The Ringed Seal Archipelagos of Lake Saimaa

The Ringed Seal Archipelagos of Lake Saimaa is part of the Tentative list of Finland in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List.

Lake Saimaa is the only habitat of the endemic endangered Saimaa ringed seal. After the last glaciation in the area, Lake Saimaa was shaped as a result of land uplift and was isolated from the Baltic Sea. This ringed seal is an example of adaptation to a new kind of environment after being isolated in a freshwater lake. Lake Saimaa represents an outstanding freshwater ecosystem that includes many conservation areas in their natural state and provides living environments for several relict species.