Venta Rapid

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Venta Rapid, or Ventas rumba, is a waterfall on the Venta River in Kuldīga, western Latvia. It is Europe’s widest waterfall, about 249 metres across, and it can widen to 275 metres in spring floods. The falls are about 1.8 to 2.2 metres high.

Geology and formation: The waterfall sits in Devonian dolomite. The upper layer is harder than the lower layer, so the top overhangs and slowly collapses. The stronger flow in the middle causes the central edge to retreat upstream over time.

History and legends: The town of Kuldīga grew because the falls blocked ships. In the 17th century, Duke Jacob Kettler planned a bypass and started on the right bank, but the work stopped because the rock was too hard. In spring, high water creates a shallow canal and the island of Martin. Legends say the Duke tried to demolish the waterfall by explosion; after the first blast, parts of the waterfall shifted and cracks appeared in his palace, so the plan was abandoned. In the 19th century Russia wanted a canal network and built a canal around the falls, completed about 30 years later; remnants can still be seen.

Fishing history: Around 1640 Kettler arranged fishing with wicker baskets and carved weirs into the bedrock. During spawning, salmon and sturgeon attempted to jump the falls; those that couldn’t were swept into canals and baskets. Fishermen later rented spots and could catch about 80–100 fish. Kuldīga was once called the town where you can catch salmon in the air. Salmon and sturgeon disappeared over time; the last sturgeon was caught in 1892. Today the main fish is vimba, and fishing is banned during spawning.

Nearby landmarks and tourism: About 240 metres from the waterfall is the Kuldīga brick bridge, built in 1874. It is 8 metres wide and 164 metres long, and is the longest operating brick bridge in Europe. It was renovated in 2008. A wooden walkway runs along the river and waterfall. The site attracts roughly 130,000 visitors each year.

Protection: Venta Rapid was designated a natural monument of Latvia in 1977.