Data Zone
Country/territory: Finland
IBA criteria met: B1i, B2, C2, C6 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 12,516 hectares (125.16 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2010 | poor | low | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2000 baseline)
A shallow lake, over 9,000 years old, in the heart of Kuusamo. The lake is barren, with sandy and stony shorelines, clear waters and sparse vegetation. The lake holds numerous islands, most of them small, treeless and rocky while the largest are forested and commercially managed. This is one of the only large lakes in Finland where the water-level is not artificially manipulated. Hundreds of summer cottages surround the lake.
Key biodiversity
One of the most important breeding areas for Gavia arctica and Mergus albellus in the country.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kitka lake (Finland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kitka-lake-iba-finland on 25/12/2024.