Daugava
The Daugava, also called the Western Dvina, is a major river flowing from Russia through Belarus and Latvia to the Gulf of Riga.
Daugava basin: The drainage area whose streams and rivers flow into the Daugava. Its watershed gathers water from parts of Russia, Belarus, and Latvia.
Western Dvina: A traditional name for the Daugava, distinguishing it from Russia's Northern Dvina. This name is common in historical and geographic sources about the river.
Riga: The capital and largest city of Latvia, situated at the mouth of the Daugava. The river's outlet helped Riga develop as a Baltic port.
Latvian national awakening: A nineteenth-century movement that fostered Latvian cultural and political identity. The Daugava became a potent symbol in Latvian national culture.
Gulf of Riga: A Baltic Sea inlet between Latvia and Estonia. The Daugava empties into the Baltic Sea through this gulf.
Baltic tribes: Indigenous peoples of the eastern Baltic region who spoke Baltic languages. Baltic communities lived along the river and used it as a route.
Daugavpils: Latvia's second-largest city, located on the Daugava in the country's southeast. The city grew at a strategic crossing on the river.
Daugava River pollution: Contamination of the Daugava from urban, industrial, and agricultural sources. Human settlement and industry have affected the river's water quality.
Riga Hydroelectric Power Plant: A hydroelectric station on the Daugava near Riga, Latvia. Its dam regulates river flow and generates electricity.
Vikings: Seafaring Scandinavian peoples active in trade, exploration, and warfare from the late eighth to eleventh centuries. The Daugava formed part of routes connecting the Baltic Sea to eastern Europe.