Lätäseno - Hietajoki Mires. 02/02/04; Lapland; 43,367 ha; 68°40'N 022°20'E. Natura 2000 SPA and SCI, Wilderness Area, Mire Protection Area. An important conservation area of palsa mires and the northernmost occurrence of several mire and aquatic plants. The unbroken area is situated in the northwestern part of the province of Lapland bordered by Norway to the north and by Sweden to the south. The site represents the mire vegetation regions of palsa mires in Fjeld Lapland and of northern aapa mires, presented through palsa mires, where wet flark and sedge fens occur. The northern limit of pine crosses the area and mountain birch is the only common tree species. The breeding waterfowl and waders are the most abundant and diverse in the whole province, supporting at least 21 threatened bird species in Europe. Among the mammals are wolf, wolverine and Arctic Fox, including the Brown Bear as a rare visitor, and both lynx and otter as sparse inhabitants. It is also one of the few areas where salmon of the Baltic Sea, but also Brown Trout and Arctic Char, still spawn. Reindeer husbandry is an important livelihood in the area with up to 7,000 reindeer kept by the owners. Acid deposition, caused by a long-distance fallout mainly from Kola Peninsula (Russia) industries, weakens the buffering capacity of lakes and ponds. A management and land use plan for the site is in preparation. Ramsar site no. 1520. Most recent RIS information: 2005.