The Nature Park Dvietes paliene (Dviete flood-plains) is situated in the South-eastern Latvia, Augšzeme, on the left bank of River Daugava. The 4,989-hectare nature park was established in 2004 to protect the natural flood-plain meadows. The Nature Park Dvietes paliene is one of the largest and best-preserved examples of natural river flood-plains in Latvia and Europe. A unique gathering and nesting site of migrating birds on the world scale with natural and almost unchanged habitats of flooding grass-lands that are rare both in Latvia and Europe; home to a number of rare and especially protected species of plants and animals. There are 12 especially protected species of plants and animals, more than 40 species of birds protected in Latvia or the EU as well as seven European-scale and two Latvia-scale protected biotopes on the territory of the nature park. The territory is divided into two areas – the restricted nature area and the nature park area.
The largest flood-plain on River Daugava is located on the territory of the park. As the Daugava flood waters fall into River Dviete Valley in spring, water in the lower Dviete can rise up to 6 metres above the low water level. During especially high floods the Daugava waters flood Dviete Valley in more than a 20-kilometre stretch.
The Nature Park is included in the network of special nature protection areas in the European Union Natura 2000. Its territory has the status of Special Protection Area for birds. Moreover, the Dviete flood-plain meets the criteria of an important site for birds not only on the European Union but also the global scale. The Nature Park Dvietes paliene is an internationally important meeting place for passing through water birds in spring as well as an important water bird nesting place. The territory of the nature park meets the international criteria of wetlands according to the Ramsar Convention.
Dviete Valley is one of the oldest populated areas on the territory of Latvia – the first settlers arrived here already by the end of the Ice Age roughly 11,000 years ago. It is also an important site of archaeological monuments. Settlements of the Stone Age, late Iron Age and Middle Ages as well as castle mounds of the early Iron Age and ancient burial sites of the late Iron Age were found there.
Dviete Valley information centre Gulbji (Swans) is located on the territory of the Nature Park Dvietes paliene where visitors can find information about nature and cultural heritage of Dviete Valley, the management of the nature park, book guided tours and plan their trips. The centre also organizes educational seminars. The centre has an Environment Classroom where nature-lovers can discover more about Dviete flood-plains nature and history.
