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Ferry across the River Gauja in Latvia (Vidzeme)
Published on 25 July 2018
Latvia
Latvija
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Līgatne ferry was constructed after the World War II, when the bridge across the River Gauja was destroyed. Local residents were unable to get to their jobs and school, because the closest bridges are located ~ 20 km away.
The ferry ensures transferring of residents and guests of the region, as well as passenger cars, from one shore of the River Gauja to the other for a determined charge. It is well accessible by car transport from both shores. The carrying capacity is 6 tonnes. Working hours of the ferry: each day from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM; in the winter season – each day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
This ferry is registered in the Latvian Ship Register. It is owned by The Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia, but managed by two local governments in Vidzeme region – the Municipality of Līgatne and the Municipality of Pārgauja. The ferry services are offered and advertised mainly by local tourism companies and tourism information centres, on the homepage of Municipality of Līgatne and social media, as well as the Tourism Cluster of the Gauja National Park 'EnterGauja', recommending this place for tourists.
Līgatne ferry takes across the Gauja River by means of a platform, which consists of two parallel steel boats and a wooden board connecting them. A steel cable stretched across the river does not allow the ferry to tide downstream, while the power of the stream propels it from one coast to the other. The ferry is not equipped with any kind of engine.
The ferry ensures transferring of residents and guests of the region, as well as passenger cars, from one shore of the River Gauja to the other for a determined charge. It is well accessible by car transport from both shores. The carrying capacity is 6 tonnes. Working hours of the ferry: each day from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM; in the winter season – each day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
This ferry is registered in the Latvian Ship Register. It is owned by The Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia, but managed by two local governments in Vidzeme region – the Municipality of Līgatne and the Municipality of Pārgauja. The ferry services are offered and advertised mainly by local tourism companies and tourism information centres, on the homepage of Municipality of Līgatne and social media, as well as the Tourism Cluster of the Gauja National Park 'EnterGauja', recommending this place for tourists.
Līgatne ferry takes across the Gauja River by means of a platform, which consists of two parallel steel boats and a wooden board connecting them. A steel cable stretched across the river does not allow the ferry to tide downstream, while the power of the stream propels it from one coast to the other. The ferry is not equipped with any kind of engine.
Resources needed
Three ferrymen are employed on the ferry, and their salary is comprised of the income from tickets and subsidies from both local governments. Operation of the ferry is not profitable, so both local governments divide the amount of losses (~ 60–70%) equally
Evidence of success
Līgatne ferry is used by 9,000–10,000 people each year. The number of passengers is rising in the recent years, because Līgatne ferry has turned from a daily transport communication of local residents into a tourism attraction. Due to development of technologies, information about the ferry is distributed broader, therefore local and foreign tourists, who travel around Vidzeme, in majority of cases choose the ferry service as an exotic additional adventure for their travel.
Potential for learning or transfer
– Cooperation of two local governments and state agency. Līgatne ferry is a good example for how, on one hand, local residents are provided with transport facilities and, on the other hand, financing of the local government is invested for subsidizing preservation of cultural historical heritage. The Nature Conservation Agency engages in the territory improvement by attracting EU funds.
– Heritage potential. Gauja ferry is the only waterways object in Vidzeme, which has preserved its initial economic function and over the years has become an object of cultural historical heritage, which attracts tourists and is used for establishment of new tourism products.
– The success of Līgatne ferry is based, firstly, on its authenticity and uniqueness, secondly, on the practical necessity to get conveniently and quickly across the river and, thirdly, cooperation of Līgatne and Pārgauja municipalities for ensuring operation of the ferry.
– Heritage potential. Gauja ferry is the only waterways object in Vidzeme, which has preserved its initial economic function and over the years has become an object of cultural historical heritage, which attracts tourists and is used for establishment of new tourism products.
– The success of Līgatne ferry is based, firstly, on its authenticity and uniqueness, secondly, on the practical necessity to get conveniently and quickly across the river and, thirdly, cooperation of Līgatne and Pārgauja municipalities for ensuring operation of the ferry.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Municipality of Līgatne; Municipality of Pārgauja; The Nature Conservation Agency
Latvia
Latvija
Contact
Communication Manager