Archaeologists have even found mummified human bodies that are hundreds or thousands of years old in the bogs!
The bogs have abundant natural resources. They are a center of forestry, providing wood for development and construction as well as oil shale mining, which has long sustained the energy and electricity industries in Estonia. Mammals like the snowshoe hare, moose, beaver and muskrat can also be found living near the bogs. These animals have traditionally been a great source of fur for keeping people warm in the cold winters here in Estonia.
In Estonian mythology, Eksitaja is an evil spirit who makes people lose their way in a bog, and bogs are the setting for many supernatural events. More realistically, the bogs of today do pose risks to the inexperienced adventurer, in species such as the poisonous vipers, bears and wolves. Bogs are a mix of land and water, and this lack of a solid foundation makes it difficult to build there. At certain times of the year, the bogs fill to the brim with rain water and melted snow, leading to considerable flooding that shuts down roads and makes travel difficult or even impossible. Navigating the floodwater season can be a difficult challenge for visitors and locals alike in Estonia!
