Zaķusala

Zaķusala (English: 'Hare Island') is one of several islands in the Daugava river in the central part of Riga, the capital of Latvia.[1] A part of the city's Salas neighbourhood, Zaķusala is home to the Riga Radio and TV Tower, which was completed in 1986 and the Latvian Television building, also completed the same year. The tower is the tallest structure in the Baltic states. On the northern tip of the island, alongside the railway trestles are remnants of the Iron Bridge that was blown up during the Second World War.

Zaķusala
Zaķusala from the air
Geography
LocationSalas, Riga, Latvia
Coordinates56°55′53″N 24°07′20″E
Administration
Latvia

In maps of the city of Riga in the start of the 20th century, the island is usually referred by the name "Hasenholm".[2] This name is also used in the story of Amfian Gerasimov, a righteous among the nations that saved a Jewish family that live on this island[3]

  • View of the island from the TV Tower
    View of the island from the TV Tower
  • Along Zaķusalas krastmala (Zaķusala Embankment)
    Along Zaķusalas krastmala (Zaķusala Embankment)
  • Northern tip of the island
    Northern tip of the island
  • A zoom in on the island of Zaķusala (then Hasenholm) from a Map of Lita, Latvia, 1914.
    A zoom in on the island of Zaķusala (then Hasenholm) from a Map of Lita, Latvia, 1914.
  • Engraving from collection of Johann Christoph Brotze, depicting the 1701 battle of Swedish King Carl XII against Saxons before Riga during the Northern War. The viewer is facing South. Islands in the Daugava are clearly visible. Many of them though have either disappeared or have joined with other islands since then. Modern day Zaķusala is located where there is an island group in the top part of the landscape.

References
  1. "Hare Island". GeoNames. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  2. 1914 Riga Altstadt map by Karl Baedeker
  3. "Amfian Gerasimov - "Last Act of Grace"". Yad Vashem.


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