A Unique Aapa Mire Complex
Teuravuoma - Kivijärvenvuoma is part of one of Finland's biggest mire areas and the most important mire complex in Western Lapland. The 58-km² area is part of the Natura 2000 network. Teuravuoma - Kivijärvenvuoma has also, since 2004, been a part of the Ramsar convention, an international agreement to protect wetlands.
Teuravuoma - Kivijärvenvuoma is made up of three aapa mire complexes: Kivijärvenvuoma, Taipaleenvuoma and Teuravuoma. Kivijärvenvuoma is an aapa mire dotted with forest and pine bog islets. The mires are primarily nutrient-poor and moderately eutrophic. Taipaleenvuoma is mainly made up of low-nutrient mires, and the Teuravuoma aapa mire area consists of extensive nutrient-rich open mires, called eutrophic flark fens, in the middle of which is Lake Pikku Kivijärvi.
A considerable amount of the area (12 %) is made up of eutrophic fens, and approximately one quarter consists of forested mires, or pine bogs and spruce swamps. The area is not entirely in a natural state, so extensive restoration work has been carried out. The goal of the restoration is to return the area to a natural state and a natural water balance.
Teuravuoma - Kivijärvenvuoma is in the Lapland greenstone belt, which is characterised by volcanic rocks. The natural forests in the area appear in the form of small forest islets. Most of the spruce-dominated natural forest stands are more than 200 years old.
Diverse Bird and Plant Life
The avifauna in Teuravuoma - Kivijärvenvuoma is very representative and one of Central Lapland's best avifauna sites. Nearly 100 bird species have been spotted in the region, some of which are threatened. The following species have been known to nest in the area: the Bean Goose (Anser fabalis), the Common Crane (Grus grus), the Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor), the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and many ducks and other waders.
Aapa mires are valuable sites for protecting avifauna. Due to their diverse habitats, they offer many species a good place for breeding and feeding. Aapa mires are also important resting spots for migrating species.
Extensive pine bogs and eutrophic fens in a natural state can be found in the Teuravuoma - Kivijärvenvuoma area. Threatened and near-threatened vascular plants and mosses, such as slender green feather-moss (Hamatocaulis vernicosus), grow in the area. Of land molluscs found in the area, the Geyer's whorl snail (Vertigo geyeri) is a near-threatened species.