Jurmala is a common name for many villages along the beach of Riga Bay. Behind the beach flows the river Lielupe, leaving just a tiny bit of land towards the sea. The estuary is situated in the east, near the delta of the mighty river Daugava.

Approaching

The inlet of river Lielupe is surrounded by shallow sandbanks. It is easy to get stuck on the banks. There is a leading line, but it can not be trusted. Buoys lead the way as well. Not that the buoys have no lights.

The estuary is troubled by sand drift. According to official reports from July 2003, the minimal depth in the fairway was 3,2 meters. But probably the depth decreased later on. Our advice is neither take the what's in the chart, nor the water depth for granted. Ask for local information in previous harbours, and approach with caution in daylight.

A fishing harbour is situated close to the estuary. Don't stop there! Instead, you should follow the winding river all the way to the big railway bridge. Sail in the middle of the river, somewhat closer to the "outer curve" in the meanders. Sand banks are often gathered in the "inner curve".

Jurmala is the home of the Latvian Yacht Club. Seen from the river, the club is situated on the left, beside a motorboat club. In the harbour you find essential services, such as WC and showers. There are electricity for yachts and a cafe for the crew.

The location is close to Jurmala proper, but it also easy to take the train or a car into Riga.

The Latvian Yacht Club is a "real" yacht club, with normal sized yachts, youth activities and a lot of yachtsmen on the jetty.

The milewide beaches at Jurmala

Jurmala has a fascinating history. Close to Riga, the beaches of Jurmala stretches for mile after mile. Early, the area became a excursion destination for the people living in the city.

Many small villages arose close to the shore, and eventually a railway was built connecting the beach villages with Riga city.

During the period between the world wars, the "spa culture" expanded. In those days Jurmala was also visited by tourists of the time, among them many Scandinavians. From this period you still find many wooden houses.

The small villages at the shore of Riga Bay eventually grow together, and the common name for the area became Jurmala.

"Mallorca of the Soviet Union"

With the Soviet time Jurmala faced a new destiny. It was very hard for the citizens to leave Soviet Union or the east block, but inside the borders there were efforts made to build up a "mass tourism for the people"

One of the tasks for the trade unions were to run holiday camps and organize the leisure for the workers. It was all financed by the companies.

The resorts at Black Sea and those at Jurmala became the most important "bathing paradises". The tourism grove and huge hotels were constructed. Behind the beach emerged pedestrian streets, shops and restaurants. Under it's golden age Jurmala was visited by hundreds of thousands holiday makers every summer. The Black Sea coast were in west called "the rivièra of the Soviet Union". If any place should be called "the Mallorca of the Soviet Union", it is Jurmala.

With growing water pollution, Jurmala got problems. The final clash came with the fall of Soviet Union. The big state companies stopped to finance the holiday complexes, and the social system for leisure eroded over a night. Those who could afford it, choose new destinations, now open in the west, for their holiday. Other people couldn't afford a holiday at all. Utterly few visitors came to Jurmala. The huge hotels closed and the area faced a deep recession.

Jurmala has still not fully recovered, but the citizens of Riga, like to go here, to walk along the beaches, to swim or to visit a restaurant. The commerce and night life are growing, but the empty hotels tell the story of times gone.

The water in the Riga Bay becomes quite warm in summer, and if it got really clean Jurmala will once again have a future as a holiday destination. And the water quality is really improving. Since some years, several of Jurmala's beaches got the "blue flag" water quality ensign.