With an area of 420 ha, the mysterious Lake Zebrus is both the largest and most legendary lake in the Dobele Municipality. The writer Kārlis Ieviņš described it as a legendary lake the shores of which are surrounded by the magic of the life of the ancient, free Latvian people. With a length of 3.6 km, a width of 1.75 km, and the deepest point that reaches 3.9 m, the lake is a popular place for recreational activities and fishing. At some places, the shores of the lake rise up to 30 metres above the water level. An ancient Latvian castle had once stood on the slumbering Ezerlūķi Hillfort at the foot of the lake. Legend has it that a ‘Path of Gods’ or ‘Path of Priests’ in form of a long rocky shoal had extended from the Elkus Hill across the lake. In times of danger, the priests would rush along this path to find shelter in the Ezerlūķi Castle. It is being rumoured that even deer and elk can now cross the shoal. A couple of years ago, while looking for the mysterious shoal, hydro-archaeologists really discovered a naturally formed ridge of rocks with a width of 5–20 m and a length of 300–400 m at the depth of 0.5–2 m.
About a kilometre south of the Ezerlūķi Hillfort, in the forest near the lake, you will find the Smiltnieki Hillfort. Research suggests that it used to be a shelter. However, some claim that witches were burned there. A story has it that in the wintertime it would howl scaring people away. It is supposed that this eerie howling is caused by the formation of cracks in the ice. The lake is popular with the fishermen, but those fond of bathing can enjoy the recreation areas around the lake. The lake is included in the protected area called ‘The Lakes Zebrus and Svēte’, and it has been protected since 1957.
The Lake Svēte is situated nearby and separated from the Lake Zebrus by the Svēte Marsh with a width of 0.5 km. In earlier times, both lakes used to form one lake. On the north-eastern shore, there is a protected natural monument – the Zebrus Springs.
