| Gulf of Riga | |
|---|---|
| Location | Europe |
| Settlements | Riga, Jūrmala, Pärnu, Kuressaare, Salacgrīva, Saulkrasti, Ainaži |
The Gulf of Riga, or Bay of Riga, (German: Rigaischer Meerbusen, Latvian: Rīgas jūras līcis, Estonian: Liivi laht, Gulf of Livonia, Swedish: Rigabukten, alt. Rigaviken, both meaning the Riga Bay or the Riga Gulf, Russian: Рижский залив) is a bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia. According to C.Michael Hogan, a saline stratification layer is found at a depth of approximately seventy metres.[1]
The area of the Gulf of Riga is about 18,000 km². The maximum depth is 67 m. The island of Saaremaa (Estonia) partially separates it from the rest of the Baltic Sea. The main exit out of the gulf is the Irbe Strait. Ruhnu island, in the middle of the gulf, also belongs to Estonia.
Notable cities in this gulf include Riga, Pärnu, Jūrmala and Kuressaare. The main rivers flowing into the gulf are Daugava, Pärnu, Lielupe, Gauja, and Salaca.
The Gulf of Riga as a sub-basin of the Baltic also includes the Väinameri Sea in the West Estonian archipelago.
The International Hydrographic Organization defines its limits as a line running from Ovīši [Lyser Ort] (57°34'N) in Latvia to the south extreme of Saaremaa [Ösel], through Saaremaa to Pammana Point [Pammerort] (22°34'E), thence to Emmaste Point, the south extreme of Hiiumaa [Dagö], through Hiiumaa to Tahkuna Point, the northern extreme of the island, and on to Cape Põõsaspea [Spithamn Point] in mainland Estonia.[2]