Location: The site stretches along the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea in the Leningrad Region, 125 km west of Saint Petersburg, 45 km northwest of the town of Kingisepp and 20 km north of the town of Ivangorod. To the southwest, the site borders Estonia.

The site harbours rare and threatened bird species. Seven species are included in the Russian Red Data Book (RRDB). These are Ciconia nigra, C. columbianus bewickii, Anser erythropus, Branta leucopsis, Haliaeetus albicilla, Pandion haliaetus and Falco peregrinus. Two plant species are included in the RRDB. The flora of the peninsula is represented by 743 species of vascular plants from 108 families. Of these, 96 species are listed in the Red Data Book of the Baltic Region (RDB of BR) of 1993. The mammal fauna is represented by 38 species, including Pteromys volans, Castor fiber, Ursus arctos, Mustela lutreola, Meles meles, Lutra lutra, etc. Of these, seven species are listed as threatened in Leningrad Region, three species are included in the RDB of BR and two species (Halichoerus grypus and Phoca hispida) are listed in the RRDB. There are 85 bird species listed in the RDB of BR. Nine species of amphibians and reptiles have been registered, including three species listed in the RDB of BR (Pelobates fuscus, Anguis fragilis and Lacerta agilis). The wetland supports large migrating and breeding populations of waterbirds.

The site encompasses shallow marine waters of the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, with a great number of islands, and the Kurgalsky Peninsula covered with mires. Other wetland types include marshes, fens, floodplain meadows and reed beds.

Biological/Ecological notes: A large portion of the Kurgalsky Peninsula is occupied by pine forests with Hylocomium, Dicranum and Rhytidiadelphus species. Cowberry and bilberry pine forests dominate in the southern part of the peninsula. The other habitats include patches of broad-leaved and mixed spruce-broadleaved forests, coastal meadows and marshes with alder and oak, sphagnum fens, floodplain and dry meadows and reed beds along the coastline and on some islands. The site lies on a major migration route. Large flocks of migrating Cygnus cygnus (50-60 birds) and C. columbianus bewickii occur in the northern portion of the peninsula and on the islands. C. cygnus also breed on the islands in the Gulf of Finland. Migrating geese include Anser fabalis, A. erythropus, A. albifrons, Branta bernicla and B. leucopsis. Anser anser is a common species during the migration periods, and a small breeding population has been recorded on Reimosar Island. Breeding waterbirds also include Tadorna tadorna, Anas platyrhynchos, A. crecca, Somateria mollissima, Aythya fuligula, Melanitta fusca and Mergus merganser. Anas strepera is noted regularly. Ten species of shore birds and nine species of gulls and terns have been registered in the breeding and migration periods. In recent years, breeding great cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo have been recorded. Large groups of seals (up to 300 individuals) have been recorded on the islands within the site.

Hydrological/Physical notes: The site encompasses shallow coastal waters and the lower terrace of the Gulf of Finland. The terrace is slightly tilted towards the sea and is composed of Palaeozoic clays, overlain by Pleistocene marine sediments. The soils are predominantly of the soddy, podzolic, peat and gley types. The salinity of water in the Gulf of Finland is not so high as that in the Baltic Sea, and the water warms up in summer. Full freezing occurs from late November to late April. Heavy storms may occur in autumn. Tidal variations in water level are small. On the Kurgalsky Peninsula, there are many small freshwater lakes and mires of various types. The area has a temperate-marine climate, with a mean air temperatures of -5°C in January and 15°C in July. Annual precipitation is about 700 mm, mostly falling during warm months. Snow cover is about 40 cm deep and persists for about 120 days.

Human Uses: Most of the local population is engaged in the fisheries and seafood industry. Agricultural lands cover less than 10% of the area and are located along the southern border of the site.

Conservation Measures: The area is protected as a temporary nature reserve ('zakaznik'). It has been proposed to establish a protected areas network of 'Eastern Gulf of Finland' in the region. According to this project, the site will be included in the strictly protected core zone.

Adverse Factors: no information available.

Most recent Ramsar Information Sheet/datasheet: 1997; Please see Introduction for more details.