Harilaid
Encyclopedia
The Harilaid peninsula is a peninsula on the north west coast of the island of Saaremaa
in Estonia
. It should not be confused with the islet of Harilaid
which lies between the islands of Vormsi
and Hiiumaa
.
Harilaid covers an area of 4.5 km² (1.7 sq mi) and is low lying (the highest elevation is 4.6 m (15.1 ft)). It is connected to the mainland by a 300 metres (984.3 ft) wide neck of land, and was a separate island until the end of the 17th century.
Large numbers of birds stop on Harilaid on their migration route, and there is a resting site of grey seals on the west coast. There is a large pine plantation on the peninsula, started in the 1970s and inhabited by elk and wild boar. The peninsula was added to the Vilsandi National Park
in 1993.
There is no record of a settled population on the peninsula. The Kiipsaare lighthouse was built at the tip of the peninsula in 1933. At that time the lighthouse was almost 100 metres (328.1 ft) inland, but it is now a few metres offshore. It is now unused, and has a pronounced lean as a result of erosion. The Estonian war film Somnabuul was shot there in 2004.
Access to the peninsula is by a rough road from Kihelkonna
.
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It should not be confused with the islet of Harilaid
Harilaid (islet)
Harilaid is small uninhabited island in Estonia. It lies about 4 kilometres west of the island of Vormsi. It should not be confused with the larger former island of Harilaid which is now a peninsula on the northwest coast of the island of Saaremaa.Harilaid has an area of 15 hectares. Its...
which lies between the islands of Vormsi
Vormsi
Estonia's fourth largest island, Vormsi , is located between Hiiumaa and the mainland with a total area of 93 square kilometers. It is part of a rural municipality Vormsi Parish. From mainland, Vormsi is separated by a narrow strait – Voosi Kurk, and from Hiiumaa by a bit wider Hari...
and Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa is the second largest island belonging to Estonia. It is located in the Baltic Sea, north of the island of Saaremaa, a part of the West Estonian archipelago. Its largest town is Kärdla.-Name:...
.
Harilaid covers an area of 4.5 km² (1.7 sq mi) and is low lying (the highest elevation is 4.6 m (15.1 ft)). It is connected to the mainland by a 300 metres (984.3 ft) wide neck of land, and was a separate island until the end of the 17th century.
Large numbers of birds stop on Harilaid on their migration route, and there is a resting site of grey seals on the west coast. There is a large pine plantation on the peninsula, started in the 1970s and inhabited by elk and wild boar. The peninsula was added to the Vilsandi National Park
Vilsandi National Park
Vilsandi National Park is a national park in Saare County, Estonia. It includes part of the island of Vilsandi, a number of smaller islands, adjacent parts of western Saaremaa and the Harilaid peninsula on Saaremaa, all in Kihelkonna Parish....
in 1993.
There is no record of a settled population on the peninsula. The Kiipsaare lighthouse was built at the tip of the peninsula in 1933. At that time the lighthouse was almost 100 metres (328.1 ft) inland, but it is now a few metres offshore. It is now unused, and has a pronounced lean as a result of erosion. The Estonian war film Somnabuul was shot there in 2004.
Access to the peninsula is by a rough road from Kihelkonna
Kihelkonna
Kihelkonna is a small borough in Saare County, on the western part of Saaremaa Island, Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Kihelkonna Parish....
.