• Forests occupy 57 % of the total area of the national park. The distribution pattern of forests is relatively even throughout the area with a rather uniform cover excluding patches of settlements, bogs, lakes and meadows. The diversity of forests within KNP is remarkable. Beside forests under sustainable management, large areas of undisturbed old-growth forests provide habitats for many lichens, mosses, vascular plants, invertebrates, birds and mammals. The diversity of forests is represented by large areas of boreal spruce forests, dry pine forests on sandy coastal and inland dunes, bog woodlands, swampy black alder forests and rich deciduous forests.
• Wetlands occupy 24 % of the area of KNP. The surroundings of Kemeri are well-known with vast areas of raised bogs, where sulphurous waters are forming. On bog margins and lakesides one may find also other types of wetlands – fens and transition mires. Great Ķemeri Bog is one of the largest bogs in Latvia, which is almost untouched by human impacts. Particular wetlands are found in the surroundings of the Kaņieris Lake – large, impassable labyrinths of swampy reed stands, floating reed ‘islands’ and rich calcareous fens.
• Meadows, although covering only 6 % of the total area of the national park, are not less significant in preserving the richness of landscape, habitats and species. Meadows are of special importance by maintaining numerous plant, invertebrate and bird species. In the past, meadows were formed in close interaction of nature, humans and livestock. The abandonment causes overgrowing with shrubs and trees, and consequently extinction of species. Therefore the administration of KNP organizes mowing, pasturing and clearing of shrubs in most of the meadows within the national park.
• Waters cover 10 % of the area of KNP. Open waters include lakes, rivers, sulphurous springs and shallow coastal zone along the Gulf of Riga. The largest lakes - Kaņieris and Slokas - with adjoining wetlands are shallow lagoon lakes not exceeding few meters in depth, while the Valgums Lake is the deepest lake within KNP reaching the maximum depth of 27 m. Smaller lagoon lakes and numerous tiny bog lakes may be found throughout the area. A peculiarity of KNP - sulphurous springs are found in Ķemeri and the surrounding bogs.
• Dunes are found both along the coast of the Gulf of Riga and in inland areas – the remnants of the Littorina Sea, the previous stage of the Baltic Sea. The dunes form chains, which are covered by forests. Dune islands and peninsulas can be found not only at the seaside, but also in inland bogs and forests.
View on the Kaņieris Lake with reed-beds, the Slocene River with swampy black alder forests, coastal dunes, the Baltic Sea and Lapmežciems village.
Last revision 10-11-2008
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