Text legend
- distance km.
- tributary right - bold; italic; e.g. right Varene
- tributary left - bold; italic; e.g. left Vadakstis
- lake - e.g. the lake Aisetas
- forest
- bridge - bold; e.g. bridge.
- dam, weir - bold; e.g. dam.
- city, town, village - italic; e.g. left Balbieriškis.
- recommended place for put in.
- recommended place for take out.
- camp, good place to camp.
- attention; danger.
- hillfort.
Abbreviations
l. - left
max. - maximum
avg. - average
min. - minimum
S. - South
N. - Nord
W. -West
E. - East
km - kilometer
m - meter
s - second
l - litre
km ² - square kilometer
m³ - cubic meter
Classification of river difficulties
ZW - Quiet, running water. Clear, streamspeed up to 2 m/sec, without obstacles and rapids. Knowledge of essential contacts and driving of a ship, no risk at capsizing, easy selfrescue. Open ship with bags against submersion, life-waistcoat for youth.
WW 1 - Easy. Small rapids with regular waves, clear, narrow turning streams with new woods along banks. Knowledge of ship- ruling on running water, minimal risk while swimming, easy selfrescue. Ship secured against submersion, life-waistcoat and helmet recommended.
WW 2 - Slightly difficult. Bigger rapids with waves, wide good legible passages in more blocked waterbed, the waterbed is more narrow with small rapids, the quicker reactions are recommandable, The occasional obstacles are good to see and it is easy to avoid it (certain training is necessary), the inspection is not necessary, the risk while swimming is small, the selfrescue is possible, the help of friends does not matter. Knowledge of ship-ruling on rapid waters, the knowledge of landing while returning necessary, training and experience recommandable. Open ships good secured against submersion, better are closed ships, life-jacket, helmet.
WW 3 - Difficult. Rapids with higher irregular waves, easier rollers and middle blocked terrain, rapids in turning water, smaller clearness, narrow unclear places with obstacles. On a river with higher passage across can be found also sharp edges (turning points) and "cauliflowers“ (karfioly) in 'returning manoeuvre“, but there are not many. It is possible to avoid more difficult places. The inspection is recommandable in places where we are going down for the first time or there are oft changes (trees). The danger of injuries while swimming is not critical yet, selfrescue is possible to be done, but help from friends is good, otherwise you have to swimm for longer time. Knowledge of technics as well as of tactics of ride on wild water, practise, necessity of quick ruling of a ship on such type of water.
WW 4 - Very difficult. Great and hard rapids with big waves, rollers, 'cauliflowers“, whirlpools, water multitudes on obstacles, hard blocked waterbed with narrow passages with scales and slippings, less clear but foreseen. The enormous waves and rollers can occure, however, you have to go through. The inspection is necessary in case of the first ride and always recommandable. The risk for swimmers is middle up to high, selfrescue is complicated. The help of friends is necessary but the experience is asked for. The complex knowledge of technics and tactics on heavy water, training and experience are necessary. The terrain is requiring quick manoeuvres under pressure. The necessity to run into returning passage and think over the next procedure. Rapids can move up to the risk-limit. The Eskimo turn is a must. All as in case of WW III, practice in rescue and use of equipment, psychical resistance.
WW 5 - Extreme difficult. Great waves, rollers, high scales, big speed of stram, extreme immense blocks. The rider is exposed to high risk. The rapids are immediately starting, turning manoeuvres are few and it is necessary to know it in advance. The inspection is very, very important but iit is hard. The swimmimg is very danger , the rescue is problematic. The reactions under the pressure as quick as lightning required, the course in special groups with enormous experience and practise is a must. A must is also the knowledge of Eskimo turn as well as 100%, equipment and practice in rescue activity and guarantee. Same as in case of WW IV, stable experts groups, high psychical and physical condition.
WW 6 - Limit of passage. Troubles with water terrain and obstacles is multiplied, passage is possible under certain water situation (circumstations) and ideal conditions including a special preparation for a passage.