Gulf of Riga
bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia
The Gulf of Riga, also known as the Bay of Riga or the Gulf of Livonia, is a bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia.
The island of Saaremaa (Estonia) partially separates it from the rest of the Baltic Sea. The main connection between the gulf and the Baltic Sea is the Irbe Strait.
The Gulf of Riga, as a sub-basin of the Baltic, also includes the Väinameri Sea in the West Estonian archipelago.
Geography
The northern part of the Gulf of Riga is shallow, the southern part is slightly deeper. The deepest point is opposite Mērsrags (66 meters). In the central part of the gulf there is a bank, the highest threshold of which protrudes from the sea forms the island of Ruhnu.
Extent
The International Hydrographic Organization defines the Gulf of Riga's western limit as "A line running from Lyser Ort (57°34'N), in Latvia, to the South extreme of Saaremaa, through this island to Pammana (22°34'E), thence to Emmaste Point, the S extreme of Hiiumaa, through Hiiumaa to Tahkuna Point, the North extreme thereof, and on to Spithamn Point in Estonia".
Islands
Major islands in the gulf include Saaremaa, Kihnu, and Ruhnu, which are all in Estonian territory. Kihnu covers an area of 16.4 square kilometres (6.3 sq mi).
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Gulf of Riga” is bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Gulf, Riga and Baltic, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Maps, plans, fabric surveys and administrative records can establish how the site’s name, extent and function changed over time. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 25, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q174731. VIAF identifies the subject as 234796330. The Library of Congress control number is sh91003503. Authority coordinates are 57.626, 23.585. 2 of 3 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Gulf of Riga”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Gulf of Riga primary sources, Gulf of Riga archive and Gulf research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Gulf of Riga”?
- Which authority defined the place, boundary or structure at the relevant date?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Gulf of Riga” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.