Sirtsi Nature Reserve | |
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Location | Estonia |
Nearest city | Narva |
Coordinates | 59°15′58″N 26°48′33″E / 59.26611°N 26.80917°E |
Area | 4,558 ha (11,260 acres) |
Established | 1976 |
Sirtsi Nature Reserve is a nature reserve situated in western Estonia, and straddles the border between Lääne-Viru and Ida-Viru County.
The nature reserve was founded first and foremost to protect brown bears in the area. It is centred on a system of mires and a bog, and the surrounding forests.
Apart from brown bear, the nature reserve also functions as a sanctuary for other large mammals such as Eurasian lynx and gray wolf. In addition, shy animals such as black stork and Siberian flying squirrel live in the reserve. [1]
The former winter road between Central Estonia and Saint Petersburg ran through this area and its course can still be identified. [1]