Čepkeliai Marsh

The Čepkeliai Marsh (Lithuanian: Čepkelių raistas) is the largest bog (a mire) in Lithuania. Located in Varėna District Municipality, south of Marcinkonys village and north of Kotra River, which flows along the Belarus–Lithuania border in this area.

Čepkeliai Marsh
Čepkeliai marsh
LocationVarėna District Municipality, Lithuania
Coordinates54°0′N 24°31′E
Area11,212 ha (27,710 acres)
Official nameČepkeliai mire
Designated20 August 1993
Reference no.625[1]
Official nameKotra
Designated21 October 2002
Reference no.1216[2]

The area of the swamp is protected as a natural reserve and part of the cross-border wetlands of international importance: Kotra Ramsar site.[2] and Čepkeliai Ramsar site.[1]

The bog itself covers an area of 5,858 hectares (14,480 acres), while the larger area of 11,212 hectares (27,710 acres) which also includes some neighboring sections of the Dainava Forest is declared as the Čepkeliai Nature Reserve. It was created in 1975, and is protected since 1960 (firstly as a botanical-zoological sanctuary).[3]

Most of Čepkeliai is a raised bog while there are some smaller areas of a fen and flooded forests. There are some small relict lakes the largest of them is the Ešerinis. A peat stratum is of 5–6 meters of thickness.[4]

It grows a lot of cranberries, wild rosemaries, heather. The reserve is a sanctuary for cranes, white-tailed eagles, black grouses, heather cocks, mountain hares, martens, smooth snakes.[3]

The Čepkeliai Marsh is closed for visiting, except from one watching tower and an informational track south to Marcinkonys village.

References
  1. "Cepkeliai mire". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. "Kotra". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. Paltanavičius, Selemonas (2001–2015). "Čepkelių rezervatas". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. Kunskas, Rimvydas (2001–2015). "Čepkelių raistas". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  • Čepkeliai-Dzūkijos PAN Park: Čepkeliai, visited 21 January 2015


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