Zurzu Lake

Lakes Zurzu is a pair of lakes on Rāznavas hills of the Latgales upland, in Ņukši parish of Ludza municipality. They are at 138.8 m above sea level. The lakes are in the same group with Lake Pildas and make a complex nature reserve.

The total basin of the lakes is 72.1 km² . The shores are sloping and steep. The bottom of the lakes is uneven and sandy. In Big Zurzu Lake (Lielais Zurzu) there are 2 islands – Ļubonu (Libānu) island (area: 1.3 ha) and Gorbu island (0.1 ha). The Small Zurzu Lake’s (Mazais Zurzu) shoreline is indented – it has many peninsulas and coves. The lakes are running-water lakes. The Līdūkšņa River flows into Big Zurzu Lake from the sout-east; the Buļļupe River flows from the lake to Small Zurzu Lake, which is located in the middle of the lake group, hence it is also called Lake Vidus or Middle Lake); the Sovānu River flows out of Small Zurzu Lake to Lake Pildas.

The lakes are eutrophic.

          Big Zurzu Lake/ Lake Lielais Zurzu

Area: 77.2 ha (with the islands 78.6 ha)

Length: 1.8 km, max. width: 0.8 km.

Average depth: 5.0 m, max. depth: 16.9 m.

Small Zurzu Lake/ Lake Mazais Zurzu

Area: 55.8 ha

Length: 1.1 km, max. width: 1.0 km.

Average depth: 3.5 m, max. depth: 7.2 m.

Latvijas daba. 6.sēj. – Rīga: Latvijas enciklopēdija, 1998. – P. 154.