Dvina

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Daugava
The Daugava in Riga during winter
Origin	Russia
Mouth	Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea
Basin countries	Belarus, Latvia, Russia, Lithuania, Estonia
Length	1,020 km (630 mi)
Source elevation	221 m (730 ft)
Mouth elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Avg. discharge	678 m3/s (23,900 cu ft/s)
Basin area	87,900 km2 (33,900 sq mi)

Daugava sunset in Riga.

Daugava in Riga summer.

The Swedish army bombarding the fortress of Daugavgriva at the Daugava's estuary in Latvia.

The river Daugava or Western Dvina or Dzvina (Latvian: Daugava, Russian: Западная Двина́ (Zapadnaya Dvina), Belarusian: traditionally Дзвiна or newly Заходняя Дзвіна, IPA: [zaˈxodnʲaja dzʲvʲiˈna]), not to be confused with Northern Dvina, is a river rising in the Valdai Hills, Russia, flowing through Russia, Belarus, and Latvia, draining into the Gulf of Riga in Latvia, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The total length of the river is 1,020 km (630 mi). It is connected by a canal to the Berezina and Dnieper rivers.

There are three hydroelectric dams on the Daugava River - Rīgas HES just upstream from Riga or 35 km from the mouth of the river, Ķegums HPP another 35 km further up or 70 km from the mouth, and Pļaviņas HPP another 37 km upstream or 107 km from the mouth. A fourth one, Daugavpils HES, has been planned but has faced strong criticism. Belarus currently plans to build several hydroelectric dams on the Belarusian part of Daugava River.

Cities, towns and settlements by the Daugava River

Russia

• Andreapol
• Zapadnaya Dvina
• Velizh

Belarus

• Ruba
• Vitsebsk
• Beshankovichy
• Polatsk with some Dvina stones strewn in the vicinity
• Navapolatsk
• Dzisna

Latvia

• Krāslava
• Daugavpils
• Līvāni
• Jēkabpils
• Pļaviņas
• Aizkraukle
• Jaunjelgava
• Lielvārde
• Kegums
• Ogre
• Ikšķile
• Salaspils
• Riga

Crossings of the Daugava River

Belarus

• Kirov Bridge, Vitebsk

Latvia

• Southern Bridge, Riga
• Island Bridge, Riga
• Railway Bridge, Riga
• Stone Bridge, Riga
• Shroud Bridge, Riga

Main tributaries

• Aiviekste
• Pałata
• Kasplya
• Mezha
• Dysna

References

Richard C. Frucht; Aldis Purs. "Latvia". Eastern Europe. ABC-CLIO. pp. p. 115. http://books.google.com/books?id=lVBB1a0rC70C&pg=PA115&lpg=PA115&dq=daugava+river&source=bl&ots=EE89_FHPO6&sig=_HB_nZYD4egfMXwU02qh7VCeAwo&hl=da&ei=2n9zSr7pLsOM_AaytejoAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=daugava%20river&f=false. Retrieved 2009-08-01. 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Daugava

v • d • e Riga Cityscape Buildings: Castle • Convent Yard • Daugavgrīva • House of the Blackheads • Large Guild • Latvian Academy of Sciences • National Library of Latvia • Powder Tower • Small Guild • Swedish Gate • Three Brothers Places of worship: Nativity Cathedral • Cathedral • St. Peter's Church • St. James's Cathedral Monuments & memorials: Brothers' Cemetery • Freedom Monument • Great Cemetery • Victory Memorial to Soviet Army Parks & gardens: Vērmanes Garden Structures: Island Bridge • Radio and TV Tower • Railway Bridge • Shroud Bridge • Southern Bridge • Stone Bridge Tourist attractions: Zoo, Lido Waterways: Daugava River