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 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. 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...
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