The Site is Finland’s largest national park and one of Europe’s most extensive roadless and uninhabited wilderness areas, in which all the mire types of northern forest Lapland can be found. There are also wide fell areas surrounded by western taiga forests and mountain birch forests. Aapa mires are located in lowland areas between the fells, and numerous streams flow from the Site into two river basins. The Site hosts a rich bird life as well as mammals such as wolverine (Gulo gulo), Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) and European otter (Lutra lutra). Several bird species which are threatened in Europe breed in the area, and the globally vulnerable rustic bunting (Emberiza rustica) and velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) are found. As an active and mostly pristine peat bog, the Site is very valuable for carbon storage and flood control. It is also important for environmental education, scientific research, reindeer husbandry, outdoor recreation, recreational fishing and gold panning; however increasing tourism and hiking may cause disturbances.