Daugava

Updated on Apr 25, 2026

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Length 1,020 km Source Valdai Hills Countries Latvia, Belarus, Russia		Basin area 87,900 km² Mouth Gulf of Riga

Other name(s) Western Dvina, Russian: Западная Двина (Západnaya Dviná), Belarusian: Заходняя Дзвіна ([zaˈxodnʲaja dzʲvʲiˈna]), German: Düna Country Belarus, Latvia, Russia, Lithuania, Estonia Main source Valdai Hills, Russia221 m (725 ft) River mouth Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea0 m (0 ft) Basin size 87,900 km (33,900 sq mi) Discharge Average rate:678 m/s (23,900 cu ft/s) Cities Riga, Daugavpils, Vitebsk, Polotsk, Ogre, Jēkabpils, Ikšķile Bridges Vanšu Bridge, Railway Bridge, Riga, Southern Bridge

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The River Daugava or Western Dvina is a river rising in the Valdai Hills, Russia, flowing through Russia, Belarus, and Latvia and into the Gulf of Riga. The total length of the river is 1,020 km (630 mi): 325 km (202 mi) in Russia, 338 km (210 mi) in Belarus, and 352 km (219 mi) in Latvia.

Map of Daugava River

Within Latvia it flows through Latgale, Zemgale, Vidzeme and Riga, before flowing into the Gulf of Riga.

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Geography

The total catchment area of the river is 87,900 km² (33,900 sq mi), 33,150 km² (12,800 sq mi) of which are within Belarus.

Etymology

According to the Max Vasmer's Etymological Dictionary, the toponym Dvina clearly cannot stem from a Uralic language, and it possibly comes from Indo-European word which used to mean river or stream.

Environment

The river began experiencing environmental deterioration in the era of Soviet collective agriculture (producing considerable adverse water pollution runoff) and a wave of hydroelectric power projects.

Russia

Andreapol, Zapadnaya Dvina and Velizh.

Belarus

Ruba, Vitebsk, Beshankovichy, Polotsk with