Mires in Latvia

Both minerotrophic (fens and transitional mires) and ombrotrophic (raised bogs) mires occur in Latvia. Distribution of mires and diversity of mire vegetation are determined by geology of area, origin of mires and climatic differences between coastal and continental parts of Latvia. Fens started to develop in the early Holocene in the Preboreal 10 000 years BP. Later, during the Atlantic many fens transformed into transitional mires and gradually into raised bogs. Today Latvian mires are represented by all these types and they cover 4.9% of the country. Mires are protected in the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, National Parks (Slītere, Ķemeri and Gauja), Strict Nature Reserves (Teiči, Krustkalni and Grmaņi), Nature parks and 140 nature reserves, as well as in protected tected landscape areas.