Alauksts
Latvia · Europe
About
Alauksts (also Alauksta ezers) is a natural lake in Vecpiebalga Parish, Cēsis Municipality, Latvia. It is 202.3 metres above sea level at the Vidzeme Upland.
Alauksts is a part of the Vecpiebalga Protected Landscape Area. The lake is oval, with its long axis running NW-SE. The lake has two islands — Lielā sala ('Large Island', 0,8 ha) and Mazā sala (also Vidsniedre, 'Small Island', 0,76 ha).
The lake bed is partially covered by mud and a layer of sapropel up to 5 meters high. The coastline is mostly flat, with exceptions in the south. The Gaujiņa, which later expands into the Gauja, the longest river of Latvia, flows out of Alauksts. The Silakrogs Canal (Silakroga grāvis), which was built in the 19th century, originates from Alauksts and flows towards Tauns Lake.
Nine species of fish have been observed in the lake (common roach, bream, pike, perch, chub etc.). It is eutrophic lake with considerable amounts of toxic green algae.
The paved Cēsis—Madona (P30) road is located along the lake's SW coast, on the SE coast — the Vecpiebalga—Greiveri dirt road.
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.