Soomaa NP in Estonia boasts the largest raised bog complex in Europe with a fifth season – as claimed by locals – when naturally meandering rivers create drastic floods changing the landscape
In 1957, in a small part of the present national park – Halliste wooded meadow, was established a botanical restriction area. Later in 1981 large raised bogs – Valgeraba, Ördi, Kuresoo and Kikepera, were selected among the valuable wetlands of conservation importance and bog conservation areas were created. The national park was established in 1993. First area based protection rules was enacted in 1995, due to changes in Estonian nature conservation legislation in 2004 protection rules were renewed and new protection rules were enacted in 2005.
