Lake Läppträsket. 02/02/04; Southern Finland; 199 ha; 60°02'N 023°39'E. Natura 2000 SPA, SCI, WHCP, Nationally Important Landscape Area. A natural eutrophic lake with valuable flora and both breeding and migrating wetland bird fauna. More than 122 vascular plant species occur in the wetland area. Submerged vegetation is exceptionally rich with about 20 vascular plant species, including several species characteristic of brackish water. The lake is the westernmost known site in the world where the endangered naiad species Najas tenuissima exists. The site is an important staging area for waterfowl during migration periods; in autumn, the highest daily counts reach more than 200 Smews, representing the peak numbers in Finland. Negative effects on the ecological character of the site were caused by the lowering of the water level in the 1930s and the discharge of wastewater from Karjaa city until the 1970s, as well as from eutrophication by nutrients dissolving from clayfields. Despite disturbances from recreation fishing to the breeding of some waterfowl species, Läppträsket is a popular birdwatching site provided with two observation towers and a nature trail. Ramsar site no. 1516. Most recent RIS information: 2005.