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
The blue streams of SaulaThree little lakes can be found on the left bank of the Pirita River with many erupting “eyes” of streams, each with its own colour (bluish-green, white, dark). This puts together various colour combinations. These are often known as the most beautiful streams in Estonia. Some pump out as much as 20-30 litres of water per hour. It is said that the waters are good medical resources, particularly for the eyes. There are improvements in the area of tourists.
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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
The Haanja Nature ParkThis park was set up to protect the landscape and cultural environment of the Haanja highland. At the central part of the park are the two highest hills in the Baltic States – Suur Munamägi, which stands 318 m above sea level, and Vällamägi, which is 304 m above sea level. The ancient Rõuge River valley (Rõuge ürgorg) is found in the western part of the park. It is 7.5 km long and up to 60 m deep. The valley dates back to the Ice Age, and it has seven lakes, including the deepest one (38 m) in Estonia – Lake Rõuge Suurjärv.
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Estonia
The Vilsandi National ParkThe national park was established to protect the 100 or so small islands that make up the archipelago of the local area. The largest island, the Vilsandi Island, is 6 km long and up to 2 km wide. You can rent a boat to get there, or, during appropriate conditions, you can walk across the sea and the small islands from the southern end of the Kuusnõmme peninsula.
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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
Terama taka (Tõramaa matkarada)Divarpus kilometrus gara taka (vienā virzienā) aizved līdz Hallistes palieņu pļavām, kur Hallistes upes labajā krastā ir uzcelts divstāvīgs koka skatu tornis. No tā paveras visaptverošs skats uz atjaunotajām (izcirsti krūmi) Hallistes palieņu pļavām. Pavasara palu laikā no torņa redzamā apkārtne un tornis atrodas ūdenī. |
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Estonia
LuitemaaIn Estonian, Luitemaa means ‘the land of dunes’. It is the seashore territory of the Gulf of Pärnu, 13 km between Vöiste and Häädemeeste with shallow waters, vast coastal meadows, the highest dune range in Estonia and the Tolkuse Mire (Tolkuse raba). The Tolkuse mire trail (~2.2 km) and watching tower are available for dune and mire sightseeing tours. Situated in Luitemaa Nature Reserve. |
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Estonia
Keila waterfallThis is one of the loveliest waterfalls in Estonia – up to 6 m in height and 50 m in width. Recommended: The rapid Keila River has carved a cliffy canyon behind the waterfall, with a flow of water that falls down a major distance. It’s worth hiking through the Keila park to the shore of the Bay of Finland (~1 km), then returning along the other bank of the river.
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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
Saka-Ontika-Toila-pank (cliff)This is a cliff with various levels. Known as the North Estonian cliff, it stretches all along the shore of the Bay of Rīga in Estonia, including some of the local islands. The most expressive part in geological and landscape terms is the Saka-Ontika-Toila cliff, which is around 22 km long and offers an unusual natural environment. The cliff is as much as 53 m high, and it has a fairly virginal forest along its slopes. The layers of clay, sandstone, limestone, etc., come from the Cambrian and Ordovician periods. The Valaste juga (Valaste waterfall) is 24 metres high. After a longer period of freezing temperatures, the waterfall has a particularly impressive appearance. Seasonal waterfalls (8-10 m) can be found near the villages of Ontika and Toila.
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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
KassariThe Kassari Island is the fifth largest Estonian island, and it is found to the South of the Hiiumaa Island. There are two dams between the two islands, and a road for motor vehicles has been installed atop them.
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Estonia
The sandstone cliffs of KallasteThis is one of the few places in the Baltic States where one can find Devonian period sandstone cliffs featuring abrasion caves, arches, etc. The cliffs are on the shores of Lake Peipsi (Peipsi järv), near Kallaste, and they are between two and four (in some cases – nine) metres high, stretching for a distance of around one km.
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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
Torna kalns (Tornimägi)Karulas augstienes augstākais reljefa punkts (137 m.vjl.), kas virs tuvākās apkārtnes paceļas par ~ 60 m. Torņa kalnā ir uzbūvēts skatu tornis ar ļoti plašu apkārtskatu. Uz tā platformas ir novietoti panorāmas fotoattēli, kuros atzīmēti zīmīgākie plašākā apkaimē redzamie objekti – apdzīvotas vietas, pilskalni, baznīcu torņi u.c. Turpat izveidota atpūtas vieta un meklējams Rebases ainavu takas sākums. |
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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
Mekonnu skatu tornis (Mäekonnu vaatetorn)Viens no diviem nacionālā parka skatu torņiem, kas atrodas ~ 1,5 km ziemeļos no Ehijerva ezera (Ähijärv). Tornis ir veiksmīgi „nomaskēts” nelielā priežu pudurī, tādēļ tas „nebojā” izcilo dabas un kultūrainavu, kas paveras no tā skatu platformas. Pie autostāvlaukuma ir izveidota labiekārtota atpūtas vieta. |
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Estonia
Tuhala Karst area, Witch’s wellOne of the largest karst areas in Estonia is found here. The unique Witch’s well is one of the most interesting parts of this area. During spring floods (not every year, and for only a short period of time), the well erupts with underground river waters to create an unusually powerful karst stream that can pump out as much as 100 litres per hour.
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Estonia
Moor TolkuseDurch das höchste Dünen-Massiv Estlands und den Moor führt der Lehr-Wanderweg. Blick vom Aussichtsturm bis auf die Insel Kihnu. |
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Estonia
Kuranidu macibu taka (Kuuraniidu õpperada)1,7 km gara lokveida taka, kas iepazīstina ar dažādiem meža biotopiem, to iemītniekiem un meža apsaimniekošanas pamatprincipiem. Apmeklētāju ērtības nolūkā ir izveidotas koka laipas un neliels skatu tornis. |
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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
Haeskas putnu verosanas tornis (Haeska linnutorn)Pamatīgs trīsstāvu koka tornis, no kura atklājas viens no labākajiem Matsalu līča un tā apkaimes palieņu pļavu skatiem, kuras apsaimnieko mājlopi, veidodami piemērotu vidi dažādām putnu un augu sugām. Laba migrējošo zosveidīgo putnu vērošanas vieta. Tā kā tornis ietilpst Tūlingu (Tuulingu) saimniecības teritorijā – spēkrats ir jāatstāj netālu esošajā autostāvlaukumā, bet suņi jāved piesieti kakla siksnā. |
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Estonia
Mohni sala (Mohni saar)Igaunijas jūras ūdeņos ir saskaitīta 1521 sala! Salu sarakstā pēc platības (63 ha) ~ 2,5 km garā Mohni sala ieņem 38. vietu. Lai saudzētu salas trauslo veģetāciju (vietām nedaudz atgādina krūmainu tundru), tās vidusdaļā ir izveidotas koka laipas. Salas dienviddaļā atrodas sašaurinājums, kuru tāpat kā blakus esošo jūras krastu klāj viens no savdabīgākajiem Igaunijas akmeņu laukiem. Salas ziemeļos esošās Mohni bākas (Mohni tuletorn) celtniecība pabeigta 1871. g. un tās gaisma ir redzama 10 jūras jūdžu attālumā. Šī ir viena no skaistākajām Ziemeļigaunijas bākām! Līdz Mohni salai var nokļūt ar laivu (iepriekšēja pieteikšanās) no ~ 5 km attālās Vīnistu ostas (Viinistu sadam). Ar jūras laivu vai kajaku piemērotos apstākļos būs ~ 1h ilgs brauciens. Jārēķinās, ka uz salas nav pastāvīgo iedzīvotāju! Vīnistu ciemā apskatāms 2002. g. izveidotais Vīnistu mākslas muzejs (Viinistu kunstimuuseum). Apmeklētājus iespaidos ne tikai tā āriene, bet arī tapšanas vēsture. |
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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
The Letipea Ehalkivi rockThis is the largest rock in the Baltic States and, according to some sources, in all of the segment of Northern Europe which was affected by the last Ice Age. Its size is 930 m3! The rock is 7.5 m high, 16.5 m long and 14 m high, with a circumference of 48.5 m. The rock resembles a huge pebble from a distance, and it is on the sandy and rocky beach. Depending on the season, it can be out in the water. The Ice Age carried the rock to its current location from the southern shore of Finland. It is made of pegmatite.
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Estonia
The Panga cliffsThe highest and most beautiful wall of cliffs on Saaremaa Island (up to 21 m high), stretching along some 3 km. During strong winds from the W or NW, a part of the cliff is washed by the waves of the sea. The open face of the cliff has limestone, marls and dolomite, and there is a wealth of fossils at the base of the cliff – corals, stromatoporids, etc.
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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
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
Paunas taka (Pauna rada)Kultūrvēsturiska taka (garums ~ 2 km) Tipu (Tipu) ciemā, kas iepazīstina ar vairākiem interesantiem objektiem: veco skolu (1931. g.), Hallistes upi, pirti un Paunas saimniecību, kurā dzimis viens no Igaunijas nacionālās kustības līderiem Villems Reimans (1861. – 1917.). |
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Estonia
Meenikunno swampThis is a highland swamp with several little lakes. At the SE of the area is a wooden trail.
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