Sotkavuoma Mire. 02/02/04; Lapland; 2,602 ha; 68°20'N 023°16'E. Natura 2000 SPA, SCI, Finnish Mire Conservation Programme. Lake Sotkajärvi is the most valuable bird-lake in Northern Lapland as a breeding, molting and staging area. Migrating waterfowl favour it as a staging area and in autumn several hundreds of e.g. Wigeons, Tufted Ducks, Goldeneyes and Goosanders can be observed with tens of e.g. Whooper Swans, Bean Geese and Smews. The site represents the mire vegetation region of northern aapa mires, typically very wet and non-forested. The vegetation zones of several small ponds and two lakes are very extensive with sedge meadows and growths of water horsetail dominating. Reindeer husbandry is an important livelihood in the surrounding areas and is permitted also in the Mire Protection Area. As it is a rather wet area the livestock numbers are not high. Hunting of waterfowl occurs in some amount in autumn and has negative effects on the site. Forestry, ditching, extraction of earth material and damaging of soil or bedrock, and construction of new buildings and roads are prohibited in the Mire Protection Area. In general there are no significant numbers of visitors on the site. Ramsar site no. 1533. Most recent RIS information: 2005.

Lapland