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Wonder
Olupites Waterfall (Oļupītes ūdenskritums)
In short
At first, the small Olupites Waterfall seems to be just another small Latvian waterfall. But it has an interesting feature: a swallet. Part of the river disappears in a hollow shortly before the main fall.
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Map of the site
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In detail
Comparatively little known and, at the same time, charming and easily accessible waterfall is Olupites Waterfall not far from Renda village.
This waterfall is located in the extensive forests between Renda and Kuldiga, just some 30-40 m from a forest road. In summer Rumbina stream is almost dry but at high water, this waterfall can be well heard from the road. The waterfall is around 0.6 m high and 1.4 m wide.
Most likely, this waterfall has formed on the Middle Devonian dolostone of Plavinas Formation, similar to the Ivande Waterfall some 8 km to the west. Under this layer is a fragile sandstone layer that has been easily washed away by the stream.
Olupites Waterfall, though, has a unique peculiarity: a swallet! The stream flows over a large plate of dolostone. The space under this plate extends for several meters. Some 1.8 m before the rim of the waterfall, at the right bank, is a hole in this plate – and a part of the river falls into it!
The name of this waterfall could be wrong. The waterfall is on Rumbina Stream, while Olupite Stream is the next stream some 800 m further to the west.
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