The Čepkeliai Marsh () is the largest bog (a mire) in Lithuania. Located in Varėna District Municipality, south of Marcinkonys village and north of Kotra River, which flows along the Belarus–Lithuania border in this area. Its area is a nature reserve and a Ramsar site.
Protected status
The area of the swamp is protected as a state nature reserve (Čepkēliai Reserve), with its administration in Marcinkonys,
The bog itself covers an area of , while the larger area of which also includes some neighboring sections of the Dainava Forest is declared as the Čepkeliai Nature Reserve. It was created in 1975, and is protected since 1960 (initially as a botanical-zoological sanctuary).
Etymology
The name Čepkeliai comes from a personal name , i. e. Čepkáuskas, Čepkẽvičius, , , which is a form of name Szczepan. As at the beginning of 20th century, this name was used only for small western part of the bog. The main part was called ("Russian woodland") in Slavic maps. Local Lithuanian name for this swampy and forested region was Gudo Šalis ("The Land of Gud").
Gallery
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Čepkelių viržynė.JPG|A heath in Čepkeliai
Čepkeliai, gailiai.JPG|Wild rosemaries
Čepkeliai. Pušų retmiškis.JPG|Pine forest by the edge of the raised bog
Spanguolės ir saulašarės Čepkeliuose.JPG|Cranberries and sundews on peat moss
Čepkeliai Observation Tower, 2016.jpg | Observation tower
Balno (Šėkinio) ežeras.JPG|Balnas lake in the territory of Čepkeliai Marsh
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