Lake Asveja

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Lake Asveja Dubingiai Lake

Location	Lithuania
Primary sources	Žeimena River
Primary outflows	Žeimena River
Max length	21.9 km
Max width	880 m
Surface area	9.78 km²
Max depth	50.2 m
Settlements	Dubingiai

Lake Asveja or Dubingiai Lake (Lithuanian: Asveja or Dubingių ežeras) is the longest lake in Lithuania (length: 21.9 km or 29.7 km if counting Žalktynė, Vyriogala and Dubingiai baights). It covers 9.78 km² area and reaches depth of 50.2 m. It makes it the third deepest lake in Lithuania. It lies partly in Molėtai district, Švenčionys district and Vilnius district. The alternative name comes from a historical Dubingiai Castle, constructed in the former island, and small town of Dubingiai situated on the lake. The town is a popular tourist destination. Žeimena River flows through the lake and people rent boats or kayaks to go down the river to the Neris River.

The lake formed when water was flowing under the melting icecaps during the last glacial period. Such lakes remind a river: they are long, narrow (the greatest width of Asveja is only 880 m.), and deep. Other such lakes in Lithuania include Tauragnas, Sartai, and Aisetas. In 1992 Asveja Regional Park was established to pretect the ecosystem and landcape.

One of the curiosities is a wooden bridge across the lake. It was built in 1934 and is still in use. President Antanas Smetona participated in the opening of the first bridge across a lake in Lithuania. The bridge is 84 m in length; the lake is up to 15 m in depth at that point.