Lake Asveja

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Lake Asveja Dubingiai Lake

Location	Lithuania
Coordinates	55°02′35″N, 25°30′17″ECoordinates: 55°02′35″N, 25°30′17″E
Primary outflows	Dubinga River
Basin countries	Lithuania
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 counting the Žalktynė, Vyriogala and Dubingiai bights). It covers 9.78 km² area and reaches a depth of 50.2m which makes it the third deepest lake in Lithuania. It lies partly in Molėtai district, Švenčionys district and Vilnius district. The alternative name comes from the historical Dubingiai Castle, constructed on the former island, and the small town of Dubingiai situated on the lake. The town is a popular tourist destination. Žeimena River flows through the lake^{[citation needed]} and people rent boats or kayaks to go down the river to the Neris River.

The lake formed when water flowed under the melting icecaps during the last glacial period. Such lakes are similar to rivers: 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 protect the ecosystem and landscape.

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.