Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Põltsamaa Rural Municipality, Estonia
The Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve is a large protected area in central Estonia combining five extensive bogs with interconnected rivers and floodplains. Thick forests cover much of the 342 square kilometers, creating a landscape where water and woodland are tightly interwoven.
Glass factories operated near Utsali in the 19th century, shaping the area before it served as a Soviet Air Force bombing range from 1952 to 1992. Once military use ended, the land returned to nature and gained protected status.
The communities around the reserve practice traditional fishing and farming methods passed down through generations, keeping local environmental knowledge alive. These ways of life shape how people living near the borders of the protected area relate to the landscape today.
The reserve is accessible through marked hiking trails, including a water route spanning about 75 kilometers. Observation towers and study paths let visitors watch wildlife from safe vantage points.
The reserve holds an unusual mix of rare predators like wolves, bears, and lynx despite having very few human residents. This rare balance between abundant wildlife and minimal human settlement makes it an exceptional example of functional wild habitat.
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