Lake Võrtsjärv – Estonia

Background Lake Võrtsjärv

Lake Peipsi and Lake Võrtsjärv are large shallow lakes which are situated in Northern Europe and are part of the Baltic Sea basin. The two lakes are connected by the Emajögi River which drains from Lake Võrtsjärv to Lake Peipsi.

Lake Võrtsjarv is the largest lake within the boundaries of Estonia with a surface area of 270 square kilometres. Despite its great surface area, Lake Võrtsjärv is a shallow lake having an average depth of 2.8 m. On average, the lake is covered with ice 130 days a year (from December until April). The Suur Emajõgi River is the only outlet.

The lake is Natura 2000 site and is important habitat for nesting and migratory bird species. There are 35 different fish species, including fish having commercial value.

Lake Võrtsjärv is one of the 100 Greenest Holiday Destinations world-wide

Sustainable Destinations Global Top 100

Problems Lake Võrtsjärv

Lake Võrtsjärv is threatened by eutrophication. The main causes for eutrophication come from agricultural activities within the lake basin boundaries. The fast expansion of reed thickets and the deterioration of biological diversity are a clear evidence of the eutrophication of the lake during the last decades.

The Living Lakes Partner Organisations is Lake Võrtsjärv Fisheries Development Agency in cooperation with the Estonian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Limnology. An additional Living Lakes Partner organisations is ELF, the Estonian Fund for Nature (NGO Partner at Lake Vörtsjärv).