12 • 05 • 2020
LVM has Restored the Historic Stairs to the Pērse Ravine
Valuing the desire of people to spend their leisure time in nature, JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) constantly maintains and renews tourist sites throughout Latvia. This year, those interested are encouraged to enjoy the beauty of the River Pērse and the view of the ruins of Koknese Castle, climbing the newly restored historic stairs leading to the Pērse Ravine.
LVM has restored the historical staircase section and reconstructed the old steps in Koknese Park. Some time ago, after descending 196 steps, visitors were taken to a place where one could observe the splendour of Pērse Waterfall, a place, surrounded by legends and stories. At the beginning of the 19th century, the waterfall was three metres high. In summers, when the Pērse dried up and became shallow, the waterfall turned into a popular place for bathing and leisure.
Photo: A.Zarāns, A. Vītols “Koknese”, 2007
However, over the time the waterfall changed its height and appearance under the strength of the River Pērse. A few years before the flooding, the waterfall washed away rapidly and lost its height. The waterfall was flooded after the construction of Pļavinas HPP in 1965. The place of the waterfall in the flooded Pērse Valley is evidenced by a commemorative sign erected back in 1992 –a stone sculpture made by sculptor Juris Zihmanis “A Girl from Pērse”
The River Pērse in Koknese
After more than half a century, an artificial representation of the waterfall was created in 2019. It stretches for more than five metres and rises 1.5 metres above the water level. Its cascades are arranged at different levels, thus creating a dynamic movement of the water jet.
