Estonia Nature Western Estonia
Western Estonia
The Baltic Sea, the coastal islands and the River Kasari delta in the Gulf of Matsalu give the landscape of Western Estonia a special character. Despite its poor soil the area's rich flora developed under the influence of pasturing and mowing which has kept the areas plain and suitable for certain plant associations and as a nesting place for rare birds. The main semi-natural landscape types that appear in Western Estonia are alvars, wooded meadows, flooded meadows and coastal meadows. The first two are important to the preservation of rich plant associations and flooded meadows and coastal meadows are important for nesting birds and as feeding spots during migration. A vast number of migratory birds can be observed in different seasons from special towers built for both professional and amateur ornithologists.
The administration of Matsalu National Park is situated at Penijõe Manor near Lihula. The Reserve was created in 1957, mainly, to protect nesting, moulting and migratory birds. A permanent exhibition on the area's natural environment can be seen in the manor.
