Coastal fortifications in Carnikava Bunkeris

It is located in Carnikava at the mouth of Gauja in the Gulf of Riga Sea.

The reinforced concrete fortifications, or caponieri, built by the Sapier Regiment of the Latvian Army (1938) were an element of the coastal defense system of the Latvian Army. Designed for firing at the enemy with machine guns in two different directions. They were secret and hard-to-see military facilities.

After World War 1, the Latvian army did not yet have a strong navy. The sea border was long and coastal defense became difficult. The main emphasis was placed on the defense of Riga from the attacks of the enemy fleet. The artillery of Daugavgrīva and Mangaļsala had to shoot enemy ships that would try to break into the mouth of the Daugava, while the support points at Lielupe (in Jūrmala) and the mouth of Gauja into the sea (in Carnikava) would stop the enemy's landing. There was one specially equipped armored train for coastal defense, which would provide artillery support and additional forces in the direction of Saulkrasti or Jūrmala. The purpose of fortifying strategic locations was to increase the effectiveness of weapons by using special structures and terrain advantages. Coastal defense fortifications were deployed over a wide area to reduce the impact of an adversary in the event of war.

Nowadays, several rare and well-preserved fortification structures can be seen in the territory of the "Pijeūra" Nature Park.