Zaķusala
{{Short description|Island in Riga, Latvia}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Zaķusala
| native_name =
| image_name = Luftbild Riga.jpg
| image_caption = Zaķusala from the air
| image_alt =
| area_ha =
| location = Salas, Riga, Latvia
| coordinates = {{Coord|56|55|53|N|24|07|20|E|display=it|region:LV_type:isle}}
| archipelago =
| country = Latvia
| population =
| density_km2 =
| module = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=12 |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
}}
Zaķusala (Hare Island) is one of several islands in the Daugava River in the central part of Riga, the capital of Latvia.{{cite web|url=https://www.geonames.org/453993/zakusala.html|title=Hare Island|website=GeoNames|access-date=October 25, 2021}} A part of the city's Salas neighbourhood, Zaķusala is home to the Riga Radio and TV Tower, which was completed in 1986 and the Latvian Television building, also completed the same year. The tower is the tallest structure in the Baltic states. On the northern tip of the island, alongside the railway trestles are remnants of the Iron Bridge that was blown up during the Second World War.
In maps of the city of Riga in the start of the 20th century, the island is usually referred by the name "Hasenholm".1914 Riga Altstadt map by Karl Baedeker This name is also used in the story of Amfian Gerasimov, a Righteous Among the Nations that saved a Jewish family that live on this island{{Cite web |title=Amfian Gerasimov – "Last Act of Grace" |url=https://www.yadvashem.org/he/education/educational-materials/learning-environment/memory-righteous/stories/gerasimov.html |website=Yad Vashem}}
Gallery
File:Latvijas Televīzijas ēka 06 2005.jpg|Latvian Television building
File:Zaķusala fom Riga tower.jpg|View of the island from the TV Tower
File:RigaZakusalasKrastmala(2).jpg|Along Zaķusalas krastmala (Zaķusala Embankment)
File:Zakjusalas ziemelju gals.jpg|Northern tip of the island with artificial Sterna nesting spot
File:Map of Zaķusala, Lita, Latvia, 1914.png|A zoom in on the island of Zaķusala (then Hasenholm) from a Map of Lita, Latvia, 1914.
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070323220735/http://www3.acadlib.lv/lielbildes/sejums_NR2/Bm02209abm.jpg Engraving] from collection of Johann Christoph Brotze, depicting the 1701 battle of Swedish King Carl XII against Saxons before Riga during the Northern War. The viewer is facing South. Islands in the Daugava are clearly visible. Many of them though have either disappeared or have joined with other islands since then. Modern day Zaķusala is located where there is an island group in the top part of the landscape.