What's special about the nature in Estonia?
In Estonia, there stands the most impressive rock wall in the Baltics - the so called North Estonian "glint" (from Estonian language). Estonia has its own "Land of Inlets" - the Lahemaa region with its national park, the "Land of Islands" - the Saaremaa island and the Monzund archipelago. The Matsalu bay is one of the most significant rest stops for birds during their migration. In Estonia there is one of the most prominent impact craters in Europe, there are the greatest waterfalls and boulders in the Baltics, the Munamagi hill - the highest spot in the Baltics, the Lake Peipus - the 5th largest lake in Europe, - with long-standing fishing traditions, and the great variety of nature from West to East, from North to South.
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Estonia
Naissaar islandNaissaar is a small island near Tallinn which was exclusively used by the Soviet military from 1945 to 1993. Attractions on the island include walking trails, varied habitats, a narrow-gauge railway, fortifications from the early 20th C, and a Soviet naval mines factory. |
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Estonia
Abruka IslandThis is the 11th largest Estonian island, and its central section is covered by a broadleaf forest (linden, oak, elm and other trees) that is more than 100 years old. Along the shores, the Abruka Island has meadows and small areas of wetlands. Only the northern part of the island is populated. Few tourists come to call, which means that the island is relatively untouched by humankind.
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Estonia
Muuga Kabelikivi rockThis is the second largest rock in the Baltic States in terms of size (728 m3). It is the only rock in the Baltic States with this form and size. It is 7 m high, 19 m long, 11 m wide, and 58 m in perimeter. Kabelikivi looks like a cliff that is halfway sunk into the earth. During the Ice Age, the rock “travelled” to this location from southern Finland. It is made of granite, and there are two other very impressive rocks alongside it.
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Estonia
Ancient Ajha River valleyThis ancient river valley stretches from Koorvere to the Otteni Windmill, and there are nearly 40 revealed sandstone cliffs from the Devonian age. Two of them, Väike and Suur Taevaskoja (the latter is 22 m high) are popular tourist destinations.
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Estonia
Saleveres Salumegi kalns (Salevere Salumägi)Litorīnas jūras laikā (pirms ~ 6000 gadiem) Saleveres Salumegi kalns bija sala, bet mūsdienās tas kā izteikta kāple (īpaši - ziemeļu pusē) paceļas virs Piejūras līdzenuma. Salumegi ziemeļu pusē slejas 4 - 5 metrus augsts kaļķakmens atsegums – silūra perioda (> 400 mlj. gadu) koraļļu rifa paliekas, kuru noskalojuši Litorīnas jūras viļņi. Atseguma piekājē izplūst Acu avots, kam piedēvē dziednieciskas īpašības. Salumegi apskates nolūkos izveidota lokveida taka (1,5 km). No kalna augšas paveras labs skats uz Matsalu līci. Šeit atradies arī sens pilskalns. |
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Estonia
Metsamoori (Woods Crone) Family ParkThis park is a network of farms in Kaika area where visitors can learn about healthy life styles and alternative medicine. Farms have programmes on using herbs and leech in therapies, on the magical worlds of bees and mushrooms, spells and meditation. In workshops you can learn to use weeds in cooking, make bread and herbal drugs. Individual travellers are welcome to explore the farm on their own. |
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Estonia
The Otepää Nature ParkThis park is found in the Otepää highlands and offers an outstanding example of how the terrain of a protected natural territory can be used for recreation, sports and active leisure. The infrastructure of the park is perfect for such activities and is of a high level of quality.
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Estonia
Perajerva meza taka (Pärajärve metsarada)Četrus kilometrus gara marķēta lokveida taka, kas ved pa lielāku meža masīvu, iepazīstina ne tikai ar augiem un dzīvniekiem, bet arī mežsaimniecības tradīcijām. Takas sākums atrodas pie nelielā Perejerves ciema, uz kuru paveras labs skats no tuvējā paugura. Pie autostāvlaukuma izveidota atpūtas un piknika vieta. |
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Estonia
Sõrve säärDie Südspitze der Insel Saaremaa – eine aus Geröll in der Irbenstraße langgestreckte Landzunge. Militärbefestigungen, Leuchtturm (1960), Vogelbeobachtungsort. |
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Estonia
Lemmje pargajienu taka (Lemmjõe matkarada)Taka, kas izveidota Lemmjegi (Lemmjõgi) un Raudnas (Raudna jõgi) satekas vietā, iepazīstina ar palieņu pļavām un veciem pārmitriem mežiem, kas ir vieni no lielākajiem Igaunijā. Takas sākumā dominē atklātas lauku ainavas. Viens no 4,9 km garās lokveida takas apskates objektiem ir Lemjē dižozols. Mitrā laikā noderēs ūdensizturīgi apavi. |
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Estonia
Halbinsel KäsmuEine von Nadelbaumwäldern bedeckte Halbinsel. Malerisches Käsmu Steinfeld, Matsikivi Stein, Vana Jüri Stein u.a. Bei passenden Bedingungen kann man sich auf einer steinernen Landzunge bis zur 0,5 km entfernt liegenden Insel Saartneem schleppen. |
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Estonia
The Soomaa National ParkThe word “Soomaa” means “land of the swamps” in Estonian. There are several major swamps in this area, along with rivers, lowland meadows, wetland forests, and other biotopes that are of key importance in terms of the diversity of species. Major floods occur here in the spring, which is known by locals as the “fifth season''. The fifth season is the best time to explore the landscape of Soomaa. |
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Estonia
Aegna IslandAn afforested island in the Gulf of Finland, approximately 14 km to the North of Tallinn. There is a network of small roads and trails on the island. Forests: Mostly 1.1, 1.2 and 4.2. Information: www.aegna.ee. A ferry boat to the island departs from the port at Pirita. Hike around the shore of the island, where you will find all kinds of environments – dunes, sandy areas, rocky areas and places with lots of reeds (~9 km). |
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Estonia
Anhöhe OtepääOne of the three highlands of Southern Estonia with scenic hills and beautiful sights. In its center lies the bay-rich Lake Pühajärv (translating from Estonian - Holy Lake). |
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Estonia
Tartu-PiirissaareThis is a quick boat ride from Tartu down the Emajõgi River to Piirissaare Island in Lake Peipsi (Peipsi järv). Along the lower reaches of the river are major wetlands which are of enormous importance for birds.
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Estonia
Pakri peninsulaAt the end of the Pakri peninsula is the most visually impressive shoreline cliff in the Baltic States – the Pakri cliff (Pakri pank), which is as much as 24 metres high. During cold winters, streams which flow from the layers of limestone cliffs form fantastic and unusual shapes of ice.
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Estonia
Skizentrum OtepääDas größte im Baltikum. Marathonloipe von Tartu, Wand der künstlichen Felsen und Trasse der Radmarathon. Skimuseum. Auf der Tehvandi-Sprungschanze ist ein Aussischtsplatform eingerichtet. |
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Estonia
Ehijervs (Ähijärv)Karulas nacionālā parka lielākais ezers - 2,8 km garš, līdz 1 km plats. Ezera ziemeļaustrumu krastā atrodas parka apmeklētāju centrs. 5,5 m dziļais ezers ir gan zivīm, gan nostāstiem bagāta vieta. Ezera un tuvākās apkārtnes iepazīšanas nolūkā ir izveidota 3,5 km garā Ehijerva taka (Ähijärve teerada). Tās sākums atrodas pie iepriekš minētā apmeklētāju centra, kur izveidota atpūtas vieta un atraktīvs bērnu spēļu laukums. Taka sākumā ved gar ezera krastu, nelieliem mitrājiem un meža ceļiem, kas izmantoti iepriekšējos gadsimtos. |
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Estonia
Tuhala Nature Centre and NõiakaevTuhala region has settlements of about 3000 years of age. There are 11 ancient settlement sites, 30 cult stones, 3 burial sites, 4 sacred groves, etc. Tuhala Landscape Reserve has a unique natural feature - the Nõiakaev (Witch´s Well) which “boils” up water during floods at 100 l/s, and 5 mightiest energy columns of the country. |
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Estonia
The Ilumetsa meteor cratersThere are three craters here, and the biggest one, known locally as Põrguhaud, or Grave of Hell, has a diameter of 80 m and a depth of up to 12 m. There are barriers around the crater that are several metres high. The other two craters are hard to spot. The craters around 6,000 years old. No scraps of the supposed meteorite have been found, however, and so the origins of the craters cannot be confirmed with certainty.
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Estonia
Castle Hill OtepääVery expressive form of relief with wide look over the neighborhood. On its peak there's ruins of the castle of bishop Hermanis which was built in 1224. The world's oldest firearm was found here. |
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Estonia
Jägala waterfallThis is one of the greatest waterfalls in the Baltic States – 8 m high and up to 70 m wide. It is most impressive in the spring and after strong rains. The waterfall and its ~300 m canyon emerged from the limestone of the Ordovician Period. You may spot some fossils there. When the water is low, courageous people try to ford the river both above and below the waterfall. The limestone and the falling water have established a unique “tunnel” there.
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Estonia
Bebru taka (Koprarada)Divus kilometrus garās lokveida takas sākums ir meklējams pie Somā nacionālā parka apmeklētāju centra (atklāts 2000. gadā) – Tēramā ciemā. Tā ved gar Mardu strauta (Mardu oja) krastu, kur krustām šķērsām ir sakrituši bebru nogāztie koki, radot diezgan juceklīgu skatu. Apmeklētāju centrā var iegūt nepieciešamo informāciju, noskatīties videofilmu un nacionālajam parkam veltītu ekspozīciju. |
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Estonia
The Endla ReserveThis reserve was set up to protect local swamps and surrounding wetlands. Please note that before you can visit the reserve, you must register with the local administration and visitor centre in the village of Tooma.
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Estonia
Kemu skatu tornis (Keemu vaatetorn)Meklējams Matsalu līča dienvidu krastā pie Kēmu ostas (Keemu sadam). Blakus sešus metrus augstajam metāla – koka tornim uzcelts neliels apmeklētāju centrs. Tāpat kā no Haeskas torņa, arī no šī paveras viena no izcilākajām Matsalu līča un tā piekrastes ainavām. Laba putnu vērošanas vieta migrāciju laikā. |
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Estonia
Penije tornis (Penijõe torn)Lai nokļūtu līdz šim tornim, ir jāveic apmēram 20 – 30 min ilgs pārgājiens pa dabas taku no Penijē muižas gar Penijegi (Penijõgi) kreiso krastu. Te redzami bebru darbi un to celtās zaru mājas. No torņa paveras skats uz Kazari deltu, kas dabā izpaužas kā monolīts un nepārskatāms niedrājs. To vairākās daļās sadala Kazari un mazāka izmēra upītes. Katrai deltas daļai ir savs vēsturiskais nosaukums: no torņa pa kreisi no Penijegi redzama Lihula meri (Lihulas „jūra”), bet tās labajā pusē - Kloostri meri (Klostri „jūra”). Putnu vērotāji var iziet garāku (7 km) dabas takas loku, kas ved pa palieņu pļavām. Jārēķinās, ka pavasaros būs nepieciešami piemēroti apavi! Pļavas ierobežotās platībās apsaimnieko mājdzīvnieki, tādēļ neaizmirstiet aizvērt vārtiņus aiz sevis un netraucējiet to ikdienas gaitas! No maršruta nav atļauts novirzīties, lai netraucētu putnus. |
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Estonia
Stein MajakiviDer dritgrößte Feldstein im Baltikum (584 m3, 7 m hoch, Durchmesser bei dem Grund – 32 m ). Auf estnisch bedeutet „Hausstein”. Befindet sich am Rande des Pikanõmme – Majakivi Pfades (4,5 km lang). |
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Estonia
LuitemaaThe word “Luitemaa” means “land of the dunes” in Estoninan. This coastline territory stretches for 13 km between Vöiste and Häädemeste with shallow waters, large coastal plains, Estonia’s highest dunes, and the Tokuse swamp (Tokuse raba). There are lots of birds here.
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Estonia
Joaveski udenskritumi (Joaveski joastik)Krāčains Lobu upes (Loobu jõgi) posms pie Joaveski ciema, kur ~ 160 m garumā upes gultnē, tai šķērsojot Ziemeļigaunijas glintu, izveidojušās izmēros nelielas, tomēr ļoti ainaviskas un skaistas 0,5 – 1 m augstas ūdenskritumu kaskādes. 1898. g. šeit uzcēla hidroelektrostaciju, kuras atliekas ir redzamas upes labajā krastā. Iecienīta pavasara laivotāju treniņu vieta. |
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Estonia
Harilaidas pussala (Harilaid)Sāmsalas ziemeļrietumu daļā jūrā iestiepjas iespaidīgā Tagameizas pussala (Tagamõisa poolsaar). Tās ziemeļrietumu daļā meklējama mazāka – ap 5 km garā Harilaidas pussala (Harilaid). Pussalas vidusdaļā viļņojas Lajalepas ezers (Laialepa järv) - bijušais jūras līcis, kas zemes garozai ceļoties, kļuvis par iekšēju ūdenstilpi. Arī pati Harilaida (igauniski „laid” nozīmē „saliņa”) vairāk nekā trīs gadsimtus atpakaļ bijusi sala. Harilaidu iecienījuši ne tikai migrējošie putni, bet arī roņi, kurus piesaista vientuļi līči un akmeņainās sēres. Harilaidu var apmeklēt tikai ar kājām vai ar divriteni, bet spēkrati ir jāatstāj autostāvlaukumā. No tā ~ 1 km attālumā atrodas vieta, kur pēc 17. gs. radies Harilaidas savienojums ar Sāmsalu. Šeit paveras nepierasti klaja un akmeņaina ainava. Pārējā Harilaidas daļa ir apmežota pirms ~ 40 gadiem. Kopumā būs jāveic ~ 10 km garš pārgājiens. |
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