Bird Wetlands of Lapväärtti. 02/02/04; Western Finland, 1,224 ha; 62°11'N 021°26'E. Natura 2000 SPA and SCI, WHCP. A variety of wetland types forming a very valuable site for both breeding and migrating wetland bird species. Due to a small connection to the open sea, the old sea bay Härkmerifjärden still supports some typical brackish water plant species, surrounded with forests of spruce and Grey Alder at its shores. Other lakes are characterized by a wider variety from growths of common club-rush, water horsetail, water lilies, and common reed.The River Lapväärtinjoki discharges into a long and narrow sea bay, the estuary of which is characterized by extensive, uniform growths of reeds, sedges and willows, surrounded by deciduous and mixed forests and agricultural land in the northern part. Negative influences include overgrowing, increasing acidity (which has caused a few mass destructions of fishes), and the building of holiday cottages; ditching carried out in the early 1990s has drained the area considerably. Ramsar site no. 1507. Most recent RIS information: 2005.