The arches of Lielā Ellīte (Liepa Ellīte, Devil’s Furnace) are the only natural sandstone arches in Latvia. It consists of a 23 m long cave, an arcade and a spring. Three arches are located next to each other, forming an arcade. The total floor area of the cave is 55m2.
Ellīte could be 6,5 – 7 thousand. The cave and the spring have been an important sacred site. The spring has created the whole unique Ellite system. Here, underground water concentrates above the impermeable, sloping clay, and when the waters combine, they flow through the sandstone and wash it away.
Lielā Ellīte is a protected geological natural monument, located in the Gauja National Park.
Photos from the archives of Cēsis TIC and Priekuļi TIC