Daugava sightseeing area "Lorelei rock"

After the construction of the Pļaviņas HPP and the reservoir, the Lorelei (Nāru) rock has disappeared into the waters of the Daugava. The water level has risen considerably, causing the disappearance of the rapids and the Devil's or Crazy Hole at the foot of the cliff. Around the place where the cliff was located, there is a viewing platform for observing the landscape of the Daugava with a bench, a white fir tree and some boulders:

Downstream from the Grūbe rapids on the right bank of the Daugava was the Lorelei cliff, the highest part of the Pļaviņas structure, which reached a height of 13 metres. Every spring, the waters and ice of the Daugava crumbled the cliff and the banks of the Daugava.
Stories about the Lorelei Rock:
Who said that mermaids - well, water maidens - are very beautiful? Not at all. The old rafter Daugavas Jancis once saw one at the Crazy Flap, sitting on a rock. Red hair, greenish eyes, a kind of greenish light around. Looking straight at him as he pulled the net into the boat. It was completely empty, and she laughed, her white teeth gleaming. Jancis was frowning, wanting to say something stronger to her. Quickly, he snatched the last sinker. Looking - no one at the corner of the rock. There it was - immediately no more. Do you think that a man can disappear like that? No, you can't! That is why Jancis of the Daugava is convinced that it was a mermaid, and it is good that it is gone, for have we not heard how much harm such things can do to boaters and rafters. What Jancis has in mind is less the beauty of the mermaid, but how very uneasy he felt when it was gone. He is afraid to get tangled up, as he is when the mosquitoes show up.
(J.Jansons, Pļaviņės)

In the crazy opening, a river runs out of the bottom of the earth. It comes from Lake Odze. Nobody knew whether it was or not, but it was clearly visible once. A log with an axe stuck in it fell into the lake. It had slipped under other trees and never came out again. After a while - now you wonder! - it floated up with the whole axe. How else did this one get here, if not through the ground?!
(J.Jansons, Pļaviņės)

Before the construction of the Pļaviņas HPP, when the water in Pļaviņas was at its natural level, one of the most popular places for swimming was on the right bank of the Daugava at the Lorelei cliff, where the water turned in a circle at the bottom - the so-called Devil's Hole or Crazy Hole. The cliff had a rise running the entire length of its length, over which the water flowed freely, forming a drop below which the swimmer, holding on to the cliff, could breathe freely while remaining invisible to the spectators on the waterfront. The gentle edge of the shore was covered with flat boulders, which warmed up in the sun and the swimmers could warm themselves on them.

People often gathered at the Lorelei rock on the waterfront, for whom the free-flowing waters of the Daugava were a solace in their not always bright everyday life.

The best swimmers of Plavinas used this place for their training, jumping from the top of the cliff into the open waters.

(Egons Vītols, Pļaviņas)

When the Lorelei cliff was flooded, I was in the 1st grade of primary school. I still remember - I was sitting by the window. The teacher was telling the class something, and I was looking out of the window at the Daugava River. I couldn't understand how the big stones that the Daugava was full of were getting smaller and smaller every day.......It didn't take long for the people of Plavina to say goodbye to Lorelei and the rapids for good. The shore at the Crazy Hole was full of people that autumn. So we all went every evening , stood dumb and looked at one point... At first the rapids disappeared, later we watched what was left of the cliff.
It didn't rain those days, but as is typical for autumn, it got dark quickly. The weather was overcast. People were dressed in the typical dark autumn clothes. Someone was talking quietly, but all eyes were on the rock. People only dispersed when it got dark....
(Jānis Ivars Padedzis, former resident of Plavinas)