Soomaa National Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Soomaa National Park
iucn_category =

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caption = Location of Soomaa National Park
locator_x = 144
locator_y = 107
location = Estonia
lat_degrees = 58
lat_minutes = 26
lat_seconds = 27
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 25
long_minutes = 6
long_seconds = 20
long_direction = E
area = convert|359|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on
established = December 8, 1993
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =

Soomaa National Park is national park in south-western Estonia. Soomaa (trans: Land of Bogs) certainly lives up to its name as it is a large complex (400 km²) of five extensive bogs, located in the catchment of one of the longest rivers in the country – the Pärnu River. Soomaa was included in the important nature protection areas of Europe in 1997 becoming a CORINE biotope area. Since June 17 1997 it is also in the Ramsar list of wetlands and in 1998 it was suggested that the Soomaa National Park should be included in the list of World Heritage Sites maintained by UNESCO.

The distinctive feature of the national park is its so-called fifth season – floods that regularly occur between winter and spring.

External links

* [http://www.soomaa.ee/ Soomaa National Park]
* [http://www.soomaa.com/ Canoeing trips in Soomaa National Park]
* [http://www.trekbaltics.com/ Guided adventure tours in Soomaa National Park and Estonia's other national parks]