Sloka River Approach Anchorage

About This Anchorage

The Lielupe (Sloka) River mouth anchorage sits at the geographic heart of what makes Jūrmala unique — the river runs parallel to the sea for 15 kilometres, creating the narrow strip of land (rarely more than a kilometre wide) on which the entire resort city is built. Anchoring at the river mouth gives access to this extraordinary inland waterway — the Lielupe is navigable by dinghy or small motor launch for many kilometres inland through pine forest and countryside, providing a peaceful counterpoint to the busy beach scene on the seaward side. The anchorage itself is sheltered from northerly and northwesterly winds with good sand and mud holding. The bird life along the Lielupe is excellent — herons, kingfishers, and in season, osprey — and the combination of river estuary habitat and pine forest creates a diverse ecological transition zone. Jūrmala's famous beach (just 500m north across the peninsula) is accessible on foot from any dinghy landing point on the river, giving the best of both worlds — a peaceful anchorage near the river, with the beach and resort facilities a short walk away.

Hazards

• !River mouth bar — variable depth; approach carefully and check current depth
• !River traffic — kayaks, tour boats, and motor launches on the Lielupe
• !Exposed to S and SW — increase radius in any southerly condition

Skipper's Tips

• →Explore the Lielupe River inland by dinghy — peaceful and beautiful
• →Walk across the peninsula to access Jūrmala's beach and restaurants — 500m maximum
• →Kingfishers are regularly seen along the Lielupe riverbanks — bring binoculars
• →The river is popular with kayakers — a rental company near the mouth offers half-day kayak trips inland

Nearby Anchorages