Hiiumaa fauna. Hiiumaa island, estonia

And now you are in luck again! You are in Estonia ..
On SOOREEMAAA, (as some of my acquaintances from St. Petersburg say), have already been. In Tallinn winter's tale not found.
What's next? Then it makes sense to plunge into Estonian life even more ... It's still too early for you to visit Kihnu, but it's time to go to Hiiumaa.

It is the second largest Estonian island. Many of my acquaintances hook their faces in convulsions
when I offer them to go to Dago ..
- Nooo, we won't go there, we have to swim there ... where to live there ... there are no shops ...
And these are the people who were born in Estonia ... (I note that the Russians - in any case, they position themselves this way).

But you are a newcomer and the anti-Baltic propaganda of Channel 1 did not affect you ...
Let's start with the main thing how to get there
- By ferry! Ferries are modern for 100-150 cars and more than 500 passengers.
here the incidental ferries were built in Norway, though by the "Baltic shipyard" - it turned out to be our plant, for us, it was cheaper to build a ship in Norway.

Ferries run every 1.5-2 hours ... travel time 1.5 hours.

As long as you have time you can eat .. the cuisine on the ferry is good ... prices are low ...
But what not to do on the ship is to buy souvenirs ...!

And here you are on the island.
Initially, we mean that you still went to the island by car .. There is nothing to do on Dago without a car!

Unlike Saarem, Hiiumaa still looks like an island.
It is customary to settle on the island, as in the whole Baltic region, - farms ... and the farther from each other, the better.
Who wants to waste time on empty conversations with a neighbor ... you have to work.

This was the case until the beginning of the 20th century - scattered across the island, at a decent distance from each other, farmsteads.

There were, of course, villages, but even here the houses stood at a respectful distance from each other.
With the construction of the "Fortress Named after Emperor Peter the Great", full-fledged villages appeared .... at home
they built back to back and there were quite a few houses in those villages. But don't be distracted!
There are hotels on the island - as many as -3. But they are located in the city (Kardla) and settling in them will spoil the impression of the island.

Before arriving on the island, it is imperative to book a tourist farm.
I have already spoken about the farms, talking about Saaremaa, there are a great many of them and the service in them is several orders of magnitude higher than MASS HOTEL BUZINESE!
And so you are on the island! You have a whole farm at your disposal ... well, for example, in such ...

Do not be alarmed ..!. When the owner tells you the price ... YOU WON'T BELIEVE ....
Let me tell you the secret that this house will cost you 130-150 euros for 2 nights during the season, 80-100 euros out of season (October-April), please notice for 2 NIGHTS!
Agree if you are 4 -5 people, it is not expensive at all….
Moreover, the situation and the view from the window pulls pieces for 2 per day.!

I gave an example of the most exemplary tour guide on the island ..
But believe me, the remaining 50-80 tour farms are no worse .. :)

About arriving on the island ..

The next plan is reasonable.

And after all the preparations, sit down and enjoy the sunset against the background of a juniper field ... the beauty is indescribable .... !

Approximately the following picture will open before you ... if you stay on the Kassari Peninsula

It makes sense to start the next day no later than 9.00, otherwise you simply won't see a lot.!
Depending on the place of residence and the routes will be different.
If we talk about the small farm that in the photo this place is called VALIPE and is located 10 km from the port ... then the route around the island will be as follows ...
1 Spit of the Kassari Peninsula - 1 hour
2 Further, through the village of Käina, you can immediately wave to Lake TIKHU - 1 hour
3 Further, the so-called "Grand Canyon" - the product of a quarrel between two millers ... appeared in the middle of the 17th century. 20-30 minutes
4 Kõpu Lighthouse 40 min (one of the 3 oldest lighthouses on the planet)
5 Ristna lighthouse + Ristna defenses up to 1 hour
6 Port of KALANA 30 min
7 Tahkun lighthouse 30-40 min
8 Military muse (about him separately) up to 1 hour
9 Defensive structures up to 1 hour
10 Eiffel Tower 40 min
11 Kardla (capital) + "Stone Yurka" (I'll tell you separately *) 20-30 min

About "Stone Yurka"
At the beginning of the 60s, party officials decided that on the main islands of Estonia (Saaremaa and Hiiumaa) no
monument to the hero-liberator ... The decision was made, ordered .... And as a result, we got two
almost identical HEADS of a warrior-liberator in helmets. with disease-causing stone growths…. (you will see on the island)
They loaded their heads on barges and dragged them to the islands ... One head to Hiiumaa, another head to Saaremaa ..
The hero's head did not reach Saaremaa. Apparently due to unfavorable shipping conditions, the barge capsized, as a result of which the hero's head
fell into the water and still rests at a depth of about 30 m.

Local residents are very sensitive to the monument and affectionately call it "Stone Yurka".
It should also be added that in Estonia, despite the propaganda of all kinds of central channels, military monuments are treated with care.
Well, the truth is there are poorly educated specimens, the purpose of which is to desecrate the memory of the fallen soldiers ... but as they say IN THE FAMILY IS NOT WITHOUT MORTALITY.

About the Eiffel Tower…. short

One day, a local wood-carving artist ... came up with some meat - I want to build an observation tower.
In Soviet times, the artist worked as a carpenter on a collective farm and his main task was to build towers for hunters.
So from one unfinished tower, over time, a tower grew, with a height of 31 m, completely made of juniper.
There are still some interesting things, but there is no point in talking about them ... All this must be seen.

Hiiumaa is an island in the Baltic Sea with rich, diverse, unspoiled nature and wonderful people. The area of Hiiumaa with the surrounding small islets is 1019 km 2, the population is 11,490.

Already about 500 million years ago, on the site of the present city of Kärdla, as a result of an explosion caused by the fall of a meteorite, a ring formation of islets arose. These were the first islands on the site of what is now Hiiumaa, and their ancient origins make Hiiumaa one of the oldest islands in the world. It is difficult to find a place in Estonia with a more diverse nature than the island of Hiiumaa. The types and types of landscapes change, like pictures of a kaleidoscope. Picturesque and miniature at the same time, they intertwine to create a unique image of Hiiumaa. In summer, many kilometers of sandy beaches on the Tahkuna and Kipu peninsulas.

The small islands surrounding Hiiumaa are like a pearl necklace around the neck of a beauty. Among more than 200 small islets, there are areas of land overgrown with forests and recently emerged from the deep sea, on which there is no vegetation at all. The sea leaves its mark on the island's climate, which differs from that of the Estonian mainland. There are more sunny days here, rains are less frequent. The islanders are calm and tolerant. They are close to nature, reckon with it and love it, being its part. Hiiumaa people love to joke, so it is important that you also have a sense of humor.

What's interesting:

1. Kypu lighthouse is the most famous landmark of Hiiumaa. It can even be called the symbol of the island. After all, the Kypu lighthouse is the third oldest lighthouse in the world in operation. It is known that already in 1490 the Hanseatic League demanded to install a signal fire here. The building is believed to have been completed in 1531. The lighthouse is visible 35 nautical miles away. There is an opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse.

2. Tahkuna lighthouse... The lighthouse structures were made in Paris in 1874, installed in 1875. The tower is 42.6m high and the fire is visible from 18 nautical miles.

3. Mihkli Farm Museum. The 19th century farm complex has been converted into the open-air center of the Hiiumaa Museum. Visitors can get acquainted with the farm buildings, order a picnic with a smoke sauna. Here the TVZ channel in the summer of 2002 filmed the popular series of programs "The Farm".

4. Reigi Church... ... This stone church was built in 1802 by Count Ungern-Sternberg, owner of Kõrgessaare manor and other vast lands in Hiiumaa, also known as Randröövel (coastal robber) and Count Ungru. He built a church in memory of his son Gustav. The first pastor in Reigi was Paul Andreas Lempelius, whose name was immortalized by the writer Aino Callas in her story "The Pastor of Reigi".

5. Rebastemäe nature trail. Starting from the Kypu highway near Unikivi, a 1.5-kilometer marked hiking trail is laid on hills of various types covered with forests, which are ancient dunes and coastal formations. The trail runs through the most high point on the islands and throughout Western Estonia - Kaplimäe (63.5 m), a wonderful view of the Mardihansu Bay opens from the 45-meter-high Rebastemäe hill.

6. The Nelateeristi Nature Trail ("Crossroads of Four Roads") offers travel in any of four directions, each of which provides an excellent opportunity to get to know nature, natural communities, old country roads and farms on the Kõpu Peninsula. In ancient times, this crossroads of four roads was a place for the inhabitants of Hiiumaa, where they came for help in difficult situations or when they were in danger.

7. On the way from Luidja to Emmaste there is a picturesque valley of Vanajõe, cut by water in sand dunes to a depth of 10 meters. A clean stream, feeding mainly from springs, is a spawning ground for salmon. A beautiful grows along the banks Pine forest... A couple of years ago, a European mink was released here.

8. In Kassari, a 3-kilometer gravel ridge goes into the sea, Kassari Sjaer (Kassari Shin)... This is one of the most beautiful and favorite places in Hiiumaa. According to legend, the ridge is a trace of the attempt of the ancient Hiiumaa hero Leiger to build a bridge between the islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa.

9. Kaina Bay and Orjaku nature study trail. On a 4-kilometer educational trail, you can get acquainted with one of the most famous ornithological reserves in Estonia, which is located in the Käina Bay and the surrounding areas (1280 hectares). For bird watching, there are 3 observation platforms, 3 boardwalks allowing access to small islands, as well as a pavilion with a permanent exhibition introducing local nature... The bay is a nesting place for 92 bird species. In autumn, the number of migratory birds can reach 15,000.

10. Ruins of the Käina Church. The largest Gothic church in Hiiumaa, with a capacity of 600 parishioners, was built at the beginning of the 16th century. It was destroyed by fire in 1941. Among many artistic treasures, the organ built by the father of the composer Rudolf Tobias was also lost.

11. House in Kassari with an exposition of the Hiiumaa Museum. The exposition covers the history of Hiiumaa from ancient times to the 1990s. There is a stuffed animal of "The Last Hiiumaa Wolf". Now, after many years, there are wolves on the island again, and even a bear. There are portraits and texts describing the most famous historical figures of Hiiumaa, such as Jacob De la Gardie, Ebba Margaretha von Stenbock and Otto-Reingold-Ludwig von Ungern-Sternberg, the famous "Count Ungru".

12. Hiiumaa Museum - the longest (over 60 m) wooden house in Kärdla, built in the 1830s for the workers of the Kärdla Cloth Factory (1829-1941). The permanent exhibition tells about the history of the town of Kärdla, about the development of the factory, acquaints with the housing of factory workers. It also hosts temporary thematic exhibitions.

13. The ancient Kardla crater, 4.5 km across, was formed when a meteorite fell about 500 million years ago. The area is of great interest for lovers of geology; a nature trail with an observation deck is laid along the crater.

14. Suuremõisa Palace... Built in the second half of the 18th century on the initiative of Ebba Margareta Stenbock (1704-1776). The wings were built in 1772. The palace has 64 rooms. 6 ponds were dug around, a park and a garden were laid out. In 1796 the palace was sold to Baron Ungern-Sternberg. The attic has a double ceiling. In the space between the two ceilings, the Baron is said to have hidden treasures looted from the wrecked ships. On October 19, 1802, the Baron killed the Swede Karl Johannes Malm, the captain of his ship Brig Morian, in his palace. For this, the baron was exiled to a settlement in Siberia. Now there are two educational institutions in the palace: the Suuremõisa Basic School and the Suuremõisa Technical School, where you can, in particular, learn to become a captain.

15. Pyhalepa Church or the Church of St. Lawrence, one of the oldest churches on the island. It was originally without a bell tower and was built around 1270. Later, it was rebuilt many times, the bell tower appeared in 1770. The sarcophagus of Countess Ebba Margareta Stenbock (1704-1776), whose great-grandfather Jacob De la Gardie once owned the entire island of Hiiumaa, is located in the chapel next to the church.

16. The state-protected Kukka Stone is one of the largest glacial boulders in Estonia. It is 16.4 meters long, 11.0 meters wide, 3.7 meters high, and has a girth of 42.6 meters.

17. Soer Farm Museum. Soera farm was built in 1848, the museum was opened in 1979. Here you can get an idea of how people lived on the island in ancient times. A special attraction to the museum is the opportunity to plunge into the past: go to the smoke sauna, drink home-made beer, taste home-baked bread, and sometimes taste the herring of the local ambassador.

18. Ristimägi (Cross Mountain)... At one time, a lot of Swedes lived on Hiiumaa, who, in accordance with the free letters of the King of Sweden, were free people and did not have to work out corvee like serf Estonians. The landlords did not like this. Therefore, after the island of Hiiumaa was ceded to Russia, Catherine II in 1781 exiled the local Swedes to Ukraine. At this place the border of the native parish of the deportees passed, therefore prayers to the Lord were offered up here. As a sign of hope to someday return to their native land, the first crosses were erected here. You, too, can make and install a cross and wish yourself and the island good luck. They say it brings happiness.

Hiiumaa is the second largest island in Estonia, which in its history has managed to visit both the knights of the Order and the rulership of bishops. It is believed that Hiiumaa was uninhabited until the early 13th century. Later, the inhabitants of the Swedish island of Gotland began to flock here, a clear proof of which to this day is the wonderful medieval architecture of the island.

In Swedish, Hiiumaa is simply called Dago.

The information office is located in the main square of the island's capital, Kardla. The exact address: Hiiu 1, Kärdla, 92413 Hiiumaa; tel .: +372 462 2232.

Opening hours: 15 May - 15 September Mon-Fri 10: 00-18: 00, Sat-Sun 10: 00-14: 00. September 16 - September 30 Mon-Fri 10: 00-18: 00, Sat-Sun closed. October 1 - March 31 Mon-Fri 10: 00-17: 00. April 1 - May 14 Mon-Fri 10: 00-18: 00.

How to get there

Modern ferries from the mainland (Haapsalu) or the neighboring island of Saaremaa can deliver about 100-150 cars and more than 800 passengers at a time. Travel time is 1 hour 15-30 minutes, departure every 1.5-2 hours.

In addition, Hiiumaa has its own airport, which receives an Avies flight from Tallinn once a day. Flight time is 30 minutes. For those who prefer firm ground under their feet to the romance of wings, it is worth knowing the fact that a bus runs every day between the two capitals (Tallinn - Kärdla) (about 110 km). The ticket price includes the cost of the ferry crossing; departure from the main bus station in Tallinn.

The best way to explore Hiiumaa and get around the island is with your own or rented car.

Search for flights to Tallinn (nearest airport to Hiiumaa)

Souvenirs

The main souvenir from this picturesque island of sushi is considered to be a funny pebble with a hole (in the people "chicken god" - a small stone with a hole of natural origin, run through by water). Of course, you can't buy a souvenir, you can only find it. Needless to say, the owner of the pebble will be rewarded with happiness for a difficult search? At least that's what the legend says.

Cuisine and restaurants

Despite its small size and calm and measured way of life, Hiiumaa's cuisine will amaze even the most discerning gourmets and lovers of exotic cocktails. Those who prefer national dishes should go for lunch at the Soera Museum-Farm. For hearty, simple and healthy home-cooked cuisine, head to Pihlamari Farm in Kõpu. You can have a fun evening in the pub at the Harbor Inn in Sõru or Tavern Vetsi Tall, whose menu boasts home-made smoked fish.

Can't imagine your vacation without a real restaurant? Please, at your service Rannapaargu in the capital Kärdla, as well as Liilia in Käina.

Can't imagine your vacation without a real restaurant? Please, at your service Rannapaargu in the capital Kärdla, as well as Liilia in Käina. In summer, the Pullu pub in Kassari is open, year-round pubs are available in the harbor of Käina and Heltermaa. The Brewery (Viinaköök) in Kõrgessaare offers a buffet lunch during the summer.

You can taste the local specialty - onion pie - in the cafe at the oldest wool factory in Estonia in Vaemla. Aromatic and strong coffee is offered in the Gahwa cafe in the capital. The westernmost point of Hiiumaa, where you can dine while enjoying amazing views, is the Ristna lighthouse, near which there is a cafe.

Of course, the island also has its own farmers market, which is open from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 16:00, next to the central square of Kardla.

Hiiumaa Accommodation

Despite the undeserved unpopularity, Hiiumaa has quality and attractive accommodation facilities, and in large numbers. In particular, the capital of the island, Kardla, has three hotels and two hostels. In total, there are more than 60 tourist farms on the island, which you can rent entirely and live for your own pleasure, surrounded by calm northern nature (about 80 EUR per night for a whole farm).

Prices on the page are for November 2018.

Hiiumaa entertainment and attractions

Some of the main attractions of the island are considered to be lighthouses: one of the three oldest and currently operating on the planet Kipu lighthouse (formerly Dagerotsky), Ristna lighthouse and Tahkuna lighthouse. All of them are open to the public from May to September, but at other times of the year it is more than realistic to get there: just call the phone number indicated on the front door of the lighthouse.

Views of Hiiumaa Island

The main natural resources of Hiiumaa can be listed for a very long time, we will limit ourselves only to the most popular walking routes around the island (approximate time for inspection is indicated in brackets):

Kassari Spit - 1 hour
Through the village of Käina to Lake Tiha - 1 hour
The Grand Canyon is the product of a quarrel between two millers that emerged in the mid-17th century. - 20-30 minutes
the already mentioned lighthouses: Kõpu - 40 minutes, Risna + defensive structures Ristna - up to 1 hour, Tahkuna - 30-40 minutes
Port of Kalana - 30 min
War Museum - up to 1 hour
"Eiffel Tower", 31 m high, created by the dexterous hands of a wood artist entirely of juniper - 40 min
Kardla (capital) + "Stone Yurka" - 20-30 min

And now you are in luck again! You are in Estonia ..
On SOOREEMAAA, (as some of my acquaintances from St. Petersburg say), have already been. In Tallinn, a winter fairy tale was not found.
What's next? Then it makes sense to plunge into Estonian life even more ... It's still too early for you to visit Kihnu, but it's time to go to Hiiumaa.

But you are a newcomer and the anti-Baltic propaganda of Channel 1 did not affect you ...
Let's start with the main thing how to get there
- By ferry! Ferries are modern for 100-150 cars and more than 500 passengers.
here the case-ferries were built in Norway, though "by the Baltic shipyard" - it turned out
for our factory, for us, it is cheaper to build a ship in Norway.
And here is the ferry itself ...

Ferries run every 1.5-2 hours ... travel time 1.5 hours.

As long as you have time you can eat .. the cuisine on the ferry is good ... prices are low ...
But what not to do on the ship is to buy souvenirs ...!

And here you are on the island.
Initially, we mean that you still went to the island by car .. There is nothing to do on Dago without a car!

This was the case until the beginning of the 20th century - scattered across the island, at a decent distance from each other, farmsteads.

Before arriving on the island, be sure to book - tourist farm.
I have already spoken about the farms, talking about Saaremaa, there are a great many of them and the service in them is several orders of magnitude higher than MASS HOTEL BUZINESE!
And so you are on the island! You have a whole farm at your disposal ... well, for example, in such ...

I gave an example of the most exemplary tour guide on the island ..
But believe me, the remaining 50-80 tourist centers are no worse .. :)

About arriving on the island ..

The next plan is reasonable.

And after all the preparations, sit down and enjoy the sunset against the background of a juniper field ... the beauty is indescribable .... !

Approximately the following picture will open before you ... if you stay on the Kassari Peninsula

And here is the photo head-hero-liberation

About the Eiffel Tower…. short

One day, a local wood-carving artist ... came up with some meat - I want to build an observation tower.
In Soviet times, the artist worked as a carpenter on a collective farm and his main task was to build towers for hunters.
So from one unfinished tower, over time, a tower grew, with a height of 31 m, completely made of juniper.
There are some more interesting things, but there is no point in talking about them ... All this needs to be seen ...

Well, that's all for now! Maybe a little confused, but I hope it is informative enough.
The next island will be Kihnu.

When you are in Estonia for the first time, you simply have to get to Hiiumaa Island. It is part of the Moonsund Archipelago in the Baltic Sea and is the second largest by area belonging to the Republic of Estonia. But it was not always so. Until 1721, the island was owned by the Swedes, after which he managed to visit a part of Russia. Currently, the island is inhabited by about 10.9 thousand people.

How to get to Hiiumaa

For Estonia, the island of Hiiumaa is considered an important territorial unit, therefore, a stable transport connection... There is a bus between Tallinn and Kardla, making several daily runs. The bus is ferried across the Väinameri Strait. The ticket costs 8 EUR. Travel time is 3 hours 50 minutes.

If you travel on personal car, then the travel costs will be slightly higher. The right to transport the car by ferry costs 9 EUR. Plus EUR 2.60 per passenger. The ferry covers the way in 1 hour 15 minutes. Free time can be spent on the upper deck, where there are food points and recreation areas. The cost of a hot lunch is 6 EUR.

Air communication has been established between the island and the mainland. The flight from Tallinn Airport to Kärdlu Airport will take 30 minutes. Flights are made two to three times daily. The price of a plane ticket is 25 EUR one way. The availability of travel options makes it possible to choose, starting from the budget and free time.

Accommodation options and where to stay

It is worth exploring the area by car, having previously viewed the island of Hiiumaa on the map. If you don't have a personal one, you can rent it. Car rental price is 50 EUR / day. Initially, you need to resolve the issue of accommodation. There are three hotels and two hostels in the city of Kardla. Price per night in the hotel is approximately 43 EUR, in the hostel - 27 EUR. There are all the necessary conditions for a comfortable stay, including free Wi-Fi.

An interesting option is to stay in a tourist farm. There are 60 of them scattered throughout the territory. Being in such a place will allow you to fully enjoy the beauties of the nature of the north. The entire farm is rented. Accommodation costs around 80 EUR per night.

Attractions of the island

If you have enough free time and money, then it is worth exploring the area on your own. Plan the route in advance, determine the accommodation, choose the places compulsory attendance... There is also another option. You can use a ready-made excursion that will take you through the most memorable locations.

This tour will take 12-14 hours. The price of the excursion includes: the guide's story throughout the trip, transport, a ferry ticket, a full lunch. The excursion route includes the following attractions:

Visit to the estate of Baron Ungern-Sternberg. This is an old noble family estate with a beautiful flower garden and a majestic church.
You will visit the site of a meteorite impact, the crater of which is located near the capital of Kardla.
Visit the famous lighthouses Ristna, Kipu, Tahkuna. It is important to note that the Kõpu lighthouse is considered one of the oldest on earth.
Visit Fox Mountain, which is considered the starting point of the island itself.
Take a walk through Sand spit, about which there are many legends among the people.
At the end of the journey, visit a woolen factory famous for high quality products.

This completes the route, and you will return home. For such an excursion, groups of 1-8 people are formed. The travel price for the whole group will be 395 EUR. This cost fully justifies itself, because you can expand your horizons by studying the features of one of largest islands Estonia.

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