Rahja archipelago (1340)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Rahjan saaristo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 64.1833, Longitude: 23.6000
System: terrestrial, marine
Elevation (m): 3 to 3
Area of KBA (km2): 96.92259
Protected area coverage (%): 85.49
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lying in the north-east of the Gulf of Bothnia, this is one of the largest and most diverse archipelagos in the Bay of Bothnia. The area holds a remarkable diversity of habitats including the Siipojoki river delta, large forested islands, islands with meadows and beaches, and numerous outer rocky islands and islets. The area has remained largely undeveloped, and much of the shoreline is in a natural state.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: An important breeding area for archipelagic avifauna.</P>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 30 | |
| Marine Neritic | 30 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 40 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Part of the area is a candidate SAC.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership