Where is Kariste Järv?

Kariste Järv is a lake in Viljandi, Estonia. This page reports official water-quality measurements, shown as reported.

Is Kariste Järv safe to swim in?

Kariste Järv has official nutrient and clarity measurements, not a bacteria swim class and not a safety clearance. Algal blooms, currents, and depth are not covered. Always check local notices before swimming.

How deep is Kariste Järv?

Kariste Järv has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 152.2 acres.

Kariste Järv

Viljandi, Estonia62 haView map Directions

KAUR publishes the water-quality measurements for Kariste Järv. Here is what has been measured.

Clarity

1.4 m

Typical for Estonia

Secchi · sampled 2023

Phosphorus

65 µg/L

More phosphorus than most

Measured by KAUR

Chlorophyll-a

30 µg/L

More algae than most

Measured by KAUR

Max depth

7 m

Bathymetric survey

Area

62 ha

Surface area

23 ft max depth
Limited data

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Kariste Järv in Viljandi, Estonia has official water-quality measurements, shown as reported. Water clarity: 1.4 m visibility. Phosphorus: 65 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 30 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 152.2 acres.

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How Kariste Järv is classified

Kariste Järv in Estonia is published with the authority's own measurements and class. The measurements here are published by the agency that samples the lake, as reported. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).

LakeQuality publishes no grade of its own beside it. Everything below thathas been measured is reported on this page.

Monitoring: the Estonian Environment Agency (Keskkonnaagentuur).

Kariste Järv is a 152-acre lake in Viljandi County, Estonia with a maximum depth of 23 feet.

Source: the Estonian Environment Agency (Keskkonnaagentuur) — not the EPA Water Quality Portal, last sampled 2023-09-12. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

Swimming conditions

No reading

Limited data

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Kariste Järv is safe to swim in today is a call for the Estonian Environment Agency (Keskkonnaagentuur) and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Kariste Järv

These are the measurements KAUR publishes for Kariste Järv. More on the source.

Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus 65 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 30 µg/L. TSI 61.

Water quality readings
Measure	Reading	Where it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)	1.4m	Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.
Total phosphorus	65µg/L	Measured, not scored The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential.
Chlorophyll-a (algae)	30µg/L	Measured, not scored The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water.
Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a.	61	Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Ask about Kariste Järv

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

7 m

Surface area

62 ha

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Fishing Kariste Järv

→ Kariste Järv fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Frequently asked questions about Kariste Järv

Where is Kariste Järv?: Kariste Järv is a lake in Viljandi, Estonia. This page reports official water-quality measurements, shown as reported.
What is the water quality of Kariste Järv?: Kariste Järv in Viljandi, Estonia has official water-quality measurements, shown as reported. Water clarity: 1.4 m visibility. Phosphorus: 65 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 30 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 152.2 acres.
Is Kariste Järv safe to swim in?: Kariste Järv has official nutrient and clarity measurements, not a bacteria swim class and not a safety clearance. Algal blooms, currents, and depth are not covered. Always check local notices before swimming.
How deep is Kariste Järv?: Kariste Järv has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 152.2 acres.

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Where this data comes from

80 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2017–2023. Retrieved from KESE / Estonian Environment Agency (not the EPA Water Quality Portal) on 2026-08-16.

Collected and reported by

Estonian Environment Agency (Keskkonnaagentuur)kese-ee80 samples · 2017–2023

Analytical methods

KESE I-level monitoring

Monitoring station identifiers (1)

SJA9298003

Authority classifications are shown as the authority published them. See where the data comes from and data sources.