It is one of Estonia's best-loved tourist attractions, but now the site has become the focus of a dispute between nature lovers and mining companies.

Tens of thousands of Estonians have protested plans for open-pit limestone mining, asking the government to reject a development they claim would wreck the Tuhala marshland.

"Mining would destroy one of the most unique nature attractions in northern Europe -- the Tuhala Witch Well," Ants Talioja, head of the Tuhala Nature Centre and the man behind a mass petition against mining plans, told AFP.

"The mining would leave 16 villages without well-water and would fill local attractions -- like caves unseen elsewhere in Estonia -- with water," he added, saying rare orchids in the region would also be under threat.

The Witch's Well of Tuhala usually erupts in the spring when snow melts or when heavy rains drench the earth.

The phenomena happens a few times a year and lasts from a day to three weeks.

Geologists believe it is linked to an extensive network of subterranean rivers spanning the region, creating dangerous sink-holes.

As soon as it begins to churn out copious amounts of water, Estonians and visitors from abroad descend on the site, located 40 kilometres (miles) from Tallinn.

An Internet petition against the planned mine posted on the site (www.tuhalanoiakaevuleappi.com/en/ [1]) has attracted more than 57,000 signatures -- a significant number in Estonia, a Baltic nation of 1.3 million.

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