Vidzeme is the largest historic region of Latvia and hosts the capital city of Riga. As a region, Vidzeme is known for Latvia’s longest river Gauja (460 km), highest mountain Gaizins (311,6 m asl), biggest cave Gutmana (500 m3, 10 m high, 12 m wide and 18.8 m deep) and the first Latvian national park—the Gauja National Park. Vidzeme lies next to the Gulf of Riga and has sandy beaches, on occasion some stony bays and sandstone cliffs. Its inland, on the other hand, has beautiful forests, rivers and lakes. Vidzeme is also the location with a wealth of ancient Latvian castle mounds and remains—places of cultural interest which gives a notion of Latvian medieval past. Vidzeme is a destination for those who enjoy hiking (alone or taking family and friends along), water tourism and other ways of actively spending time—on ski or bobsleigh track.