Estonian water bodies, compared with the rest of Europe, are in a very good state - this turned out as a result of the initial evaluation of the European water bodies meeting the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. Estonia presented 18 water bodies for the assessment, among the 800 European ones - 14 lakes and four rivers. These water bodies are the following: lakes - Endla, Ihamaru Palojärv, Kalli, Köstrejärv, Küdema bay, Kooraste Kõverjärv, Nohipalu Valgjärv, Prossa, Saadjärv, Tõhela, Uljaste, Väike-Palkna, Verevi, Viljandi, Võrtsjärv and the Ahja, Jägala, Õhne and Reiu rivers. However, in Europe, it is unfortunately difficult to find a comparative water body for Lake Peipsi, the state of which has recently been unstable and is in need of separate protection measures. According to Ingmar Ott, a senior researcher from the Lake Võrtsjärv Limnological Station, Institute of Zoology and Botany of the Estonian Agricultural Academy (EAA), the water of Estonian lakes is harder and with a high concentration of humus substances - this being totally unique in comparison with water bodies elsewhere in Europe. "Thanks to this, our lakes are stronger and do not let human influence affect them so easily", noted Ott. The large amount of coastal lakes is another peculiarity of Estonia, particularly important from the standpoint of wildlife conservation. Regarding the hardness of water, Danish and Dutch lakes are similar to that of Estonia, but the influence of human activities on the former has been significantly more substantial in comparison with Estonian water bodies. "The situation of our water bodies, compared with other countries, is also better due to a smaller population. The number of inhabitants in Holland is 15 million, whereas its area is slightly smaller than Estonia. And in Denmark, the share of agriculture is extremely large", said Ott. The quality of water bodies was evaluated, according to their suitability, as a habitat for vegetable plankton, large aquatic plants, benthic invertebrates and fish. The European Union Water Framework Directive stipulates that the internal water bodies of all member states have to reach an ecologically good condition by the year 2016. According to the Directive, there are five classes of lake conditions: very good, good, fairly good, poor and very poor. Additional information: |
