Salacgrīva Municipality
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Salacgrīva Municipality Salacgrīvas novads |
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| Municipality | |||
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| Country |
 Latvia
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| Formed | 2009 | ||
| Centre | Salacgrīva | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Dagnis Straubergs | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 637.6 km2 (246.2 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2009) | |||
| • Total | 9,581 | ||
| • Density | 15/km2 (39/sq mi) | ||
| Website | www |
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Salacgrīva Municipality (Latvian: Salacgrīvas novads) was created as a result of the territorial reform in 2009, which united several former parts of Limbaži region - Salacgriva town with its rural areas, Ainaži town with its rural territory and Liepupe parish. Salacgriva municipality is bordered by Aloja and Limbaži municipalities and Estonian Pärnu circuit. The centre of the municipality is Salacgriva .
4 species of shellfish can be found in the coastal municipality of Salacgrīva: soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria), Baltic clam (Macoma Baltica), lagoon cockle (Cerastoderma glaucum), and the bay mussel (Mytilus trossulus). Aforetime locals used shellfish as a feed for chicken, as such diet provided stronger egg shells. Salacgriva district is a part of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, and a nature reserve “Vidzemes akmeņainā jūrmala” (the rocky seashore of Vidzeme) lies within the area of the municipality. The size of this nature reserve is 3370 ha and it takes up 12 km of the sea cost of Vidzeme. Very rare and protected habitats, which are not present elsewhere in Latvian, are abundant in this area. The beaches are covered with stones and pebbles, meadows, foredunes or white dunes. Between beaches and forests an unusual habitat - Grey dunes – is hidden. Sandstone outcrops can be seen on the sea shore. Typical as well as rare and protected species and habitats can be found on the Stony beach. The boulders, which are located on the underwater part of the water level, serve as “brakes” during strong winds and storms, protecting the shore and forelands from erosion. The sandstone which can be seen in the outcrops of “Vidzemes akmeņainajā jūrmalā” (rocky seashore of Vidzeme) has formed over 350 million years ago. The largest outcrop on Vidzeme coast is the Veczemju cliffs.
An axe from the Stone Age has been found in the area of the current Salacgrīva rural area, suggesting very ancient settlements in this area. It is, however, clearly known that Salaca region has historically been inhabited by Livs. The Livonian chronicle of Henry mentions times when the area in Salacgriva municipality was owned by Metsepole County, where, already in 1205, the priest Alobrand - a Catholic priest and one of the first missionaries in Livonia – established a church and took up a Christian preaching mission. Archaeological works by Juris Urtāns in 1973 confirmed that during the 14th century there had been ancient places of worship and sacrifice on the right bank of Svētupe River, nearby Kuiķuļi. The area hosts two ancient Liv sacrificial caves, whose rocks have been formed as a geological object during the middle Devonian period about 400 million years ago. The smaller cave is low and narrow, 46 m long, but the largest one – 19.5 m long and up to 2 metres high. On the walls of the cave ancient drawings, traditional Latvian signs have been discovered – such as Jumis, Lietuvēna cross and others. In the anteroom hall of the cave, 628 coins, 35 antiques, and organic stem donations were found. Already during the 13th century Salacgriva became a centre for shipping and trade of Bishop Albert, since the geographical situation of Salacgriva allowed the goods to be delivered both by water and by road, consequently developing the whole area. A necessity for a traffic network from Salacgriva to Limbaži emerged. Due to development of trade, Salaca region became one of the most intense areas in traffic intensity in Latvia in the 14th century. In 1908 a ferroconcrete bridge over Salaca was built in Vecsalaca built, which was opened a year later, on the 13th of June. At that time concrete was a new construction material, which was introduced here before other provinces of Russian empire due to German Construction Company “Wayss and Freytag A.G.”, which was very active in Latvia at that time. Annasmuiža Ferroconcrete Bridge is one of two bridges on gravel roads of Latvia that have been conserved fragmentarily from the beginning of the era of ferroconcrete. After the declaration of independence, the current area of Salacgriva municipality was divided between parishes of Salaca and Svētciems. 2 primary schools operated in Salaca parish - Ausekļu 1.degree school and Korģenes 6 year school. Seven teachers worked in these schools, teaching 231 student. In 1937, there were 2520 inhabitants in Salaca parish, 129 old farms, 145 new farms and 66 small farms. At the same time, 1750 people lived in Svētciems parish; there were 56 old farms, 163 new farms and 27 small farms. One six-year school operated in the parish with 3 teachers who taught 86 students. In 1928 the Ministry of Agriculture created a horse farm in Svētciems, where Hannover horses were raised. In 1937 the description of agricultural lands was adverse, as two unfavourable types of soil predominated – sand and tough clay. The main income, however, was provided by agriculture. Locals provided for themselves also through fishing in the sea and river, cutting forests in winter and flooding trees in spring. After the establishment of Soviet rule, parishes were gradually eliminated, forming three villages instead of Salaca and Svētciems parishes – Zonepe, Korģene and Salaca village.
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