‘Handfabrik’ or ‘Anfabrik’
In 1815–1816, the first building of the Līgatne Paper Mill – the ‘Handfabrik’, also known as the ‘Anfabrik’ – was constructed here, where paper was manufactured by hand until 1871. With the construction of the factory, a system of sluices and canals was developed to channel water from the Līgatne River that was necessary in the production process. The canal was situated around one kilometre upstream from the ‘Anfabrik’, excavated along the left bank of the Līgatne River. A wooden aqueduct was built over the Līgatne River to supply water to the factory.
The Līgatne River is the fastest medium-length river in Latvia, with a total length of 31 kilometres. It originates from the Great Mežēkas Lake in the Nītaure Parish. The Līgatne River is highly suitable for fish spawning due to its clean and cool waters. Species such as salmon, grayling, brown trout, and sea trout spawn here. To help fish overcome man-made barriers like sluices and reach their spawning grounds upstream, a wooden fish passage was constructed near the ‘Anfabrik’ cliff in June 2013. In earlier times, when such a fish passage did not exist, nature enthusiasts could be seen in autumn using nets to help fish across the sluices. Salmon and sea trout spawning is typically observed in October and November when the water temperature drops to 2–6 degrees Celsius. The time it takes for fish to traverse the passage can vary, ranging from seven minutes to as long as three hours.
