Hobulaid is a Baltic Sea

Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...

 island belonging to the country of 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...

. Its coordinates are 58°56′37"N 23°23′07"E

Hobulaid is located between the island 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 the ferry port of Rohuküla

Rohuküla

Rohuküla is a village in Ridala Parish, Lääne County, in western Estonia....

 on the Estonian mainland. Hobulaid has an area of 75 hectares. The highest point is 6.6 metres above sea level. Although the island lies closest to Lääne County

Lääne County

Lääne County , or Läänemaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-east, Rapla County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, and the island counties of Saare and Hiiu to the west...

 on the Estonian mainland, it is an extraterritorial area administered by the municipality of Märjamaa

Märjamaa

Märjamaa is a borough in Rapla County, Estonia. It is the administrative center of Märjamaa Parish. Märjamaa had a population of 3,108 as of 1 January 2008.-External links:*...

 in the landlocked county of Rapla

Rapla County

Rapla County , or Raplamaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in western part of the country and borders Järva County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, Lääne County to the west, and Harju County to the north...

.

The island was first mentioned in in chronicles in 1391 and had a history of Swedish colonization. In the Middle Ages Hobulaid belonged to the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek

Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek

The Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek was a semi-independent Roman Catholic prince-bishopric in what is now Saare, Hiiu and Lääne counties of Estonia.The bishopric was created as a state of Holy Roman Empire on 1 October 1228, by Henry, King of the Romans...

 of Haapsalu

Haapsalu

Haapsalu is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It's the administrative centre of Lääne County and has a population of 11,618 ....

. Today, the island is an important breeding ground for numerous bird species.

On the southern tip of Hobulaid is a 13-meter-high functioning lighthouse. The structure is operated by the Estonian Maritime Administration

Estonian Maritime Administration

The Estonian Maritime Administration is a governmental agencythat operates within the area of government of the Ministry of Economic Affairs andCommunications, has a directing function, exercises state supervision and applies...

and dates from 1934.

Near Hobulaid are the small islands Obholmsgrunne (Swedish: Upholm), Odrarahu and Varsarahu.

External links

• Webshots - The Hobulaid Lighthouse