Puhatu Nature Reserve is a nature reserve situated eastern

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

, in

Ida-Viru County Ida-Viru County ( or ; ) is one of the 15 counties of Estonia. It is the most northeastern part of the country. The county contains large deposits of oil shale the main mineral mined in Estonia. Oil shale is used in the production of shale oil ...

. The nature reserve is centred on one of the largest wetlands in Estonia, composed of

mire A peatland is a type of wetland whose soils consist of Soil organic matter, organic matter from decaying plants, forming layers of peat. Peatlands arise because of incomplete decomposition of organic matter, usually litter from vegetation, du ...

s, alluvial forest and the Poruni River. The wetland has decreased due to

oil shale Oil shale is an organic-rich Granularity, fine-grained sedimentary rock containing kerogen (a solid mixture of Organic compound, organic chemical compounds) from which liquid hydrocarbons can be produced. In addition to kerogen, general compos ...

mining, peat production and drainage. The nature reserve is the home of 21 different protected species of plants, and a number of unusual mammals and birds, including three kinds of eagle. The reserve also serves as an important stopover for migratory species. A study trail has been constructed for visitors.

References

Nature reserves in Estonia Geography of Hiiu County {{Estonia-geo-stub