Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve
Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve | |
---|---|
Location | Estonia |
Nearest city | Tartu |
Coordinates | 58°28′26″N 26°10′11″E / 58.47389°N 26.16972°E |
Area | 342 km2 (85,000 acres) |
Established | 1994 |
[1] | |
Official name | Alam-Pedja |
Designated | 17 June 1997 |
Reference no. | 905[1] |
Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve (
Alam-Pedja is situated in Central Estonia northeast of
The name Alam-Pedja, translating as Lower-Pedja, comes from the nature reserve's location on the lower reaches of the
History
The first human inhabitants came to the area of the present nature reserve in the Stone Age. Permanent settlements were established on the shores of Lake Big Võrtsjärv, predecessor of the current lake, which covered large lowland areas to the north and northeast. Fishing was the main occupation which attracted inhabitants to this area for centuries.[4]
Human activities influenced the area most in the 19th century, when interest in using its natural resources (mainly wood and fish) grew significantly. The main driver behind exploiting the large forests of the area was
From 1952 to 1992
The nature reserve was officially established in 1994 with the help of
Currently the nature reserve has less than 10 permanent inhabitants, and no roads traverse the area.[3] Before the Second World War, 120 people lived in Palupõhja, a village on the left bank of Emajõgi; in 2001, it had five.[4]
Nature
Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve covers large portion of the Võrtsjärv Basin, a vast bowl-like lowland area, which following the
The nature reserve is largely a wetland, including a complex of five large bogs and floodplains of the large rivers (Emajõgi, Põltsamaa and Pedja). Wetlands cover 82% of the nature reserve's territory.
Most of the forest in Alam-Pedja are also wet. Alluvial broadleaf and old-growth forests are particularly valuable.
Alam-Pedja is the most important breeding area for great snipe in Estonia and the Baltic countries.[5] The greater spotted eagle is another threatened bird species breeding in the area.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "Alam-Pedja". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-9985-881-56-9. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ^ a b c d e f "Official website of Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve". Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
- ^ ISBN 9985-881-02-8.
- ^ ISBN 1-84162-194-3.
alam-pedja.
- ^ "History of ELF". Estonian Fund for Nature. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
- ^ ISBN 9985-50-185-3. Archived from the originalon 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- ISBN 9949-11-028-9.