Numerous species of fish also occur. Human activities include an important fishery, forestry, livestock grazing, environmental education, recreation, and scientific research. The site is of religious and archaeological importance. The lakes are separated from the sea by a sandy spit. The site includes a sandy shell bar, peninsulas, and islands.
Vegetation consists of salt meadows and numerous species of aquatic plants.
Over 1,000 pairs of waterbirds nest at the site, including nationally and internationally threatened species. The site supports internationally important numbers of Rufibrenta ruficollis and is an important staging, breeding and wintering area for numerous species of waterbirds. Human activities include conservation education, traditional fishing, recreation, and scientific research. Ramsar site no. 763. Bordering Belarus, this unique system of 22 lakes includes marshes, peatlands, meadows, and forests.