Endla Nature Reserve is a

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

situated in central

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and t ...

. The Endla nature reserve protects a fresh-water system of

mire A mire, peatland, or quagmire is a wetland area dominated by living peat-forming plants. Mires arise because of incomplete decomposition of organic matter, usually litter from vegetation, due to water-logging and subsequent anoxia. All types o ...

bog A bog or bogland is a wetland that accumulates peat as a deposit of dead plant materials often mosses, typically sphagnum moss. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and muskeg; a ...

springs Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a he ...

and rivulets. As such, it plays an important role in recharging the waters of the

Põltsamaa River Põltsamaa (german: Oberpahlen) is a town in Põltsamaa Parish, Jõgeva County, Estonia. The town is situated on the Põltsamaa River, and features a 13th-century castle. Gallery Põltsamaa Jõgi.jpg, Põltsamaa River Põltsamaa Vabaduss� ...

. The flora is dominated by

pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family (biology), family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanic ...

shrubs and

reed bed A reedbed or reed bed is a natural habitat found in floodplains, waterlogged depressions and estuaries. Reedbeds are part of a succession from young reeds colonising open water or wet ground through a gradation of increasingly dry ground. As ...

s. Several threatened species of

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

can be found in the nature reserve. Rare or threatened birds also use the area as breeding ground. Facilities for visitors include a visitors' centre, towers for bird watching and nature trails.

Gallery

Endla nature reserve, boardwalk and observation tower in Jõgevamaa, Estonia (spring 2023).jpg, Endla nature reserve, boardwalk and observation tower in Jõgevamaa, Estonia (spring 2023) Männikjärve raba hommik..jpg, Männikjärve bog EndlaRaba2.jpg, View of Männikjärve bog from the south tower Hommik laukaserval, Endla LK.jpg, Early morning in Endla Sopa allikas1.jpg, Sopa spring

References

{{Nature reserves of Estonia Nature reserves in Estonia Protected areas established in 1985 1985 establishments in the Soviet Union Järva Parish Jõgeva Parish Põltsamaa Parish Väike-Maarja Parish Ramsar sites in Estonia Geography of Järva County Geography of Jõgeva County Geography of Lääne-Viru County Tourist attractions in Järva County Tourist attractions in Jõgeva County Tourist attractions in Lääne-Viru County

Gallery

See also

References