About the reserve

  • The first nature reserve in the area was founded in 1939. Then named Kavastu Parish, it was the place where a bird reserve at the estuary of the River Koosa was founded. The Peipsiveere Nature Reserve was established in 2013 by combining three areas – Emajõe-Suursoo bog reserve (established in 1981), zoological-botanical reserve of Piirissaar (1919) and the limited-conservation area of the estuary of the River Emajõgi (2006).
  • Emajõe-Suursoo is the largest estuary maremma in Estonia. The surface of the bog is only 1–2 metres higher from Lake Peipus and the River Emajõgi, which causes it to flood an area of up to 18,000 ha during the high waters of spring.
  • All the rivers and lakes in the reserve are important spawning areas for the fish of Lake Peipus.
  • Nine amphibian species have been found in the reserve, the rarest of them are the common spadefoot and the European green toad.
  • Eagles primarily connected to the landscape are nesting in the reserve: the white-tailed eagle, osprey and golden eagle. In addition to eagles, the reserve is an area of occupancy for the black grouse, spotted crake and Eurasian bittern.
  • The natural values of the reserve have also been recognised internationally. Emajõe-Suursoo and Piirissaar are wetlands of international importance, a part of the Ramsar Site since 1997. The reserve belongs to the area of conservation and hosting birds in the Natura 2000 network and is an internationally important bird area (IBA) due to the abundance of migratory birds.

Jan Siimson Praaga külaThe village Praaga. Photo by Jan Siimson

Emajõe Suursoo is an important nesting area for the Osprey. Photo: Uku Paal