Matsalu National Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matsalu National Park |
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| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
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| Location | Estonia |
| Nearest city | Lihula |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 486.4 km² (120,192 acres) |
| Established | 1957 |
Matsalu National Park (previously Matsalu Nature Reserve, Estonian: Matsalu rahvuspark, often just Matsalu) is a nature reserve and national park situated in Lääne County, Estonia. Matsalu is one of the biggest and most important autumn stopping grounds for migratory birds in Europe.
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[edit] History
Scientific research started in Matsalu around 1870, when Valerian Russow, the curator of the the Natural History Museum of University of Tartu, gave a short overview of birds near Matsalu Bay.[1] In 1928–1936 Eerik Kumari researched birds in Matsalu and suggested a creation of the bird protection area there in 1936.[1]
Scientific research became regular in 1945, when Institute of Botany and Zoology of the Estonian Academy of Sciences established a research base in Penijõe.[2]
Matsalu Nature Reserve was founded in 1957, mainly to protect nesting, moulting and migratory birds. First permanent workers (administrators and scientists) started in 1958 and Penijõe research base became the administrative center of the newly created nature reserve.[1] Estonian Bird Ringing Centre (Estonian: Rõngastuskeskus), the coordinator of bird ringing in Estonia, is also located in Penijõe.[3]
In 1976 Matsalu was included in the list of wetlands of international importance under International Convention on the Protection of Wetlands (Ramsar Convention). [4]
In 2003, the European Diploma of Protected Areas was awarded to Matsalu Nature Reserve, as a recognition of the Council of Europe to Matsalu Nature Reserve for their success in preserving the diversity of habitats and the numerous species of birds and other biota groups in the nature reserve. Matsalu is the first and only nature reserve in Estonia to hold the European Diploma.[5][6]
In 2004 Matsalu Nature Reserve along with surrounding areas became Matsalu National Park.[7][8]
[edit] Nature
Matsalu National Park covers a 486.4 km² (188 square miles) land and water area encompassing Matsalu Bay along with the delta of the Kasari River and the surrounding areas — floodplain and coastal meadows, reedbeds and woodlands, and also a part of the Väinameri Sea bordering the bay, including more than 40 islands.[7]
Matsalu Bay is shallow, brackish and rich in nutrients. The length of the bay is 18 km (11.2 mi), width 6 km (3.7 mi) but average depth only 1.5 metres (5 ft) (maximum 3.5 m (11 ft)).[7][1]
Kasari River is the biggest of several rivers that run into Matsalu Bay. Delta of the Kasari River is not in its natural condition due dredging in 1930—1960. Reeds and rushes surrounding the main channel are expanding westwards up to 100 m/328 ft every year.[7]
The rivers carry large quantities of nutrient-rich sediments into the bay from an over 3,500 km² (1,350 sq mi) drainage basin. The sediments are deposited in river estuaries, allowing reedbeds to expand.[8]
A total of 275 bird species have been recorded in Matsalu, among which 175 are nesting and 33 transmigrant waterfowl. 49 species of fish and 47 species of mammals are registered in the area of the nature reserve, along with 772 species of vascular plants.[8][7]
Every spring over two million waterfowl pass Matsalu, including 10,000—20,000 Bewick's Swans, 10,000 Greater Scaups, Common Goldeneyes, Tufted Ducks, Goosanders and many others. A colony of up to 20,000 Barnacle Geese, over 10,000 Greylag Geese and thousands of waders stop on the coastal pastures in spring. The most numerous birds of passage (around 1.6 million) are Long-tailed Ducks. Approximately 35,000—40,000 ducks feed in the reedbeds in spring.[8][7]
In autumn, about 300,000 migratory waterfowl pass Matsalu. The wetland is known as the biggest autumn stopping ground of Common Cranes in Europe. The highest recorded number of cranes has been 23,000.[8][9]
[edit] Matsalu International Nature Film Festival
Matsalu International Nature Film Festival (Estonian: Matsalu loodusfilmide festival) is held every autumn in nearby Lihula town. The festival is organized by the non-profit organization MTÜ Matsalu Loodusfilmide Festival, which was set up in late 2003.[10]
The first Matsalu Nature Film Festival was held on October 3–5 2003 in Lihula with a competitive program of 23 films from 7 countries. More than 2500 people visited the festival that year. The second festival was held on September 23–25 2004, with participants from 14 countries, a competitive program of 35 films and around 5000 visitors. The third festival took place on September 22–25 2005 with a competitive program of 39 films from 16 countries and over 7000 visitors. The fourth festival, held on September 21–24 in 2006, had 21 participating countries and 41 competing films. The fifth Matsalu Nature Film Festival was held on September 19–23 2007 and had more than 7000 visitors.[10][11]
Organizers admit that as the festival is held on the territory of a nature reserve, it cannot grow much larger in a little town and therefore plan to bring mostly European nature documentaries to the festival, at the same time not forgetting the human-related topics.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d (Estonian) Väljal, Enno (1980). Matsalu roostikus, randadel ja vetel. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat.
- ^ Carp, Eric (1980). Directory of Wetlands of International Importance in the Western Palearctic. Gland, Switzerland: World Conservation Union (IUCN), 452–453. ISBN 2-880-32300-2.
- ^ (Estonian) Rõngastuskeskus (HTML). Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ The Annotated Ramsar List: Estonia (HTML). The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Retrieved on 2007-10-12.
- ^ Matsalu Nature Reserve rewarded by the European Diploma of Protected Areas (HTML). Estonian Ministry of Environment: News 2003. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ Matsalu Nature Reserve in Estonia rewarded by the European Diploma of Protected Areas (HTML). European Council. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e f Matsalu National Park (HTML). Official home page. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e West-Estonian plains: Migratory birds and the Matsalu Nature Reserve (HTML). Estonica. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ (Estonian) Matsalus loendati ühe õhtuga üle 13 000 sookure ja hane (HTML). Postimees. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ a b c Matsalu International Nature Film Festival (HTML). Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ (Estonian) Matsalu loodusfilmide festivali tänavune peaauhind rändab Soome (HTML). Postimees. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official home page
- Matsalu International Nature Film Festival
- Birds of Matsalu (PDF)
- Plants of Matsalu (PDF)
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