Strong winds causing increase of water levels and intensive wave activity along Latvian seacoast in the beginning of October have also left significant impact on the most popular tourism attraction in Saulkrasti – the White Dune. New landslide of several metres has been recorded here.

This time the landslide has also affected one of the pathways leading to the beach. The area has been secured, and the boardwalk will not be renovated. The design park created within the LIFE Ecosystem Project has not been damaged. 

Observations of coastal processes in the surroundings of Saulkrasti White Dune are carried out regularly. According to the prognosis worked out by geology expert, leading researcher and docent of the Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences of the University of Latvia Mr. Jānis Lapinskis, retreat of the shoreline at the slope of the White Dune situated next to the mouth of River Inčupe is possible by 5-8 m until 2025 and by 35-50 m until 2060.

Recommendations for reduction and management of erosion risks along the coastline of Saulkrasti have been worked out in 2016, advising against construction of massive artificial structures; instead focusing on the necessity of providing continuity of coastal processes in the challenging circumstances of intensive visitor flows in the area. According to the survey of visitors carried out within the Project, the number of summer visitors in the White Dune reaches 25-30 000 a month.

More information on recommendations on reduction of erosion risks along the coastline in Saulkrasti can be found in Latvian HERE (Pilot area conception).

For reference

The foundation of the White Dune consists of very fine sand, compacted by water and having accumulated throughout the most ancient formation period of the Baltic Sea – the period of Baltic Ice Lake 10-13 000 years ago. The upper part of the slope, in its turn, is made of much more recent layer of sand, moved by the winds. River Inčupe has a special role in the current shape of the White Dune as it is exactly the river which provides the dune with its white color. The mouth of the river is moving constantly more and more towards the White Dune.