Moricsala Nature Reserve | |
---|---|
IUCN category Ib (
wilderness area) | |
Location | Latvia |
Coordinates | 57°11′35″N 22°07′47″E / 57.19306°N 22.12972°E |
Area | 815 ha (2,010 acres) [1] [2] |
Established | 1912 |
Moricsala Nature Reserve ( Latvian: Moricsalas dabas rezervāts) is a nature reserve in western Latvia ( Courland). It is situated on two islands in Lake Usma and consists of boreal, mixed broad-leaf and oak old-growth forest as well as swamps. [3] [4] [5] Founded in 1912, it is the oldest nature reserve in Latvia. Being a so-called strict nature reserve, entry into the reserve is prohibited except for scientific purposes. [6] [7] The nature reserve serves as a habitat for several rare species of moss, lichen and insects; for example, 222 species of butterflies can be found here. For some of these butterflies, the nature reserve is the only known habitat in the Baltic states. [4]