Gulbene
The district of Gulbene lies in the northeastern part of Latvia and borders Aluksne, Balvi, Madona, Cesis and Valka. The landscape is diversified by sporadic low hills, but much of the area is flat and swampy, especially around the river Pededze. As a result, the region is home to lots of rare nesting birds, which are protected in reserves. An interesting tourist attraction is the Gulbene-Aluksne narrow-gauge railway, the only working facility of its type in the Baltic region. Numerous manors, museums and churches add the cultural heritage of the district. The principal town is Gulbene, with a population of about 9,000 inhabitants.