The park is set in the Courland Peninsula, at the point of cape Kolka that marks the end of the Irbe Strait, the southern way out of the bay of Riga.

Further back in time, 40 M years ago, the climate was sub-tropical; fossilized amber from that period is still found by the sea-shore after heavy storms have stirred the sediments on the sea bed.

[2] Slītere National Park is famous for the broadleaf forests covering former coastline and for the unique complex of dunes (called kangari in Latvian) and depressions (vigas) featuring inter-dune bogs.

[4] For example, its sea shore is a stopover in late Autumn for the bar-tailed godwit on its way south from the northern tundra; the great grey owl migrates here from Russia in winter.

Along the coast, Baltic grey seals establish their nurseries under the iced-over sea in winter; this is their most southerly location in the world.