The Usmas Lake is a large lake in Usmas parish of Ventspils region, on the border with Kuldiga and Talsi regions. It is the sixth largest lake in Latvia by area (the order starting from the largest: Lubans – 8,21 ha; Raznas – 5,76 ha; Engures – 4,13 ha; Burtnieku – 4,01 ha; Liepajas – 3,71 ha; Usmas – 3,47 ha); the second largest – by volume of water.
It is the remain of the Baltic Ice Lake. The total area of the islands is 4,2 km². The Viskuzu Island is the largest of the lake's islands in Latvia, its area is 309,2 ha. There is a river-like strait Amjudzupe between the Viskuzu Island and the land. One of the largest forests in Latvia extends around the lake, in many places the shores of the lake are primeval. Also, the lake islands are covered by forest. The rivers Tiruksupe, Bangeva, Sudmalinupe, Kanupe, etc, flow into the lake. Hillocks, inland dunes are around the lake. The shores are mostly gently sloping, and in places, they are also steep. The deepest place Kapkrasns (27 m) is located on the southern side of the lake – Baznicerte. Kapkrasns is a cryptodepression because it lies below the sea level.
Eutroph, an overgrown lake, covers around 5 % of the lake. 9 species of fish. The first reserve of Latvia, Moricsala Nature Reserve, including a part of the lake Luzikerti bay and the Lielalksnites Island, was founded in 1912. Nature reserve Viskuzi Island was founded in 2004. It is a popular place for sailing, there are a lot of recreational facilities, including Tiezumi and Graveri – camping.
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Area of water surface – 30469.2 hectare
Mean depth – 5.4 metre(s)
Maximum depth – 27.0 metre(s)
Number of islands – 7
Total area of islands – 428.002 hectare
Fish of natural occurrence: eel-pout, rudd, eel, zander, crucian carp, vendace, white bream, bleak, bream, nine-spined stickleback, perch, pike, roach, ruffe, tench, spiny loach, verklovka, chub, groundling, ide, loach, peled.
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