DOCSLIB.ORG

Estonia Baltic Archipelago

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Estonia Baltic Archipelago ?? photo 1: © Henrik Lukk courtesy of Estonian Fund for Nature Baltic archipelago Estonia Bordering the shores of the Baltic The area covered by forests and pressure and intensive forestry prac- Sea and the Gulf of Finland, and woodlands has almost doubled in size tices are causing Estonia’s old growth sharing borders with Russia to the during the past half-century as a result forests to rapidly diminish. east and Latvia to the southwest, of land abandonment and disruption landscapes in Estonia range from of traditional agricultural practices, Bog land a plethora of Baltic Sea islands and both under Soviet rule and since the endless coastal areas to continental fall of the Iron Curtain. Forests now Because much of the land in Estonia landscapes traced by rivers, streams cover nearly half of Estonia’s surface is flat and wet, large land areas are and other inland waterways. area – one of the highest densities of unsuitable for agriculture. Particularly forest cover in Europe. under the Soviet system of collective agriculture, many of the most produc- Baltic archipelago The forests, mostly dry pine and tem- tive agricultural areas were intensively For such a small country, measuring perate spruce, provide havens for an scarcely 240 km from tip to toe, Esto- abundance of wildlife, including rela- nia has a remarkably long coastline tively large numbers of bears, lynx Area: 45,226 km² (approximately stretching a total of 3,794 km. The and wolves. Though rare and strictly the size of The Netherlands or exceptional length is mostly due to the protected in other parts of Europe, Denmark). these carnivores are still relatively more than 1,500 islands that belong to Terrain: marshy, lowlands; flat in plentiful in Estonia (100-250 wolves; the country. The largest of the islands, the north, hilly in the south. Baltic 400-600 brown bears; and as many Saaremaa (2,900 km²) and Hiiumaa, Coast with archipelago of islands. separate the Gulf of Riga from the as 1,000 lynx). Beavers and otter are Baltic Sea. New islets and coastal also relatively common. Large, uninter- Elevation extremes: lowest wetlands are created by a constant rupted tracts of old forests are also point: Baltic Sea 0 m, highest land rise of up to 3 mm per year. home to flying squirrels and black point: Suur Munamagi 318 m. storks, which unlike their white cous- Land use: arable land: 25 %, Estonia’s archipelago, together with ins shun contact with humans, prefer- permanent crops: 0 %, permanent the coastal areas of the mainland, ring the seclusion of deep forests. pastures: 11 %, forests and wood- serve as major stop-over sites for Unfortunately, intensifying economic migrating birds. An estimated 50 mil- land: 44 %, other: 20 %, especially lion water and coastal bogs and wetlands (1996 est.). birds use these Protected areas: 4 National attractive coastal Parks and 10 Nature Reserves wetlands on their (217 protected areas). 1 inter- way to and from the nationally recognised biosphere arctic each spring (West Estonian Islands Biosphere and fall. Almost the Reserve). whole population of Population: 1,423,316 (July 10-20,000 Berwick’s 2001 est.) – approximately one Swans pass through tenth of that in The Netherlands. Estonia. Other bird Population density ca. 33 km2. species include huge flocks of Common Capital: Tallinn – population photo 2: © WWF/Mauri Rautkari Cranes. 365,305. Cold War dividend For further information farmed using heavy chemical inputs. But many other areas remained Soviet rule of Estonia left a mixed contact: relatively untouched. As a result, bogs, environmental legacy. About a tenth wooded meadows, wetland forests of the country’s territory, particularly Estonian Fund and several other landscape types that sensitive coastal areas, was clas- for Nature for the most part have been destroyed sified as a restricted military zone. P.O. Box 245 in the rest of Europe, have survived in The Soviet military indiscriminately Tartu 50002 Estonia relatively unscathed. dumped toxic and hazardous waste Estonia Tel.: +372 7 428 443 [email protected] www.elfond.ee Useful links: Estonian Ministry of the Environment www.envir.ee Estonian Environment Information Center photo 3: © WWF-Canon/Mauri Rautkari www.envir.ee/itk Wooded meadows with poor soils in some areas, leaving behind a series Estonian Fund for Nature on limestone bedrock contain some of environmental “hotspots” with con- www.elfond.ee of the greatest diversity of plant com- taminated soil and groundwater. At the munities in Europe. The main threat same time, though, restricted access Regional Environmental to many of the semi-natural meadows, to large areas of the country had the Center Estonia which are valuable habitats for a wide beneficial effect of preserving many www.recestonia.ee variety of flora as well as for migrating natural features. After the collapse of birds, is undermanagement and aban- the Soviet Union, many of these areas, Estonian State donment, rather than overexploitation. including much of the coastline, were of the Environment transformed into protected areas. As Wetlands cover about a fifth of the nfp-ee.eionet.eu.int/SoE/ a result, large stretches of the Esto- country. Many of the rivers remain index_en.htm nian coastline have been relatively in a relatively natural state and serve untouched, though development pres- as excellent feeding and breeding Soomaa National Park sure is now growing. grounds for waterfowl and fish alike. www.soomaa.ee/ Estonia is probably the principal As in a number of other Central and ?setlang=eng breeding ground for the Corncrake Eastern European countries, the (Crex crex), a bird that is threatened beginning of the environmental move- Estonia – Wide Web portal elsewhere in Europe. ment in Estonia is closely connected www.ee/www/Regions/ with the country’s movement for inde- Marshes and bogs, concentrated in welcome.html pendence from the Soviet Union in the central and eastern parts of the the 1980s. Protests directed against country, presently take up 6 % of the Estonian the planned opening of phosphorite country’s territory. Soomaa National Ecotourism Association mines in the late 1980s led to the Park, known as the “bog land”, is www.ecotourism.ee “Singing Revolution” that eventually home to impressive bogs with peat ended in Estonian independence. layers as much as seven metres thick. Estonia – Nature and sights Many valuable wetland areas were Today, one of the chief environmental www.vm.ee/estonia/ damaged by drainage for agriculture concerns facing Estonia is connected kat_207/1169.html in the early Soviet period. No major with the country’s continuing heavy drainage projects have been carried dependence on oil-shale, found in out for more than a decade, but pres- the north-east of the country, for its sure from the peat extraction industry energy needs. Reliance on oil-shale, remains a threat to many areas. which is a major source of pollution Photo 1: Alam-Pedja River. to the air, water and soils, is planned to be steadily reduced as part of the Photo 2: Northern Estonia. country’s accession to the European Photo 3: Baltic seashore Union. in northern Estonia. Author: Andreas Beckmann, 2003. Layout: [email protected] | Produced with support from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Environment and Water / 2003 with support | Produced Ministryand Water the Austrian from Federal Environment [email protected] Forests, of Agriculture, Beckmann, 2003. Layout: Author: Andreas.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Report on Coronavirus Pandemic
    Coronavirus pandemic in the EU – Fundamental Rights Implications Country: Estonia Contractor’s name: Estonian Human Rights Centre Date: 4 May 2020 DISCLAIMER: This document was commissioned under contract as background material for a comparative report being prepared by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) for the project “Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak in the EU – fundamental rights implications”. The information and views contained in the document do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA. The document is made available for transparency and information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion. 1 Measures taken by government/public authorities 1.1 Emergency laws/states of emergency, including enforcement actions In Estonia, the Government of the Republic declared an emergency situation on 12 March 2020 due to the pandemic spread of the COVID-19.1 The emergency situation was initially to last until 1 May 2020, but was later extended until 17 May 2020.2 The declaration, resolution and termination of an emergency situation is regulated by the Emergency Act (Hädaolukorra seadus).3 The Emergency Act gives the person in charge of the emergency situation (the Prime Minister) the right to issue orders applying various measures. The orders include a reference that the failure to comply with the measures of the emergency situation prompt the application of the administrative coercive measures set out in the Law Enforcement Act4, and that the penalty payment is € 2000 pursuant to the Emergency Act.5 1.2 Measures affecting the general population 1.2.1 Social distancing In Estonia, after the declaration of the emergency situation, stay at home orders were imposed on people who arrived in Estonia from abroad.
    [Show full text]
  • Hiiumaa Laidude Maastikukaitseala Kaitse- Eeskirja Ja Välispiiri Kirjelduse Kinnitamine
    Väljaandja: Vabariigi Valitsus Akti liik: määrus Teksti liik: algtekst Avaldamismärge: RT I 1998, 97, 1531 Hiiumaa laidude maastikukaitseala kaitse- eeskirja ja välispiiri kirjelduse kinnitamine Vastu võetud 27.10.1998 nr 243 Kaitstavate loodusobjektide seaduse (RT I 1994, 46, 773; 1998, 36/37, 555)paragrahvi 5 lõike 4 japaragrahvi 6 lõike 3 alusel ning arvestades EuroopaLiidu Nõukogu direktiivi 92/43/EMÜ looduslike elupaikadening fauna ja floora kaitse kohta (EÜT L 206, 21.05.1992) ja EuroopaLiidu Nõukogu direktiivi 79/409/EMÜloodusliku linnustiku kaitse kohta (EÜT L 103, 2.04.1979) sätteid,Vabariigi Valitsus määrab: 1. Kinnitada: 1) Hiiumaa laidude maastikukaitseala kaitse-eeskiri (juurde lisatud); 2) Hiiumaa laidude maastikukaitseala välispiiri kirjeldus (juurdelisatud). 2. Määrata Hiiumaa laidude maastikukaitseala valitsejaksKeskkonnaministeeriumi hallatav riigiasutusHiiumaa Laidude Maastikukaitseala. 3. Tunnistada kehtetuks Eesti NSV Ministrite Nõukogu26. oktoobri 1971. a määruse nr 493 «Uuteriiklike kaitsealade moodustamise ja riikliku maastikulise kaitseala«AegviiduNelijärve» ümbernimetamise kohta»(ENSV Teataja 1971, 44, 465) punkt 1. Peaminister Mart SIIMANN Keskkonnaminister Villu REILJAN Riigisekretär Uno VEERING Kinnitatud Vabariigi Valitsuse 27. oktoobri 1998. amäärusega nr 243 Hiiumaa laidude maastikukaitseala kaitse-eeskiri I. ÜLDSÄTTED 1. Hiiumaa laidude maastikukaitseala (edaspidi kaitseala) onmoodustatud Hiiumaa Rajooni TSNTäitevkomitee 26. septembri 1962. a otsusega nr 70«Looduskaitse kindlustamisest Hiiumaa rajoonis»looduskaitse
    [Show full text]
  • The Baltic Republics
    FINNISH DEFENCE STUDIES THE BALTIC REPUBLICS A Strategic Survey Erkki Nordberg National Defence College Helsinki 1994 Finnish Defence Studies is published under the auspices of the National Defence College, and the contributions reflect the fields of research and teaching of the College. Finnish Defence Studies will occasionally feature documentation on Finnish Security Policy. Views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily imply endorsement by the National Defence College. Editor: Kalevi Ruhala Editorial Assistant: Matti Hongisto Editorial Board: Chairman Prof. Mikko Viitasalo, National Defence College Dr. Pauli Järvenpää, Ministry of Defence Col. Antti Numminen, General Headquarters Dr., Lt.Col. (ret.) Pekka Visuri, Finnish Institute of International Affairs Dr. Matti Vuorio, Scientific Committee for National Defence Published by NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE P.O. Box 266 FIN - 00171 Helsinki FINLAND FINNISH DEFENCE STUDIES 6 THE BALTIC REPUBLICS A Strategic Survey Erkki Nordberg National Defence College Helsinki 1992 ISBN 951-25-0709-9 ISSN 0788-5571 © Copyright 1994: National Defence College All rights reserved Painatuskeskus Oy Pasilan pikapaino Helsinki 1994 Preface Until the end of the First World War, the Baltic region was understood as a geographical area comprising the coastal strip of the Baltic Sea from the Gulf of Danzig to the Gulf of Finland. In the years between the two World Wars the concept became more political in nature: after Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania obtained their independence in 1918 the region gradually became understood as the geographical entity made up of these three republics. Although the Baltic region is geographically fairly homogeneous, each of the newly restored republics possesses unique geographical and strategic features.
    [Show full text]
  • MERELINE SAAREMAA Saaremaa
    MERELINE SAAREMAA Saaremaa Priit Noogen Margit Kõrvits Kristina Mägi KUIDAS SAADA SAARELE OLULISED NUMBRID: SAARE MAAKOND Saaremaa pikk ja rahulik rannajoon on ümbritsetud külalislahkete sadamatega, kuhu oma purjelaevaga randuda. Vaid paar lehte edasi ja juba Hädaabi ja merepääste 112 Pindala 2922 km2 (6,5% Eesti pindalast), kokku 710 saart leiadki külalissadamate info. Ahhoi! Saaremaa Vabatahtlik Merepääste Selts +372 5119922 Suuremad saared: Saaremaa, Muhu, Ruhnu, Abruka, Vilsandi Olgu talv või suvi, uued parvlaevad toovad Sind muretult kohale. Kui soovid viivitamata ja kindlal ajal oma roositud pätiga saarele astuda, saad pileti ette osta www.praamid.ee Kuressaare Haigla, EMO +372 4520040 Rannajoone kogupikkus 1414 km 2 Saaremaa Turismiinfokeskus, Rahvaarv ca 34 000, 13,1 inimest/km Kõrgelt õhust on imeline vaade meie saarte maale. Saaremaa ja Muhu, Vilsandi ja Abruka, ehk paistab ka servake Ruhnut. Lehvita meie Tallinna 2, Kuressaare, Eesti, Administratiivne jaotus: headele naabritele Hiiumaal. Sellist luksust pakub lennureis, vaid 30-40 minutit Tallinnast Kuressaarde. +372 453 3120, 3 valda - SAAREMAA, MUHU, RUHNU Vaata infot www.saartelennuliinid.ee [email protected] 1 linn - KURESSAARE, rahvaarv ca 13 000 www.visitsaaremaa.ee Külma ja jäist talve rannarahvale igal aastal ei anta. Kui see siiski tuleb, on võimalik saartele sõita üle mere ka jääteed pidi. Seda unikaalset võimalust tuleb kindlasti kasutada! Liikuda võib ainult ametlikel avatud jääteedel ja kindlasti jälgida märgistust ja reegleid. Lähemalt vaata www.mnt.ee/et/tee/jaateed Suved on meil päikeselised ja ilusad, peale jaanipäeva pole lootustki jääteed kasutada! MERELINE SAAREMAA Jarmo Vehkakoski Priit Noogen Priit Noogen Karl Jakob Toplaan SAAREMAA – osa üleilmsest UNESCO võrgustikust! UNESCO programm „Inimene ja biosfäär“ keskendub tänasel päeval just sellele, et üha rohkem inimesi teeksid valikud jätkusuutlikuma eluviisi kasuks.
    [Show full text]
  • UAL-110 the Estonian Straits
    UAL-110 The Estonian Straits Exceptions to the Strait Regime ofInnocent or Transit Passage By Alexander Lott BRILL NIJHOFF LEIDEN I BOSTON UAL-110 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Lott, Alexander, author. Title: The Estonian Straits: Exceptions to the Strait Regime of Innocent or Transit Passage / by Alexander Lott. Description: Leiden; Boston : Koninklijke Brill NV, 2018. I Series: International Straits of the World; Volwne 17 I Based on author's thesis ( doctoral - Tartu Olikool, 2017) issued under title: The Estonian Straits: Exceptions to the Strait Regime of Innocent or Transit Passage. I Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2018001850 (print) I LCCN 201800201s (ebook) I ISBN 9789004365049 (e-book) I ISBN 9789004363861 (hardback: alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Straits-Baltic Sea, I Straits--Finland, Gulf of. I Straits--Riga, Gulf of (Latvia and Estonia), I Straits- Estonia, I Straits, I Innocent passage (Law of the sea) I Finland, Gulf of--Intemational status. I Riga, Gulf of (Latvia and Estonia)--Intemational status. Classification: LCC KZ3810 (ehook) I LCC KZ38IO .L68 2018 (print) I DOC 34I.4/48--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018001850 Typeface for the Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic scripts: "Brill". See and download: brill.com/brill-typeface. ISSN 0924-4867 ISBN 978-90-04-36386-l (hardback) ISBN 978-90-04-36504-9 ( e-book) Copyright 2018 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Brill Hes & De Graaf, Brill Nijhoff, Brill Rodopi, Brill Sense and Hotei Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.
    [Show full text]
  • Gulf of Riga (Latvia)
    EUROSION Case Study GULF OF RIGA (LATVIA) Contact: Ramunas POVILANSKAS 31 EUCC Baltic Office Tel: +37 (0)6 312739 or +37 (0)6 398834 e-mail: [email protected] 1 EUROSION Case Study 1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA The length of the Latvian coastline along the Baltic proper and the Gulf of Riga is 496 km. Circa 123 km of the coastline is affected by erosion. The case area ‘Gulf of Riga’ focuses on coastal development within the Riga metropolitan area, which includes the coastal zone of two urban municipalities (pilsetas) – Riga and Jurmala (Figure 1). Riga is the capital city of Latvia. It is located along the lower stream and the mouth of the Daugava river. Its several districts (Bulli, Daugavgriva, Bolderaja, Vecdaugava, Mangali and Vecaki) lie in the deltas of Daugava and Lielupe rivers and on the Gulf of Riga coast. Jurmala municipality is adjacent to Riga from the west. It stretches ca. 30 km along the Gulf of Riga. It is the largest Latvian and Eastern Baltic seaside resort. 1.1 Physical process level 1.1.1 Classification According to the coastal typology adopted for the EUROSION project, the case study area can be described as: 3b. Wave-dominated sediment. Plains. Microtidal river delta. Within this major coastal type several coastal formations and habitats occur, including the river delta and sandy beaches with bare and vegetated sand dunes. Fig. 1: Location of the case study area. 1.1.2 Geology Recent geological history of the case area since the end of the latest Ice Age (ca.
    [Show full text]
  • Baltic Sea): a Comparative Study with Different Modelling Scenarios
    ICES CM 2009/G:02 Not to be cited without prior reference to the author Developments in the shallow coastal ecosystem of the Väike Strait (Baltic Sea): a comparative study with different modelling scenarios Ülo Suursaar, Robert Aps, Tiit Kullas, Georg Martin, and Mikk Otsmann Abstract The Väike Strait in the West Estonian Archipelago has been closed by a 3 km-long road dam since 1896, forming two separate bays. Conditions in the northern part are mainly governed by the more saline Baltic Proper; in the S-part relatively nutrient-rich Gulf of Riga waters prevail. In recent decades, ecological conditions have been deteriorating in the area and acceleration of accumulation and eutrophication has been observed. Reproduction areas of whitefish and herring have been disturbed. According to widespread opinion, as no water exchange occurs through the strait, the existence of the dam is the reason for those adverse changes. Therefore, a question of constructing some bridged openings has risen several times in the past. The aims of the study are to analyse the ongoing changes in the area, and to decide whether re-opening of the strait may help to restore the past situation. The study is based on monitoring and special measurements data in the area. The possible influence of openings were analysed using high-resolution 2D hydrodynamic modelling. Changes in renewal times of water masses were calculated and matter fluxes were studied. The results suggested that most of the past changes have probably occurred due to natural and of larger scale causes, such as isostatic land uplift, regional increase in water temperature, sedimentation and overall eutrophication of the sea.
    [Show full text]
  • Facts and Figures Territory Religion Historical
    TERRITORY HISTORICAL OVERVIEW INDEPENDENCE Estonia is the smallest of the three Baltic states Estonians have lived in Under Russian rule, a cultural Russification was located on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea what is today’s Estonian imposed upon Estonians until 24 February 1918 only about 50 miles across Helsinki, Finland. Its lands for 11,000 years. when Estonia proclaimed independence. This flat landscape is The common belief is they FINLAND lasted until 21 July 1940 when the Soviet Union shaped by the migrated westward from illegally incorporated Estonia into the Union of glaciers of the Gulf of Finland the Volga region near the Soviet Republics through the infamous Molotov- Baltic Continental Sea Narva Ural Mountains. Unlike Ribbentrop Pact of 1939. Russification and Ice Belt and Tallinn Tapa other branches of Finno- Old Town, Tallinn Sovietization of cultural, economic, and political life the Baltic Sea. Ugric people who migrated south to what today consisted of forced collectivization, expropriation of Historically, is Hungary, the ancestors of Estonians settled in private property, and central planning accompanied the Baltic Sea Tartu RUSSIA the northern part of Europe in today’s Estonia and by mass deportations to Siberia, mass executions, has served as a Finland. Squeezed between the Slavic nations in Gulf out-migration and low-birth rates. The outcome was trade route and a of the east and Germanic ones in the south and west, a change in demographics among ethnic Estonians, source of wealth Riga LATVIA Estonia has been invaded, Russians and Russian-speaking people. Estonia for the coastal occupied and ruled for 700 reclaimed independence on 20 August 1991.
    [Show full text]
  • Reviewing the Coherence and Effectiveness of Implementation of Multilateral Biodiversity Agreements in Estonia
    Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre, Publication No 25, Project Report – 2014 Reviewing the coherence and effectiveness of implementation of multilateral biodiversity agreements in Estonia Kaja Peterson, Piret Kuldna, Plamen Peev, Meelis Uustal Reviewing the coherence and effectiveness of implementation of multilateral biodiversity agreements in Estonia Kaja Peterson, Piret Kuldna, Plamen Peev, Meelis Uustal Reference: Peterson, K., Kuldna, P., Peev, P. and Uustal, M. 2014. Reviewing the coherence and effectiveness of implementation of multilateral biodiversity agreements in Estonia. Project Report, SEI Tallinn, Tallinn: 70 p. Project no 41064 Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre Lai Str 34 Tallinn 10133 Estonia www.seit.ee January–December 2013 Language editor: Stacey Noel, SEI Africa Lay-out: Tiina Salumäe, SEI Tallinn Photos: Kaja Peterson, SEI Tallinn ISBN: 978-9949-9501-4-0 ISSN: 1406-6637 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of acronyms and abbreviations ..................................................................................................................................................7 List of figures .............................................................................................................................................................................................8 List of tables ..............................................................................................................................................................................................8 Executive summary
    [Show full text]
  • RMK Saaremaa Ja Hiiumaa Külastusalade Külastuskorralduskava Hõlmab Endas Saaremaa Puhkeala, Vilsandi Rahvuspargi (S.H
    RMK Saaremaa ja Hiiumaa külastusalad Külastuskorralduskava 2019-2028 tööversioon Riigimetsa Majandamise Keskus Külastuskorraldusosakond Sisukord Sissejuhatus .................................................................................................................... 3 Kasutatavad mõisted .................................................................................................. 5 1. Ala kirjeldus ............................................................................................................. 6 2. Maaomand ja majandamise üldised põhimõtted ........................................ 13 3. Regulaarselt läbiviidavad seired ja uuringud .................................................. 22 3.1. Külastajauuring .............................................................................................. 22 3.2. Külastusmahu seire ....................................................................................... 23 3.3. Loodushoiuobjektide seisundi seire ............................................................ 24 3.4. Ressursi seire ................................................................................................... 25 4. Eesmärgid ja tegevussuunad ............................................................................ 26 5. Tsoneerimine ......................................................................................................... 30 6. Hooldus ja rekonstrueerimine............................................................................. 31 7. Teavitamine ja külastuskeskuste
    [Show full text]
  • EUROPARC NBS Newsletter 1/2014
    EUROPARC NBS Newsletter 1/2014 http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5108bdfadcd892894bfe63be6&... Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate Use this area to offer a short preview of your email's content. View this email in your browser Final countdown Ongoing year is the last presidency year for Estonia and Environmental Board. We are making our best to negotiate with possible next host of Nordic-Baltic Section secretariat. Many activities lie still ahead, such as interesting seminars about wooded grasslands and health issues. We rely on your good collaborations for the upcoming newsletters and other activities! Section secretariat 1 of 10 10.04.2014 9:34 EUROPARC NBS Newsletter 1/2014 http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5108bdfadcd892894bfe63be6&... Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate President´s corner Winter in Matsalu National Park was cold, Following species are getting special but very short. Spring migration has begun attention in Estonia this year having been with first grey-lag geese, lapwings and elected so called species of the year: sky-larks here; first hundreds of whooper Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida), Common and bewick's swans have started their Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and Alder song festival on Matsalu bay. Some of the Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). spring can be seen from home via internet - the "seal camera" of Vilsandi National In spite of good weather the mood is not Park is located in the grey-seals' kinder- very much so, the thoughts being held by garden: www.looduskalender.ee/node the tense situation in Ukraine. Who knows /19354 and "owl camera" of Matsalu how far the conflict can go, and there National Park is inside a tawny owl's nest: would be then losses both among people www.looduskalender.ee/node/19372 .
    [Show full text]
  • Island Hopping in Estonia: a Hiiumaa, Saaremaa and Muhu Padise Tallinn Kardla Baltic Se Hiiumaa Haapsalu
    SELF-GUIDED Etonia FINLAND Helsinki Island Hopping in Estonia: a Hiiumaa, Saaremaa and Muhu Padise Tallinn Kardla Baltic Se Hiiumaa Haapsalu ain/Bus Koguva Varbla Tr ESTONIA Leisi Pärnu Saaremaa Kuressaare LATVIA Tour distances: cycling ~480 km/300 mi, ferry 44 km, 12 days/11 nights TOUR INFORMATION Cycling grade: We grade this trip as easy to moder- ate. Daily signposted biking routes, mainly on roads with little traffic and cycle paths in towns. The terrain 12-days self guided cycling tour from/to Tallinn (Code: SG9P) is varied and rolling with some gradual hills on some cycling days between Tallinn and Padise. 3 ferries be- Estonia is characterised by its unique natural landscapes and traditional hospitality. Vibrant cities, tween the Estonian islands are planned on this tour desert beaches, peace and the unspoiled beauty of the countryside - a paradise for cyclists. But it’s the (pay locally). Estonian islands which are the jewels of the country. You’ll spend your holiday on these islands which Arrival & departure information / Transfers are amongst the most beautiful that the Baltic Sea has to offer. Lighthouses and windmills are the land- Airport: Tallinn (www.tallinn-airport.ee) marks of these islands. To begin your journey, you will get to know the Estonian capital Tallinn. This tour Ferry terminal: Tallinn (regular ferry lines from Hel- then takes you from Haapsalu to the second largest island Hiiumaa before crossing to the biggest island, sinki (FI) & Stockholm (SE)) Saaremaa. En route back to the mainland, you’ll cycle on the island of Muhu & from there into the sum- Transfer: (price for one way for up to 3 people) mer capital of Estonia, Pärnu.
    [Show full text]