Park geography

A comprehensive analysis of terrain, regional administrative context, and natural features

Karula National Park: Detailed Geographic Profile and Mapped Protected Area Boundaries

Karula National Park covers a recorded area of 123.64 square kilometers within Estonia, spanning across Võru and Valga counties. This geography profile details the upland relief and diverse natural features, including significant hills, river systems, and lake complexes found within the protected boundaries.

View park overview

Stylized illustration of a waterfall cascading from a cliff into a river, surrounded by green and autumn-colored trees under a partly cloudy sky

Estonia's smallest national park protecting the hilly Karula Uplands and its network of lakes

Karula National Park

Karula National Park is the smallest national park in Estonia, located in the southern part of the country across Võru County and Valga County. Established originally as a protected area in 1979 and redesignated as a national park in 1993, the park encompasses approximately 123.6 square kilometers of the Karula Uplands, covering nearly a third of this elevated terrain. The landscape is characterized by rolling hills, numerous lakes, and a rich mosaic of forests and wetlands that together create one of Estonia's most ecologically diverse protected areas. The park straddles the administrative boundaries of Antsla and Rõuge parishes in Võru County and Valga Parish in Valga County, representing a transition zone between Estonia's core territories and its southeastern border regions. The ecological character of Karula National Park stands out for its exceptional biodiversity and the variety of habitats compressed into a relatively small area. The park contains approximately 40 lakes, most featuring marshy or boggy shores, alongside numerous small wetlands and streams that drain the upland terrain. Over 70 percent of the park's territory is covered by forest, creating extensive woodland habitat that supports populations of large mammals and provides breeding grounds for numerous bird species. The combination of hilly terrain, lake-rich valleys, and traditional cultural landscapes that have been shaped by centuries of human use makes this park distinctive within Estonia's protected area network. The park holds particular conservation significance in Estonia due to the presence of several rare and protected species. The flora includes species such as the Baltic orchid, mezereon, and the daisyleaf grape fern, the last of which is found in only three locations throughout Estonia. The fauna features species of European conservation concern including the pond bat, lesser spotted eagle, and black stork, while larger mammals such as elk, Eurasian lynx, and European polecat maintain stable populations within the park boundaries.

Location: Estonia
Park type: National park
Established: 1979
Area: 123.6 km²
Highest point: 137 m

Karula National Park Protected Landscape

Location overview

Administrative boundaries across Valga County and Võru County

Karula National Park Geographic Location and Regional Placement

Karula National Park is located in Estonia, spanning both Võru County and Valga County. Administrative data marks the inland reserve as entirely domestic, with no marine or transboundary sectors.

Countries: Estonia
Regions: Valga County, Võru County
Primary location: Estonia
Geographic setting: Inland

Boundary and coordinates

Visualizing the spatial envelope and extent across 123.64 square kilometers

Interactive Boundary Map for Karula National Park Geographic Limits

The mapped boundary outline of Karula National Park defines the spatial context of its protected landscape. Analyze key geographic metrics including its total area of 123.64 square kilometers, center coordinates, and spatial limits.

Boundary area: 123.6 km²
Boundary perimeter: 90.1 km
Northernmost point: 57.7736° N
Southernmost point: 57.6427° N
Easternmost point: 26.6367° E
Westernmost point: 26.3795° E
Geographic centre: 57.7126° N, 26.4898° E
North–south span: 14.6 km
East–west span: 15.3 km

Karula rahvuspark

Elevation and terrain

Upland topography profile featuring recorded natural features

Karula National Park Elevation and Terrain Geography

Explore the recorded elevation summary and upland relief metrics for Karula National Park. Examine the linked feature cards for names, types, and spatial relationships of recorded natural entities.

Highest point: 137 m

Selected named natural features

Wetlands

Äestamise soo

Lakes

Kallõtõ järv

Hills

Lossimägi

110.8 m

Lakes

Väiku-Kuikli järv

Hills

Tornimägi

138 m

Lakes

Viitka järv

Karula National Park Natural Features Atlas

Environmental setting

Temperate upland terrain, forest cover, and major water systems

Karula National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting

Recorded classifications frame the physical setting through complementary upland relief, temperate forest, and major water features. Stored categories link directly to relevant atlas destinations for broader regional exploration.

Relief: Upland
Climate: Temperate
Water: Major water bodies
Forest cover: Mostly forested
Seasonality: Year-round

Landscape features

Hills · Forest · Wetland · Lakes · Rivers

Habitat types

Temperate broadleaf forest · Wetland · Riverine habitat · Lacustrine habitat

Park atlas

Expand your park discovery by tracing the geographic context and connected protected landscapes surrounding Karula National Park.

Explore Other National Parks and Protected Areas Near Karula National Park in Southern Estonia

After exploring Karula National Park, continue your geographic journey by browsing other national parks and protected areas located across southern Estonia and its adjacent regions. Comparing these conservation landscapes provides valuable context on regional biodiversity, varied terrain, and broader protected area networks within a consistent atlas framework.

Watercolor illustration of a river flowing through a valley with hills and greenery

National parkLatvia

61 km away#1 closest

Southwest

Gauja National Park

Mapped terrain and diverse natural heritage in Vidzeme.

Gauja National Park, in Latvia. Landscapes: valleys, cliffs, and forests.

Area: 917.87 km²
Established: 1973
IUCN: II
Relief: Mixed relief

Gauja National Park protected area details

Watercolor painting showing a wetland landscape with scattered trees, marshy areas, and distant mountains under a muted sky

National parkViljandi County

95 km away#2 closest

Northwest

Soomaa National Park: Estonia's Wilderness Wetland Landscape Atlas

Explore mapped protected peat bogs and dynamic floodplains in Viljandi County.

Soomaa National Park is a protected wilderness area in Estonia renowned for its extensive peat bog systems and unique floodplains. This national park, located primarily in Viljandi County, showcases some of Europe's largest intact wetland landscapes, characterized by seasonal floods that transform the terrain into vast aquatic environments. MoriAtlas provides detailed geographic context for Soomaa, allowing for exploration of its protected boundaries and landscape features within the broader atlas of European natural areas.

Area: 359 km²
Established: 1993
IUCN: II
Relief: Lowland

Soomaa National Park protected area details

Watercolor illustration showing a lake, trees, and distant hills

National parkLatgale

144 km away#3 closest

South

Rāzna National Park: Protected Landscape and Regional Geography in Latgale

Explore the mapped terrain of Latvia's largest lake region.

Rāzna National Park, situated in the Latgale region, provides an essential focal point for understanding eastern Latvia's protected landscapes. This national park, recognized for its extensive glacial terrain and the significant Lake Rāzna, offers a distinct geographic profile. Users can explore its mapped boundaries, discover its role as a vital protected area, and understand its landscape context within the broader atlas of Latvia's natural heritage.

Area: 596.14 km²
Established: 2007
IUCN: II
Relief: Highland

Rāzna National Park Protected Area

Watercolor illustration of a lake, forests, and hills

National parkEstonia

About 154 km away#4 closest

North

Alutaguse National Park: Eastern Estonia's Vast Peat Bog and Forest Protected Landscape

Mapping Protected Wetlands and Boreal Ecosystems in Estonia

Alutaguse National Park, a newly established national park in eastern Estonia, offers a unique atlas perspective on extensive peat bog ecosystems and boreal forests. Covering over 443 square kilometers, it represents some of the most intact wetland landscapes in the country. The park's creation unified eleven protected areas, safeguarding a critical habitat for rare species and showcasing the distinctive geography of the Alutaguse Lowland.

Area: 443.31 km²
Established: 2018
IUCN: II
Relief: Lowland

Alutaguse National Park Protected Landscape

Watercolor illustration showing a wetland landscape with grassy fields, a river, and trees in the background

National parkLääne County

178 km away#5 closest

Northwest

Matsalu National Park

Discover mapped landscapes and bird migration routes in Lääne County.

Matsalu National Park, in Lääne County, Estonia. Landscapes: wetlands, coasts, and islands.

Area: 486.1 km²
Established: 1957
IUCN: II
Relief: Lowland

Matsalu National Park Protected Area Atlas

Watercolor illustration showing a marshy landscape with forests and distant hills under a soft sky.

National parkLatvia

185 km away#6 closest

Southwest

Ķemeri National Park

Explore a unique protected landscape with mapped bog ecosystems and regional natural terrain.

Ķemeri National Park, in Latvia. Landscapes: bogs, forests, and wetlands.

Area: 381.65 km²
Established: 1997
IUCN: II
Relief: Lowland

Explore Ķemeri National Park Protected Area

A digital illustration of a coastal landscape with a wooden boardwalk winding through a bog and forest, leading toward a shoreline with scattered boulders under a soft pastel sky.

National parkEstonia

190 km away#7 closest

North

Lahemaa National Park

Mapped terrain, bogs, and coastal peninsulas of a major protected area.

Lahemaa National Park, in Estonia. Landscapes: coasts, bogs, and forests.

Area: 747 km²
Established: 1971
IUCN: II
Relief: Lowland

Lahemaa National Park Protected Area

Watercolor painting of a lake with green forested islands and distant mountains under a pastel sky

National parkPskov Oblast

About 194 km away#8 closest

Southeast

Sebezhsky National Park: National Park within Pskov Oblast's Regional Geography

Mapped protected landscape and regional context

Sebezhsky National Park is a designated national park offering a distinct protected landscape within the Pskov Oblast of northwestern Russia. This page provides essential details for atlas exploration, focusing on the park's mapped boundaries, its role as a protected area, and its contribution to the regional geography of the Pskov Oblast. Users can understand its place within a broader mapping of Russia's natural territories and protected lands.

Area: 500.21 km²
Established: 1996
IUCN: II
Relief: Highland

Sebezhsky National Park Atlas

MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring Karula National Park's Mapped Geography and Protected Terrain

Deepen your understanding of Karula National Park by navigating its specific geographic features, mapped protected boundaries, and diverse landscapes. MoriAtlas provides the tools to explore this unique corner of Estonia, allowing for detailed study of its conservation significance and regional context. Discover how the rolling hills, numerous lakes, and extensive forests contribute to its distinctive natural identity and its place within the Estonian atlas of protected areas.

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Karula National Park Protected Landscape

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