gulf in winter months.


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