At Lake Usma, a Lutheran log-built church, a short nature trail, and tours on land and water come together. The figures involved differ considerably in scale: the nature trail is 700 metres long, the cycling route around the lake covers 55 kilometres, and the paddling route is listed as taking three to five days. This means you can consider a walking path, a cycling route, and a multi-day outing as different options when planning your trip.
Church, Swimming Area, and Lake
Usma’s Lutheran church is a log-built church on the shore of Lake Usma. In the village of Usma, a developed swimming area is located near the church. At the swimming area, buoys mark off the bathing zone. This places a building and a marked-off swimming area alongside each other as two specific points of reference for a stay by the lake.
The figures for the size of Lake Usma also depend on which measurement you consider: by area, it is Latvia’s sixth-largest lake; by water volume, it is the second-largest. These are different rankings for different characteristics, not one general ranking by size. If you are interested in the lake, you can keep this distinction in mind when considering its dimensions.
Nature Trail and Moricsala
The Usmas Elkraga nature trail is a 700-metre path made of pine boards for walks by Lake Usma. From the path, you can see Moricsala, which is part of the Moricsala Nature Reserve. The short distance and the view of the protected area make the path its own way to experience the lake and natural landscape, without equating it with the longer tours around the lake.
The Moricsala Nature Reserve was established on 6 June 1912. Usma Christian School has an exhibition about the reserve. Moricsala can thus be encountered in two different ways: as a view of the area from the nature trail, and as the subject of an exhibition at the school.
Cycling and Paddling
A 55-kilometre cycling route runs around Lake Usma. It follows forest roads and small country roads. The route details thus specify both its length and the different types of roads. If you are weighing up the route as part of your plans, its distance is a useful point of reference.
The “From Usma to the Sea” paddling route can be completed in three to five days. This timeframe makes it a multi-day outing and clearly distinguishes it from a walk along the nature trail. If you are staying for a shorter time, you should therefore consider the paddling route as a separate time commitment, rather than simply a small addition to individual visits to the lake. The cycling and paddling routes can also be compared using different details: the distance is given for one, while the possible duration is given for the other.
Fishing at Lake Usma
Fishing permits for Lake Usma can be purchased at recreational areas or through the e-Loms service. If fishing is part of your travel plans, these are two ways to obtain a permit. Together with walking, cycling, and paddling, they offer a picture of activities with different scales and practical requirements.
Discover more destinations: Ziras, Pasiekste, Lielirbe, Ugāle, Leči, Pope, Vārve, Jūrkalne.
For the wider travel overview: Ventspils.
