Kipari Cascade (Ķiparu kaskāde)

In Sigulda town are at least eight waterfalls, but the highest could be Kipari Cascade. This is a fairly little known waterfall in the eastern side of the deep Vejupite Canyon, on a small, seasonal stream.

Most likely, this small tributary could be a recent creation: its formation may have started with the amelioration of the large field above the Vejupite Canyon. The small, seasonal stream has cut in the soft rocks of Devonian sandstone.

Some water flows in the fall throughout the whole year, but in the summer it dies out almost totally.

Kipari Cascade has two cascades. The upper one, similar to many other waterfalls in the area (see the nearby Dauda Waterfall), has formed on the Devonian oolitic sandstone on the upper rim of Amata Formation. This cascade is at least 2.3 m high, the water plunges over the cliff edge.

After the steep run of some 18 m the stream reaches the next cascade – some 6 m high wall of sandstone. There the water seeps over the surface of the rock in the width of approximately 1 m.

In winter, though, a spectacular icefall may form there.

This cascade was noticed by nature researchers only in February 1990 by Andris Grīnbergs, although we can be sure that it was known to people because… this is a town with many houses nearby!

References

1. A. Grīnbergs. Latvijas ūdenskritumi un krāces. ISBN 978-9984-9986-6-4. 2011.