On Lake Bilska:

• Rustupīte Stream flows out of Lake Bilska and later joins the River Kamalda.
• The terrain around the lake is moderately flat, becoming slightly steeper further from the shoreline.
• Water transparency averages 1.5 metres. The lake is characterised by a predominantly muddy bottom, with an average depth of 2.8 metres during the summer low-water period. The depth averages around 2.0 metres at the ends of the lake, while the central area reaches 2.8–3.4 metres, with a maximum depth of 3.8 metres.
• Based on its ecological structure, Lake Bilska is classified as a specially protected habitat of European and Latvian importance – eutrophic lakes with submerged and floating vegetation.
• The lake’s vegetation includes plant species typical of Latvian eutrophic lakes, such as sweet flag, reeds, sedges, horsetails, cattails, spikerushes, water-plantains, yellow water lilies, water lilies, pondweeds, arrowheads, elodea, bur-reeds, smartweeds, bladderworts, and bulrushes. Fish species found in the lake include bream, tench, roach, perch, rudd, and pike.

 

Recreational opportunities by the lake:

• The lake area features a well-equipped swimming spot with a jetty, picnic and campfire sites, a volleyball court, swings, and a traditional gypsy sauna site.
• Around Lake Bilska runs the boardwalk Lake Bilska Nature Trail. There are several benches for resting and fishing, as well as educational games for children.
• Nearby, a 58-metre barefoot trail is available.

 

This video was produced with the financial support of the European Union within the Green Palette project. Smiltene Municipality is fully responsible for its content, and it may not reflect the opinion of the European Union.