Alekšupīte

Alekšupīte Stream gives Kuldīga’s historic town centre its distinctive charm. It begins in the parish of Pelči, in the Kurmāle uplands near the Upenieki ponds. Its upper reaches are fed by forest springs, which prevent the stream from freezing completely in winter.

In its upper course, Alekšupīte is also known as Čūtene, Dzirnavupīte, and Pelčupīte; in its middle course as Sūre and Sūrupīte; and in its lower course also as Alekša upīte. It is a left-bank tributary of the River Venta within the territory of Kuldīga.

The streambed consists mainly of sand and gravel, although pebbles and boulders can also be found.

Six fish species are most commonly found here: European perch (Perca fluviatilis), stone loach (Barbatula barbatula), gudgeon (Gobio gobio), northern pike (Esox lucius), European bullhead (Cottus gobio), and burbot (Lota lota), as well as larvae of the brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri) and the spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus). Perch and gudgeon are the dominant species in the stream.

Within Kuldīga’s urban area, the banks of Alekšupīte are mostly reinforced with stonework or masonry walls. In some places, these structures also form the foundations or basement walls of buildings that stand close to the stream.

Two ponds have been created on Alekšupīte. Māra Pond is believed to have been built in the 17th century for the needs of the town’s mills, while Dzirnavu Pond dates back to the 13th or 14th century, when castle mills were established there. The pond’s dam and sluice gates were built near the point where Alekšupīte flows into the Venta River. Here, the stream forms a waterfall 4.15 metres high and 8 metres wide—the highest natural waterfall in Latvia. During severe winters, an icefall forms here.