VENTSPILS, formerly Windau, a seaport and sea-bathing resort of Latvia, at the mouth of a river of the same name, on the Baltic Sea, in 57° 24' N., 21° 32' E. Its harbour is protected by two long breakwaters, and has ample quay space with a depth of 23 to 3o ft. There is a 45 ton electric crane and the port is ice free all the year round. The harbour is being deepened in order to make it accessible for large ocean steamers. There is a grow
ing transit trade with Soviet Russia. Its imports are coal and transit goods of various description and its exports timber, pit props, butter, flax, hemp and grain. The castle dates from 1290, and the town itself from 1343. Pop. (193o) 17,253.