Karula National Park

Karula National Park

Karula National Park, located in the south of Estonia, is the country's smallest national park. It was designated a protected area in 1979 and became a national park in 1993. The park is situated in the parishes of Antsla and Rőuge in Vőru County and in the parish of Valga in Valga County. Covering almost a third of the Karula Uplands, the park is noted for its hilly terrain, numerous lakes, high biodiversity and traditional cultural landscape. The national park has a rich flora, and several species on Estonia's red list can be found here, including Baltic orchids, mezereon and daisyleaf grape fern. This last is found in only three places in Estonia, and Karula is among them. Wildlife includes some unusual and threatened species like the Pond Bat, the Little Spotted Eagle and the Black Stork. Mammals such as deer, lynx and skunk are frequent in the park. Karula's landscape is characterized by a wealth of lakes, with 60 lakes in the highlands. The Karula National Park is home to the picturesque Kaika Domes. The highest peak in the park is Hill Tornimägi in Rebasemőisa. The visitor center by Lake Ähijärv offers information on Karula hiking trails, opportunities for recreation and attractions. A permanent exhibit presents the history, nature and folk culture of the area, together with the modern way of life.