Vilsandi
Encyclopedia
The island of Vilsandi, Kihelkonna Commune
, Estonia
is located in the Baltic Sea
. It covers an area of some 9 square kilometres, and is the westernmost populated island in Estonia. With other smaller surrounding islands Vilsandi makes up Vilsandi village. Many men from Vilsandi and neighboring islands became Master Mariners, and some worked in China prior to WWII, including Peter Mender, Johann Kalmar, and Siim Roos.,
The island can be reached on foot by wading from Saaremaa
, or by truck or boat.
Much of the island is now covered by the Vilsandi National Park
, which grew from a bird reserve founded in 1910. It is a highly sensitive ecosystem due to the use of the area by many migratory birds as a breeding and nesting ground. Hunting is absolutely prohibited. This park is a popular tourist destination not only for local Estonians, but also people of Finland
who are visiting Estonia in greater and greater numbers.
Kihelkonna Commune
Kihelkonna Parish is situated in Saare County, Estonia.The parish includes the islands named Aherahu, Juksirahu, Kalarahu, Käkirahu, Laasirahu, Loonalaid, Maturahu, Mihklirahu, Noogimaa, Nootamaa, Ojurahu, Salava, Uus-Nootamaa, Vaika islands, Vesiloo, and Vilsandi, and the peninsula 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...
is located in the 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...
. It covers an area of some 9 square kilometres, and is the westernmost populated island in Estonia. With other smaller surrounding islands Vilsandi makes up Vilsandi village. Many men from Vilsandi and neighboring islands became Master Mariners, and some worked in China prior to WWII, including Peter Mender, Johann Kalmar, and Siim Roos.,
The island can be reached on foot by wading from Saaremaa
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...
, or by truck or boat.
Much of the island is now covered by 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....
, which grew from a bird reserve founded in 1910. It is a highly sensitive ecosystem due to the use of the area by many migratory birds as a breeding and nesting ground. Hunting is absolutely prohibited. This park is a popular tourist destination not only for local Estonians, but also people of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
who are visiting Estonia in greater and greater numbers.