LATVIA

LATVIA / LATVIJA.

Nature Reserves.
Grīņu Nature Reserve (Grīņu dabas rezervāts)
First stamp in a set of 2, issued on 30.04.1998.
Face value: 10 Latvian santims.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 500,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 28.5 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 480.
- Michel No. 477.
- Scott No. 464.
- StampWorld No.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 489.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 441.

Grīņu Nature Reserve (Latvian: Grīņu dabas rezervāts), a natural habitat under protection, is located in Pāvilosta Municipality (Courland region) in the Latvia far west. Its area is 15.05 km² (5.81 sq mi). The reserve was founded in 1936, but during the II World War and in the first years after, the Grīņu forests were practically neglected, and in 1957 these areas were again declared a nature reserve. It was created to protect a very rare for Latvia plant - cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix), as well as it inherent special biotope locally called grīnis. In addition, significant thickets of sweetgale (Myrica gale) have been preserved, an endangered species of shrubs, source of raw materials to make the famous Riga Black Balsam. Other rare plants, in particular several species of orchids, have been found in the flora of the reserve. The Grīņu Reserve is subordinated to the Regional Council for Nature Conservation Courland and it belongs to the European Conservation Network Natura 2000.