The area - Lake Pape

In the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

Lake Pape is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, in the Liepaja region, southwestern Latvia. A 12-square kilometre, 0.3 metre deep coastal lagoon, Lake Pape was included i n the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 2003. The surrounding area has been established as a nature park, covering 518 square kilometres.

A forbidden military Soviet zone until 1990, the area around Lake Pape features a uniquely rich variety of natural ecosystems: coastal lagoons and wetlands, high peat bog, sand beaches with shifting dunes, forest, and wet meadows and grasslands.

Important for migratory birds
Lake Pape is also an important resting point for migratory birds on the Western Palaearctic continental flyway that connects the tundra and taiga belts of Russia with northwest Europe. It is the major migratory avenue for an estimated 5.1 million herbivorous water birds (swans, geese and ducks) during spring and autumn.

In total, 271 bird species have been recorded around Lake Pape, 15 of which are on the European Red List of endangered bird species. They include the lesser-spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), the white-tailed eagle (Haliaetus albicilla), the corncrake (Crex crex), the lesser-white fronted goose (Anser erythropus), and the great snipe (Gallinago media).

Diverse flora and fauna
The habitats of the Lake Pape region are predominantly in a semi-natural state. The flora and fauna are native to the area and characteristic of European lowlands. Animal species to be found here include wolf, lynx, otter, beaver, moose, red deer, roe deer, and wild boar.

Only 200 people live here
Approximately 200 people live in the area, in two small villages and surrounding farms. In the last 100 years, the population has declined due to young people going to towns, and almost all farms have been abandoned.

Lake Pape natural ecosystems: the lagoon
Originally, there were two lagoons, or inshore lakes, in this area - the Pape and Nida lagoons, which formed after the last ice age. Because Lake Nida had no connection to the neighbouring sea, which means that the water could not flow freely, it eventually became a bog. Lake Pape was fed by two small rivers, which carried additional water. As a result, the lagoon's water level rose until the streams between the lake and the sea made a connection.

Lake Pape natural ecosystems: the bog
The Nida bog developed in the overgrown Nida lagoon. A low bog - or grass bog - appeared first. Over time, the layer of peat became thicker and turned into a high bog - or moss-covered bog. Peat originates when organic matter, such as dead animal or plants, decays in high humidity. Because of the thickness of the peat layer - 5 metres in the case of the Nida bog - plants do not grow well on high bogs. Tree roots, for example, usually cannot reach the ground water. Rain is the main supplier of nutrients, which favour moss growth. Nida bog is Latvia's only bog located near the sea.

Lake Pape natural ecosystems: the dunes
Dunes are formed by the wind when it blows sand washed up by the sea. When the sea runs short of sand to wash up, the dunes start to disperse. Both formation and dispersion of dunes are natural processes. In some areas, they are balanced. In the Lake Pape area, the dispersion process prevails, so dunes shift slowly. Dunes can be found mixed with forests or bogs.

Lake Pape natural ecosystems: the forests
Different types of forests can be found around Lake Pape. On sandy soils, close to the sea, coniferous trees, such as pines prevail, while wetter, over-flooded soils favour black alders. Other trees such as oaks and hazels are closely associated with grasslands. All state forests surrounding Lake Pape are certified according to the criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Lake Pape natural ecosystems: the grasslands
Once used as pastures, the grasslands surrounding Lake Pape are not artificially fertilized, and therefore have a wide variety of plant species, which attract numerous butterflies and other insects, which in turn are caught by birds. Such meadows are rare in Latvia and almost half of the plants protected in the country grow in these ecosystems.