Rõuge Suurjärv - The Deepest One In Estonia

Rõuge Suurjärv - The Deepest One In Estonia / Описание

Suurjärv (Great Lake) or Nõiajärv (Witch Lake) lies in the deep Rõuge primeval valley and is part of the chain of lakes in Rõuge. South-east of Suurjärv, in the same primeval valley, lie lakes such as Liinjärv and Valgjärv; to the north-east are Kaussjärv, Ratasjärv, Tõugjärv and Kahrila lake. Suurjärv, like other lakes in Rõuge, was formed as a result of erosion caused by meltwater at the end of the Ice Age.

Suurjärv is 38 metres deep and is thus the deepest lake in Estonia. M. zur Mühlen thought the lake might be as deep as 41 metres. The lake deepens evenly and its deepest point is situated a little southeast of its centre. The bottom of the lake is covered in mud except for a few places on the shores.

The lake covers the area of 13.5 hectares; its average depth is 11.9 metres. Streams from Liinjärv and Valgjärv in the southeast and Kaussjärv in the north flow into the lake. There are also numerous springs in the bottom and shores of the lake. Rõuge or Ajo stream flows from the northwest of Suurjärv into Ratasjärv.

The colour (from orange to green) and transparency vary greatly. The flora of the lake includes 22 species. Plants can be found as deep as eight metres. A rare species of moss, Fissidens Julianus, has been found in the lake. The plants also include broad-leaved pondweed, white and yellow water lily, water moss, stonewort, and water milfoil. The most common fish are bass and roach.

Rõuge Suurjärv provides the freshwater crayfish with satisfactory living conditions but due to great depths the crayfish lives on a relatively small area.