Editing Saaremaa (section)

=== Nature ===
[[File:Shore of Saaremaa.konradmagi.jpg|200px|thumb|''Shore of Saaremaa'', by Estonian artist [[Konrad Mägi]] (1913–1914).]]

More than 10,000 years ago the first parts of Saaremaa arose from the [[Baltic Ice Lake]]. The uplift of the Earth's crust is continuing even today at a rate of {{convert|2|mm|abbr=on}} per year. The West Estonian islands are low-lying plains resting on limestone; their average elevation is roughly {{convert|15|m|sp=us}} above sea level. [[Limestone]] has become denuded in a great number of places, resulting in cliffs, limestone pits and [[quarries]] at [[Mustjala]], [[Ninase]], [[Pulli, Saare County|Pulli]], [[Üügu cliff|Üügu]]<!--etWiki confirms--> and [[Kaugatuma]].

Because of its mild maritime climate and a variety of soils, Saaremaa has a rich [[flora]], illustrated by the fact that 80% of the plant species found in Estonia are represented here. Altogether 1200 species of vascular plants can be found in Saaremaa. About 120 of the local plant species are rare ones that have received special protection status. The most famous endemic species is [[Rhinanthus osiliensis]], a rare little flower growing mostly in spring fens. Rare and beautiful flowers are widespread; out of the 36 species found in Estonia, 35 of them are found on Saaremaa and its adjacent islands.

Over 40% of Saaremaa is covered with forests, most of which are mixed forests, but in some areas, one can find broad-leaved (deciduous) trees, which are relicts of plant communities of former milder climatic periods. [[Wooded meadow]]s were common in Saaremaa before [[World War II]], but many of these unique natural complexes have gradually become overgrown and thus converted into the ordinary forest. The same is true for [[alvar]]s (limestone areas covered with thin soil and stunted vegetation). Once a typical and exclusive landscape element in Saaremaa alvars are now in decline. Nature conservation planning for Saaremaa now includes protection of the largest and most unusual alvar areas.

Saaremaa has a wide variety of rare wildlife species, ranging from insects to seals. The smallest protected wildlife species in terms of size include the [[clouded apollo]] butterflies and [[Roman snail]]s.

The coastal areas of Saaremaa are well-known seal habitats; in fact, the indigenous [[gray seal]] can be found in three large permanent resting areas on the islets off the coast in the western and southern parts of Saaremaa. Nowadays, the local population of said seals is slightly increasing {{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}. [[Ringed seal]]s can be encountered everywhere in the coastal waters of Saaremaa but, because of their timidity, it has not been possible to make an estimation of their number.

The islands lie in the [[East Atlantic Flyway]], a migration path of waterfowl. This "bird road" connects northeastern Europe with Arctic regions. Each year hundreds of thousands of migratory birds visit Saaremaa in spring and autumn. The [[barnacle goose]], [[mute swan]], [[whooper swan]], [[common eider|eider]], [[common shelduck|shelduck]] and a great many other [[bird]] species have been given protection status. But on the whole, the islands are somewhat poorer in wildlife species than the mainland. Neither [[European mole|mole]], [[mink]], nor [[European otter|otter]] can be found here, whilst the [[Eurasian lynx]] and the [[brown bear]] are infrequent guests.<ref>http://www.saaremaa.ee/eng/general/default.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314131906/http://www.saaremaa.ee/eng/general/default.htm |date=2008-03-14 }}<br />Saaremaa County&nbsp;– nature</ref>