Devonian sandstone cliffs - Ērgļu cliffs at Gauja

The Gauja (Estonian: Koiva, Livonian: Koiva, German: Livländische Aa) is one of the longest rivers in Latvia, with a length of 452 kilometers (281 mi) and a catchment area of 8,900 square kilometers (3,436.3 sq mi). Its source is in the hills southeast of Cēsis. It first flows east and north and forms the border with Estonia for about 20 kilometers (12 mi). South of Valga and Valka, it turns west towards Valmiera, continuing southwest near Cēsis and Sigulda. The Gauja flows into the Baltic Sea northeast of Riga.

In Cesis district and Riga district the Gauja has shaped the deepest river valley in Latvia with banks up to 90 meters (295 ft) high . This part of the Gauja valley contains numerous natural and cultural landmarks and was declared a national park (Gauja National Park) in 1973.

The Latvian-born explorer Aleksandrs Laime gave the name Gauja to the river that feeds Angel Falls in Venezuela.

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