The Site is a complex of large mires dominated by Sphagnum mosses with small rivers, pools and lakes, shallow beach areas with islets, skerries, large intertidal flats and a brackish lagoon system. Along the shoreline are different vegetation communities, from grass-rich slopes to mudflats. Some of the small ponds have belts of water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile and bottle sedge Carex rostrata. In the extensive shallow waters are large meadows of Zostera eelgrass. Because of its high food production combined with its location on key waterbird migration routes, the Site is an internationally important area for many species during their spring and autumn migrations, and nationally threatened species such as the Atlantic puffin Fratecula arctica, the greater scaup Aythya marila and the ruff Philomachus pugnax breed there. The area is particularly known as one of the northernmost overwintering locations for whooper swans. The Site is also important for shoreline stabilization. Archeological and historical features are to be found. The main human activities are agriculture, cattle grazing, fishing, hunting, tourism, and gathering of cloudberries. Most of the Site’s habitats have been cultivated or damaged by drainage carried out elsewhere in the area.