[3][5] The area enjoys an unusually high degree of protection, being a "strict nature reserve" as defined by Latvian authorities.

[6][7] This is a designation reserved for areas with little or no human activity and rare or typical ecosystems.

Specimen of most of the birds known to inhabit Latvian wetlands can be found here, some in large numbers — for example cranes and geese.

[3] On one of the islands in the nature reserve, Siksala, a small group of Old Believers live.

[3] Ethnic Russians, they arrived on Siksala island in the 17th century, escaping religious persecution, and still maintain their village.