Vestiena Protected Landscape
Vestiena is protected landscape in Ērgļi Municipality and Madona Municipality, approximately from Ērgļi Parish in the west to village in the east. The territory was established to preserve and protect the Vidzeme Highlands landscape and natural diversity.
This is a Natura 2000 site.
Geography
The Vestiena Protected Landscape Area includes the central part of the Vidzeme Highlands with the highest peak in Latvia - Gaiziņkalns - as well as other surrounding large hills, the height of which exceeds 270 meters above sea level. The territory includes both scenically and biologically valuable group of Vestiena lakes -,, lake Ilziņa and others.The territory includes Gaizinkalns Nature Park, nature reserves Lake Ilzina and Kala lake islands, nature monuments, as well as Vestiena manor alley.
Flora
A large number of protected plant species can be found here: broomrape, hairy agrimony, gladiolus, early marsh-orchid.Fauna
Protect fauna species can be found here:beetle, large white-faced darter, butterfly purple emperor, land snail, spined loach, European bullhead, brook lamprey, lesser spotted eagle, corn crake, European nightjar, woodlark, barred warbler, Eurasian otter, pond bat.