The Site is a part of a river delta which includes shallow marine waters, sandbanks which are exposed at low tide, saltmarshes and wet mires, as well as large well-developed salt meadows with Arctic plant species and communities. The Valdak marshes at the southern end of the Site are internationally important staging, feeding and moulting areas for several species of waterfowl. The most numerous birds at the Site are the red knot subspecies Calidris canutus islandica and the common eider (Somateria mollissima). The Site also hosts globally vulnerable species such as the lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus) for which the wetland area is the most important staging site in Northern Europe, the velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca), the Steller’s eider (Polysticta stelleri) and many more. The River Stabburselva is one of the most important rivers for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the country, and it also has vital populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). A local visitor centre is situated close to the Site. The area is to a limited degree used for bird watching, and monitoring of bird populations continues. Many people visit the area to explore the world’s northernmost pine forest; guided tours and nature trails have been established.