By Mart Reimann

Estonia is a diverse country with short distances. A short one-hour drive from Tallinn, and you can get a glimpse Estonian countryside and experience the coastal region and forest areas. Traveling east from Tallinn, your trip will start in some of the oldest fields in Estonia and you’ll see fishermen villages on Northern Estonia’s islands, beautiful coastal landscapes, and large forests and protected areas. Along the way, you’ll encounter some sites that carry important symbolic meanings for Estonia’s history and culture.

Rebala Heritage Reserve

Driving past Tallinn’s industrial surroundings, you’ll see an old industrial phosphorite mine. Estonia’s separation process from the Soviet Union started with Phosphorite War in 1988 – when the Estonian public protested against government plans to extend the phosphorite mines. The protest was successful and also encouraged Estonians to fight for the nation’s independence.

Maardu phosphorite mine nearby Tallinn was very close to Estonian oldest fields and oldest permanent settlement Rebala, which is today the country’s largest heritage reserve. Rich in various archaeological and historical antiquities, Rebala boasts at least 300 archaeological remains and its historical heritage of more than 5,000 years of human settlement is well-preserved even today. The goal of the reserve is to preserve the environment as genuinely as possible and to protect the numerous historical remains from tampering and destruction, but it also provides educational experiences for visitors.

Visitors can get acquainted with the local history and nature going along the trails by car or bicycle or even on foot. Informational signs and a map clearly marking the sights of the preservation area will help to you guide your way around. It is recommended to begin the journey from the museum where archaeological finds and samples of the history of the area are displayed.

Kolga Bay Landscape Reserve

Estonia has more than 1,500 islands, most of which are in Western Estonia. Kolga Bay has 15 islands which is the largest number of islands on the Northern coast of Estonia. Presently no one lives on these islands, but five islands (Rammu, Rohusi, Koipse, Pedassaar, Umblu) were inhabited until 1953 and former village sites are still visible.

Several people who had to leave their homes in 1953 have restored some houses as second homes. The small island of Umblu is a good example of where the lack of land drove people at the end of the 19th century. Even this treeless (though it once had some trees) island of 2,500 square meters was once inhabited. The living conditions were harsh; the children had to climb the hayloft of the house to escape from the flood by the sea during the storm.

Kolga Bay islands have diverse natural settings and there are both sandy and stone-covered beaches. Rammu Island has interesting sandy terraces and small lakes, as well as a thriving bird population. There are no regular connections to the islands. The best way to explore the islands, therefore, is by fishermen boats or by sea-kayaks.

Lahemaa National Park

Lahemaa National Park was created to protect the characteristic North-Estonian landscapes and the national heritage of the area, and to preserve harmonious relations between man and nature. This was the first national park in the former Soviet Union founded in 1971. The name Lahemaa means “the land of bays” and originates from the most thoroughly studied part of the North-Estonian coast, where four large peninsulas (Juminda, Pärispea, Käsmu and Vergi) are separated from each other by four bays (Kolga, Hara, Eru and Käsmu).

Lahemaa has limestone cliffs by several waterfalls, such as Nõmmeveski and Joaveski, and limestone plateaus with agricultural landscapes which are clearly in contrast with those areas of the national park that are forested and rich in mires. Limestone cliff is also a well-pronounced natural boundary between the plateaus and the coastal plain which has many picturesque historic fishermen villages.

Lahemaa is a protected area with best recreational infrastructure in Estonia. It has many hiking trails, even many small roads are paved making it a perfect location for biking. The coastline offers great sea-kayaking opportunities for outdoor-lovers, and several shops and traditional dining places for visitors interested in low-key local experiences.

Põhja-Kõrvemaa Nature Reserve

The region, known as “Estonian Switzerland,” is extremely diverse and part of the largest wilderness area in Estonia. Within the reserve, there are steep sided cliffs and plateaus formed by the withdrawal of the glacial sheet 12,000 years ago. In the hollows between them, there are some 50 lakes, bogs and different types of forests. In the bogs are more than hundred small and nice bog pools. The region is perfect for hiking in summer and for cross-country skiing in winter.

The reserve has several hiking trails, camping places and boardwalks in the bog. You can get the best natural experience of a bog by walking across the mosses with bog-shoes. Bogs in the area have been refuges for Estonians who have escaped from foreign invaders. Ancient Estonians used bog-shoes even for horses, to take them to the hide and prevent them from sinking.

Learn More About Estonia: Featured ecoDestination

Estonia is a small country, situated on the Baltic coast between Russia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden. Estonian territory is about same as the Netherlands, but the population (1.4 million) is eleven times less, which means that there is lot of space for nature. About 50% of country is covered by forests and woods, and is home to eagles, wolves, brown bears and lynx. People of Estonia often call themselves the “forest people”, and have lived on these lands since Stone Age. more…

European Ecotourism Conference (EETC), Pärnu, Estonia, September 26-30, 2010

Join TIES and Estonian Ecotourism Association this September at the EETC 2010, being hosted in Pärnu, Estonia, and you will have the unique opportunity to meet ecotourism leaders from across Estonia and Europe. Pre- and Post-conference tours include: Kayaking in the Bay of Tallinn and Elk watching and wolf tracking. To learn more about the conference program and to register, go to the EETC 2010 webpage. Don’t forget to join the EETC group on Facebook and LinkedIn to participate in on-going discussions about ecotourism in Europe!