DAUDZESES ELLITES (POKI) SPRING

The sacred spring of the Nature Reserve “Ellītes purvs“ (“Elytes Bog“) is an ancient cult place of the Selonians, inhabited by the Selonians and their predecessors since the beginning of our era. Healthy, sulfur-saturated spring water with a specific taste is widely used by locals even nowadays. A kind of rotten eggs smell, caused by hydrogen sulfide, disappears with time - evaporates. The spring is in a humid, viscous area, so it is well maintained for the convenience of visitors, with an information stand and a rest area. The path around the spring is laid out with dolomite slabs, and a ledge was also made to make it more convenient to fetch water. The forest in the Nature Reserve and its surroundings is recognized as a natural biotope, where rare, protected plants grow - common spotted orchid and Poa remota (a species of grass), as well as other rare and endangered species of plants, animals, lichens, and mushrooms. It is said that you should go to the spring with good thoughts and not wish anyone bad, otherwise the healing water may end up harming you.  However, if you wash your eyes and face in the spring before sunrise on March 25, the day of Mara (Kāpostmāre), you will be alert, cheerful and active throughout the year, and will not be drowsy. Ancient beliefs related to Easter say: “On this night, they usually came in groups of three, four or more. They also came from further by carriages. Those who came to the spring did not stay long - they washed their eyes Jaunjelgava - Skrīveri 1. Daudzeses Ellites (Poki) Spring 2. Grūbele (Grūbļa) Hillfort 3. Blue Hill (also Blue Hill of Pikster) 4. Kraukļi Stone 5. Aizkraukle Hillfort Tourism Information Center: www.visitaizkraukle.lv JAUNJELGAVA and surroundings Daudzeva S ērene Sece P76 P76 P76 P86 P86 P86 P86 P87 P87 V927 V927 V928 V931 V950 V956 V956 V958 V954 A i z k ra u k l e — Jēkabpils Aizkraukle — Jēkabpils Aizkraukle — Jēkabpils Bau s ka — Aizkraukle Sērene — Kaln ei ši Sērene — Kalnieši Sērene — Kalnieši Sērene — Kalnieši Tenči - Daudzeva - Lāči - Vīgante - Zilkalne Tenči - Daudzeva - Lāči - Vīgante - Zilkalne Tenči - Daudzeva - Lāči - Vīgante - Zilkalne Tenči - Daudzeva - Lāči - Vīgante - Zilkalne Da u d z eva — Vi e s īt e — Ap s erde Daudzeva — Viesīt e — Apserde Daudzeva — Viesīte — Apserde Sece — Seces stacija Parģīzes – Ta sl ņi i Gais dabas liegums „Aklais purvs” Tirais purvs Lāčpurva dīķi N ātraines dīķis Rube ņ a dīķis Iecavas dīķis Lauce La u ce Lauce Lauce L auce Ie c a va Ie cava Iecava Iecava Viesīte Viesīte Viesīte Viesīte Viesīte D augava Daugava Aizkra u k l es novads Aizkraukle Jaunjelgava Jumprava Skrīveri S ērene P80 P80 A6 A6 A6 P32 P32 P76 P76 P85 P86 P87 P87 P87 P87 V918 V931 V935 V950 V958 V973 V974 V974 V996 V996 V954 V988 Tīnūži — Koknese Tīn ū ži — Tīnūži — Ko kn ese Tīnūži — Koknese Tīnūži — Koknese Rīgas HES — Jaunjelgava Augšlīgatne — Skrīveri Aizkraukle — Jēkabpils Bauska — Aizkraukle Bau s ka — Aizkraukle B a u s ka — Ai zk ra u kl e Sērene — Kalnieši Sērene — Kalnieši Enerģētiķu iela Enerģētiķu iela Jekabp i ls ie la Daugavas iela Daugavas iela Daugavas iela Brīvīb a s ie l a eva - L Tenči - Daudzeva - Lāči - Vīgante - Zilkalne Taurkalne — Dobelnieki Og re–Viskāļi–Koknese nese Ogre –Vis kāļi-Koknese Ogre–Vi s kāļi-Ko kne s e Ogre–Viskāļi-Koknese Parģīzes – Ta sl ņi i Dzelmes — Veckrape Dzelmes — Veckrape Dzelmes — Veckrape Cebēni — Lēdmane Gaismas iela Aizkraukles purvs dabas liegums „Aizkraukles purvi un meži” dabas parks „Daugavas ieleja” Lobes ezers Maizīte Žīdupīte Plenupite Lobe Maizīte Lauce Lauce Karikste Daugava Dīvaja Iecava Brasla Brasla D augava Daugava D augava Daugava Brasla Maizīte Brasla o be Ieca Iecava Aizkraukles novads Aizkrauklesnovads Aizkraukles novads Aizkraukles novads Aizkraukl es novad s Aizkr a u kl es novads Ba uskas nova d s Ogres novads Ogres novads O g r e s n ovad s Ogres novads O g re s n ova d s Staburags Zilkalne S ēlpils Sece S ēlija A6 P75 P76 P76 P76 V803 V813 V815 V816 V926 V927 V928 V938 V938 V948 V956 V956 V956 Jēkabpils — Lietuvas robeža (Nereta) A i z k ra u k l e — Jēkabpils Aizkra u k l e — Jēka b p i l s Aizkraukle — Jēkabpils Aizkraukle — Jēka bp ils kabpils Tenči - Daudzeva - Lāči - Vīgante - Zilkalne — Apserde Daudzeva — Viesīte — Apserde Daudzeva — Viesīte — Apserde Daudzeva — Viesīte — Apserde Sēliaj – Sēlpils – Ošāni Sēlija – Sēlpils – Ošāni Ceļ i n ieki — Pļavnieki Sece — Seces stacija S u nākste — Zilkalne Sunākst e — Zilkal n e Vīgante – Zil kalne Vīgante –Zilkalne Sala —Zilkalne S ala — Z i l kalne Sa l a — Zilkalne Taborkalns 158 m Gusti ņ u kalns 128 m Š ūpo ļ u kalni ņ š 114 m dabas liegums Sl j dabas liegums „Rožu purvs” dabas liegums „Gargrodes purvs” dabas liegums „Šv ēri ņ u purvs” Šv ēri ņ u purvs Rožu purvs Piksteres ezers dabas liegums „Melnais purvs” Salu (Sarkan ūžu) purvs Vārnavas purvs dabas liegums „Klintaine” Vīķu ezers Lāčpurva dīķi Brežģ u purvs N ātraines dīķis Daugav Daugava a Daug ava Lauce Lauc e Viesīte Viesīte vāz L auce Piestiņa Piestiņa Jēka bpils n ovads Jēkabpils novads Jēkabp il s novad s Aizkraukl e s n ovads A zi kraukles novads Aizkrauk les novads Aizkrauk les novads 3 2 1 4 5 1 1 10 Latvia 11 Selonians S and faces, fetched water to take away, placed the sacrifice and went home... Girls used to listen to which side the dogs were barking or the rooster was crowing - that’s the side they would marry man from, and usually already in the same year. In Krustainė, Laidenė, Ziedainė, when going to the spring through Saint Jonas’ Festival, also known as Rasos (Dew Holiday), they always took a sacrifice (gift) with them - a cute cloth, a ball of yarn, a patterned ribbon, a coin or another cute thing. No one took the gifts left“. Another legend says that a very old Devil lived in the Elytes bog. He was not very angry, not trying to harm people, but he was very fond of drinking fun water, and he does so even now, anxiously listening to see if the rooster crows in any house...