Interpreting Estonian mires: common perceptions and changing practices

Authors

  • Piret Pungas-Kohv Department of Geography, University of Tartu
  • Riste Keskpaik Department of Semiotics, University of Tartu
  • Marko Kohv Department of Geology, University of Tartu
  • Kalevi Kull Department of Semiotics, University of Tartu
  • Tõnu Oja Department of Geography, University of Tartu
  • Hannes Palang Center for Landscape and Culture, Estonian Institute of Humanities, Tallinn University

Keywords:

Mire, Raised bogs, Phenomenology, Perception

Abstract

Over the centuries mires have been considered to be mostly useless, even dangerous places. Adopting a landscape semiotic perspective the article delineates the current common perceptions of Estonian mires based upon 767 questionnaires. Today the mire is commonly perceived as undisturbed wilderness offering possibilities for various recreational as well as traditional activities. The image of mires in popular consciousness is predominantly based on touristic experience of protected areas. The history of the most widespread practices in the mires over the 20th century reveals three general paradigmatic frames of reference: traditional where mire appears to be liminal; industrial where it is encultured; and ecological where mire is aestheticized. In its orientation towards aesthetic and emotional values the common perspective diverges from the landscape ecological definition. Tourism to non-protected, partly meliorated mires should be encouraged to give a more realistic perspective of the mires to non-professionals.

Section
Research Papers

Published

2015-08-03

How to Cite

Pungas-Kohv, P., Keskpaik, R., Kohv, M., Kull, K., Oja, T., & Palang, H. (2015). Interpreting Estonian mires: common perceptions and changing practices. Fennia - International Journal of Geography, 193(2), 242–259. Retrieved from https://fennia.journal.fi/article/view/48089