Milestibas Salina Travel Guide

Mīlestības Saliņa, or Love Island, is a charming island located in the Kurzeme District of Riga, Latvia. Situated at the confluence of the Buļļupe River and the Daugava River, near Daugavgrīva Island, it offers a unique natural landscape within the city.The island, covering approximately 0.75 km², is characterized by its triangular shape. The Daugava River borders its northwest side, the Buļļupe River to the east, and the Loču Canal to the south. The terrain is low-lying, with an average elevation of 1-1.5 meters, and marshy, featuring overgrown lakes in its southern part. The highest point of the island faces the Daugava, consisting of a sandy, open grey dune landscape.Mīlestības Saliņa began forming in the latter half of the 19th century due to the construction of dams regulating the Daugava River. These structures facilitated the accumulation of sand and silt, gradually shaping the island between the straightening dam and the Buļļupe inflow. By the Soviet era, the island was a restricted zone, but in the 1970s, it became a popular spot for hippies. Access to the island is limited to boats or stand-up paddleboards, as it is part of the Nature Park "Piejūra". A bird-watching tower has been constructed on the island.