Kitka lake (1344)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Kitka
Central coordinates: Latitude: 66.1500, Longitude: 28.7000
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 220 to 220
Area of KBA (km2): 124.10742
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: 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.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: One of the most important breeding areas for <I>Gavia arctica</I> and <I>Mergus albellus</I> in the country.</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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 90 | |
| Unknown | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is a candidate SAC.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership