Soomaa And Soomaa National Park

Soomaa And Soomaa National Park / Description

The flat middle part of Estonia on the imaginary aisle in Peipsi - Võrtsjärve- Pärnu direction is a real water world. Its western edge is covered by Soomaa National Park – land of great swamps and mighty rivers. It contains five fens with thick forests and extensive flood plains dividing them. The waters here are extraordinary – the numerous rivers meet in a rather small area between fens and swamp forests. Water from the nearby Sakala uplands can during the spring time melting or rain season unleash such an avalancehe of water that rivers break out of their banks. This almost Biblical flood happens every year – around here Flood is the name of the fifth season. The spring time spectacle of the forces of nature in Soomaa is grandiose and a bit cruel - flooded area often supersceding hundred square kilometers. Water level in local rivers has been recorded to differ up to 6 meters during the dry and flood seasons. This also reflects in the local traditions – even the barns have two storeys here, when the flood came animals were taken to the second floor. Very often the dugout canoe was the only means to get out of the house and that is why it has been preserved in many families living in the vicinity of the national park.