Viidumäe Nature Reserve ( et, Viidumäe looduskaitseala) is a nature reserve situated on Saaremaa in western Estonia, in Saare County. Viidumäre nature reserve consists mostly of pine- and oak-forest, complemented with meadows,

bog A bog or bogland is a wetland that accumulates peat as a deposit of dead plant materials often mosses, typically sphagnum moss. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and muskeg; a ...

s and traditionally utilised wooded meadows. The nature reserve is located in the west of Saaremaa, on the oldest and highest lying part of the island. The nature reserve is important for its great biodiversity. As regards to the flora, the nature reserve is home to the ''

Rhinanthus osiliensis ''Rhinanthus osiliensis'', in English known by the common name Saaremaa yellow rattle, is a flowering plant in the genus ''Rhinanthus'' in the family Orobanchaceae. It is endemic to the Estonian island Saaremaa in the Baltic Sea. Plants growing ...

'', a species of

rattle Rattle may refer to: Instruments * Crotalus (liturgy), a liturgical percussion instrument * Rattle (percussion instrument), a type of percussion instrument * Rattle (percussion beater), a part of some percussion instruments * Ratchet (instrume ...

which can only be found on Saaremaa and

Gotland Gotland (, ; ''Gutland'' in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is Sweden's largest island. It is also a province, county, municipality, and diocese. The province includes the islands of Fårö and Gotska Sandön to the ...

islands in the Baltic Sea. Other notable species include red helleborine,

marsh helleborine ''Epipactis palustris'', the marsh helleborine, is a species of orchid native to Europe and Asia. Description ''Epipactis palustris'' is a perennial herbaceous plant. This species has a stem growing to 60 cm high with as many as ten ere ...

, Kashubian vetch and rock whitebeam. The bird life is rich with species like

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 ...

Eurasian pygmy owl The Eurasian pygmy owl (''Glaucidium passerinum'') is the smallest owl in Europe. It is a dark reddish to greyish-brown, with spotted sides and half of a white ring around the back of the neck. This species is found in the boreal forests of North ...

, black stork and white-tailed eagle as typical representatives. Mammals such as

elk The elk (''Cervus canadensis''), also known as the wapiti, is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. The common ...

and wild boar are frequent in the area. Facilities for visitors include bird watching towers, hiking trails with information boards and a visitor centre.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viidumae Nature Reserve Nature reserves in Estonia Saaremaa Parish Forests of Estonia Geography of Saare County Tourist attractions in Saare County