The nature trail of Selisoo - Keskkonnaamet

The nature trail of Selisoo runs mainly on the walkways,
leading round the bog pools. The trail can be entered
either from the eastern side of the bog where the
sediment basin of Milloja is or from Kõrve farm on the
western side, in Metsaküla. There is a camping site and a
campfi re ground in both of these places. In the centre of
the bog, alongside Seli lake there is a bird watching tower
and a lean-to shelter.
Almost 30 information signs along by the Selisoo nature
trail give a good review of the bog and its biota:
• 12-25 000 m3 of mining water is pumped into the
Milloja sediment basin from the Estonia oil shale
mine every 24 hours.
• It takes thousands of years for a bog to evolve.
• Cloudberry – why, in some places, the fl owers and the
leaves of cloudberry can be seen, but not the fruits?
• In spring, the call of the courtship display of the
black grouse gives the bog its characteristic sound.
• Bog pool is a dystrophic, usually brown coloured,
little water body in a bog.
• The peculiar shape of scots pine has fascinated
researchers.
• Common hair moss spreads its leaves during the rain
in order to catch as much water as possible.
• Peat moss is the king of bogs.
• Cranberry – as an old Estonian riddle goes, ‘a little
red boy in the swamp, attached to a hag by a hair.’
• Bog rosemary is a ’key’ to the bog, a great helper for
a hiker.
• Black crowberry is a highly appreciated berry amongst
northerners.
• Hollow - do not step there!
• The banks of Seli lake are getting covered by hollows.
• Bird species – the Seli bog is a habitat for many bird
species.
• Heather makes a good honey plant.
• Sundew – in olden days it was believed that a plant
as distinctive as sundew must have magic powers.
• Lingonberry is a precious plant not solely because of
its tasty berries.
• In the ancient times, wild rosemary used to be in the
list of love potions.
• Common lizard and blindworms can be seen in the
Selisoo bog when it comes to reptiles.
• Spider is a predator with keen eyesight.
• Insects are sparse in the bog.
• Horse-fl y has got mighty mandibles.
• Elk seeks shelter from mosquitoes and horsefl ies in
the bog.
• Wolf is a smart and adaptable predator.
• Fox has found a fi ne place of residence on bog islands.
• Life by the bog – after the Second World War, the wetlands
were tried to put into use as arable lands.
Have a nice time discovering!
Distances in the nature trail
From the Milloja sediment basin to Kõrve farm: 4 km
From the car park of Milloja sediment basin to the
camping site and campfi re ground: 0.5 km
From the camping site and campfi re ground to birdwatching
tower: 2 km
From the birdwatching tower to the camping site of
Kõrve farm: 1.5 km
Length of the trail: 4-5 km
Estimated walking time: 2-3 hours

Distances
Metsküla – Mäetaguse: 7 km
The Milloja sediment basin – Jõhvi-Tartu highway: 3 km
The Milloja sediment basin – Iisaku: 15 km
The Milloja sediment basin – Mäetaguse: 11 km
Mäetaguse – Jõhvi: 20 km
Jõhvi 20 km
The administrator of the nature area:
The Environmental Board,
Region of Viru
Pargi 15, Jõhvi
41537, Ida-Virumaa County
Estonia
Phone: +3723324401
E-mail: ida-viru@keskkonnaamet.ee
Homepage: www.keskkonnaamet.ee
Nature trail manager:
RMK, The Nature Centre of Kauksi
Kauksi, Iisaku Parish
41008, Ida-Virumaa County
Estonia
Phone: +3723393833
E-mail: kauksi.looduskeskus@rmk.ee
Homepage: www.rmk.ee
Editor: Ingrid Kuligina
Images: Jürgen Öövel, Raili Lille
Designer: Kalle Raidma
Printer: Folger Art AS
Publisher: The Environmental Board
Financier: The Foundation of the
Environmental Investment Centre
The Nature Trail of
Selisoo
The Natura 2000 site in Selisoo is valued for
both the forested and nonforested raised
bogs and transitional bog forests.