Province of Southern Finland,
South Karelia Region
Municipality of Parikkala (www.parikkala.fi, in Finnish)
Area: 445 hectares
The area is managed by Metsähallitus.
The mysterious blowing call of the Great Bittern
(Botaurus stellaris) and the chorus of nocturnal songsters is a musical
experience you will not soon forget. Siikalahti offers a chance to experience
it. Situated on the eastern Finland migration route Siikalahti wetland is filled
with a flurry of activity from April from November. During the course of a year
hikers have the opportunity to observe 200 different bird species and during one
day possibly as many as a hundred.
Siikalahti is the overgrown eastern bay of Lake Simpelejärvi. There are an
exceptionally large amount of birds nesting in the area as well as stopping
there during migration. This ensures that the area is Finland’s most valuable
inland bird wetland. It is the best lake in Finland for bird watching.
Siikalahti is also considered a significant bird wetland internationally. The
area has been restored and repaired with funds from the EU
LIFE-Nature Project (www.metsa.fi, in Finnish)) during 2001-2003. The aim of
the project was to slow the area’s overgrowing and increasing the area’s
biodiversity.
Take a look at Siikalahti Wetland related products at the Outdoors.fi
online shop (kauppa.luontoon.fi).
