Saunags
| Saunags | |
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 Saunags
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| Coordinates: 57°43′N 22°25′E / 57.717°N 22.417°E |
Saunags (Livonian: Sǟnag, Russian: Саунагс or Саунаг. Other names: Saunagdtsiems, Saunaga, Saunaga Ciems, Saunaguciems) is a populated place in Kolka parish, Dundaga municipality, Latvia, located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the Cape Kolka, within the borders of Slītere National Park. Name derived from Livonian Sǟnag, meaning pike-perch (scientific Latin name: Sander (genus), Russian: судак), a local fish. First mentioned in documents in 1310, it is the oldest of the twelve Livonian villages on the Līvõd rānda – the Livonian Coast. It consists of two parts - Saunags and Dižsaunags (from Latvian - Great Saunags), the later being the oldest and more preserved one. Located along the coast of the Baltic Sea and formerly inhabited by Livonian people or Livs.
Saunags is positioned on crossing of parallel going via Gothenburg (Sweden) and meridian going via Turku (Finland), both are important ancient regional trading and cultural centres. Although away from large towns and always scarcely populated, the coast always played the strategic importance in many wars, because of its proximity to Irbe Strait, the main sea route to Riga. Marine maps are dotted with sunken ships, going back to medieval time and as recent as World War II. During the Crimean war British navy landed here and burned down Russian Empire military outpost in Saunags. During the First World War Russian navy placed large number of naval mines off-shore here (this was the first time in Baltic navy history application of so many mines in one place). Many German ships were destroyed here. During the Second World War German guns located here allowed to control the Irbe Strait (the main battery was located opposite at Saaremaa island).
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