Daugava sightseeing area "Lorelei rock"

Before the construction of the Pļaviņas Hydroelectric Power Plant one of the most popular swimming spots was on the right bank of the Daugava near the Loreleja Cliff. Below the cliff, the water swirled in a circular motion – a place known as the Devil’s Whirlpool or the Mad Whirlpool. From the cliff to the opposite bank stretched a raised rocky formation over which the water flowed freely, forming a waterfall. Swimmers could hold onto the rock under the waterfall and breathe freely while remaining invisible to those watching from the riverbank. The gently sloping shore was covered with flat stones that warmed up in the sun, allowing swimmers to relax and enjoy the heat. This location was used by the best swimmers of Pļaviņas for their training, diving from the top of the cliff into the swirling waters below.

After the construction of the Pļaviņas HPP and the creation of the reservoir, the Loreleja (Mermaid) Cliff disappeared beneath the waters of the Daugava. With the significantly raised water level, the rapids and the Devil’s or Mad Whirlpool at the cliff's base vanished. Approximately where the cliff once stood, there is now a viewing platform with a bench, a silver fir tree, and a few large boulders – a place to observe the Daugava’s landscape.
Stories about Loreleja Cliff

A river is said to flow underground through the Mad Whirlpool. It is believed to originate from Lake Odze. No one really knew for sure if it was true, but once, it became clearly evident. At the lake, a group of loggers accidentally lost a log with an embedded axe. It slid under other logs and never resurfaced. But some time later – what a miracle! – it emerged in the Mad Whirlpool, axe and all. How else could it have gotten there, if not through an underground current?
(J. Jansons, Pļaviņas)