Kõpu Nature Reserve is a nature reserve situated on
Hiiumaa in western
Estonia, in
Hiiu County.
Kõpu Nature Reserve has been established to protect the
biodiversity in this unusual area on Kõpu peninsula. The nature reserve contains forest of many types, including heath forest and natural
old-growth forest
An old-growth forestalso termed primary forest, virgin forest, late seral forest, primeval forest, or first-growth forestis a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance, and thereby exhibits unique ecological featur ...
, and also
fens, beach ridges and dunes. It is one of the most geologically diverse parts of Hiiumaa, and the location of the island's highest point. Rare plants that find protection in the reserve include
sea holly Sea holly is a common name for several plants and may refer to:
* ''Acanthus ebracteatus''
* '' Eryngium'' species, especially:
** ''Eryngium maritimum
''Eryngium maritimum'', the sea holly or sea eryngo, or sea eryngium, is a perennial species ...
,
black bogrush and several species of
orchids. From the fauna, the
European nightjar,
black woodpecker
The black woodpecker (''Dryocopus martius'') is a large woodpecker that lives in mature forests across the northern Palearctic. It is the sole representative of its genus in that region. Its range is expanding. The black woodpecker is easily the ...
and
European honey buzzard are examples.
References
Nature reserves in Estonia
Geography of Hiiu County
Hiiumaa Parish
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