Our vital wetlands

Peat bogs, rivers, streams, lakes and tarns

All these freshwater environments are important habitats for many plants and animals. As many as 170 plants and more than 150 bird species have been recorded in and around Mosvatn Lake in Stavanger, which is 3.5 metres at its deepest. Orrevatn is also an important lake in Jæren, especially for water birds.

In autumn and winter, many thousands of ducks and geese can be seen out on the water.

Estuaries and deltas

Estuaries and deltas are found where rivers enter a lake or the sea. At high tide the sea invades the river mouths, bringing nutrients that offer excellent feeding conditions for plants and animals. Such areas may be important nesting and overwintering sites for birds, and the home of many plants specially adapted to environments shifting between salt and freshwater.

Tidal and shallow water habitats, islands and skerries

Water depths of up to six metres can be classified as wetlands, and this applies to large stretches of the Jæren coastline. The coast is home to important kelp forests that are both habitat and a source of food for a multitude of crustaceans, molluscs, fish and birds. They also serve as a breakwater that protects the coastline.