Renda - Abava outfall into Venta

Seasonality: spring, summer, autumn

Complexity: This is a non-classified leasure trip route, suitable for all people and all type of boats. General safety rules should be met, however, use of buoyancy aids is mandatory.

Two days route along the most interesting and wild stage of Abava. Contrariwise received option, that lower reaches of rivers are drift and wide, Abava gives it's best. River is faster than in upper reaches, there are no populated riversides until outfall into Venta. Route goes through forests of legendary "Kurzemes katls".

There are practically no access roads in this route. Forget about renewal of supplies. There is no any store in location. You will face no people except other paddlers and few anglers.

This stage of Abava is rich in history. Best know are forests of "Kurzemes katls".

In the middle of October 1944, about 500,000 soldiers -- 32 German divisions and the 20,000 men of the Latvian Nineteenth Division of the Waffen–SS - were cut off from the rest of the German army and encircled. To the east and the south was the Soviet army, to the north and the west -- the Baltic Sea. The Latvians called it "Kurzemes katls". For the Nineteenth Division Kurland was truly the last stand. They took part in six major battles between October 12, 1944, and April 3, 1945. Together with the German army units they on the whole held the front line, keeping the Bolsheviks out of Kurland (region Kurzeme), until May 8, 1945, when Germany capitulated. These soldiers remained undefeated until the final moments of the war.

The terrain has not been wild ever after. In seventeenth century there has been well developed industry of tar and iron works, textile and lumber mills and even a paper mill. Region was producing an export production for shipyards of regional city Ventspils. In Renda surroundings was developed even winegrowing.

Unfortunately all this prosperity has left behind only few badly conditioned ruins and place names.

Places to see. There are too many, we'll mention only few; Ivande waterfall in Renda. Waterfall of Mazrenda, springs of Aclejas (due to intensive wood coupe it's possible, they've already disappeared), sandstones of Zilumi, Galamicu rock and other interesting nature formations.

Transportation and reach of the route:

The route goes through the most “wild” stage of Abava. Getting here is easy only to Renda. In lower stage of the route there are practically no access roads. Route ends in Venta riverside opposite the mouth of Abava. By land end of the route can be accessed only by unpaved road. A place to get out on Venta left bank is uncared-for, although is located on private land. Admittedly no one has asked to pay for staying here, so far. There is no bus line there. We suggest going extra 8 km downstream the river Venta – to the Lakes of Naba. This is a much better place in terms of transport infrastructure.

The route is serviced by Campo partner in Kuldiga.