As of today, out of season, returns ~March. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
In Soomaa National Park, in the bogland of southwest Estonia, the spring thaw creates what locals call the 'fifth season' — a flood so reliable and so transforming that it counts as a season of its own.
When the winter snows melt, often with spring rain on top, the rivers cannot hold the water and burst across the land: roads, meadows, farmyards and up to 17,500 hectares of low-lying forest vanish under water for days to weeks.
During the fifth season a boat becomes the only practical transport, and visitors paddle through flooded woodland where the forest floor has become a still, tea-coloured lake threaded between tree trunks.
The tradition runs deep: the local single-log dugout canoe (haabjas) was added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2021.
The flood usually peaks around late March to mid-April, but its timing and size shift each year with how much snow fell and how fast it melts.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Soomaa Visitor Centre (Kõrtsi-Tõramaa) |
| Tõramaa Wooded Meadow Canoe Launch |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.