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About Amata river:

It is the fastest and cleanest tributaries of the Gauja River, rich also in rapids. In the language of Livs who used to live in this area many centuries ago Amada means “the swift”.

In the lower reaches the Amata River flows along an ancient valley with steep, up to 45m high sandstone and dolomite banks. It is one of the deepest and most original river valleys in whole Vidzeme region.

Otters, beavers and edible dormice live here, kingfishers, goldeneyes, pygmy owls and other birds nest here as well. Salmon, salmon trout and brown trout, also river lampreys, European graylings, gudgeons and other fish spawn in the river. Several rare plant species, like early-purple orchids, perennial honesties and lesser butterfly-orchids grow on the banks of the river. There are Doļu and Skujenes castle-mounds on the banks of Amata. Close to Kārļi in the place of a former mill a power station started to function in 1927. Downstream there is a state owned fish nursery “Kārļi”, the second largest salmon fish nursery in Latvia.

from: www.gnp.gov.lv