Lielupe is the largest river in Zemgale, starting at Bauska, meeting the Mēmele and Mūsa rivers, and flowing into the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. The river is only ~1 m deep in the upper reaches, 8-12 m downstream of Jelgava, and 15-20 m downstream.

Lielupe is only 119 km long but has 250 tributaries. The Lielupe has a very low drop of only 10.8m, so you practically can’t feel the current, so you can paddle both upwards and downwards.

From Bauska to Mežotne Castle Hill, the Lielupe flows through a valley formed in dolomites. Water tourists will find the Lielupe more interesting in the upper part, where the banks are steeper, and rapids can be felt at lower water (some 27 km section from Bauska to Emburga). Downstream of Mežotne, the valley widens, and the river flows slowly through a wide valley into the Zemgale plain and the seaside lowlands.

The river is navigable throughout the whole season.