Soviet air force target firing ground in Zvārde
Infrastructure
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Zvārde landfill is located in Zvārde municipality, Saldus region. It is a former military aviation training ground of the USSR, covering more than 24 000 hectares.
The territory of the former airfield is home to several sites: the Officers' Kurgan, the ruins of the Zvārde and Ķērkliņi churches, the Rīteļi cemetery, the former army base "Lapsas", and others. Until the Second World War, the site of the observation tower was home to the "Vairogi" house. During the construction of the polygon, what was left of the farm - walls, the remains of the apple orchard, and part of the ruins of the Veczvārde manor - was piled together to form a mound and the observation tower was built on it. It was used as an observation point for coordinating the army's training manoeuvres. This place is popularly known as Kurgan. The mound overlooks the former training ground and the wooded areas of Zvārde Nature Park and Nature Reserve. A good place for bird watching. The surroundings of Kurgāns are not landscaped.
Used sources and references:
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/zvardes-merkpoligons-4c93587aba324c22b1fd7b027e184a50?fbclid=IwAR2VWGj2KXJTNZJBYDa1I57b6GKy5AbPykpLQhtQQGJhMiLvcrXV3I95--4
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