10 Nature & Parks in Saare County That You Shouldn't Miss

Vilsandi National Park covers a number of islands, islets and boulders. The most outlying are surrounded by a 200 metre protection zone stretching towards the open sea. The Vilsandi National Park comprises around 100 small islands, islets and boulders with a total area of 12.9 km². Useful information:Vilsandi is the oldest nature protection area in the Baltics, which was reorganised as the Vilsandi National Park in 1993.Together with the surrounding sea, the Vilsandi National Park amounts to 106.9 km².The biggest and highest island in the national park is 6 km long and 2 km wide

The limestone Ohessaare cliffs, on the western shores of the Sorve peninsula, are around 500 m long and up to 4 m high. They present the most extensive cross-section of young Silurian rock and sedimentary layers in Estonia. The cliffs are famous for the stone towers that people have erected here. Those who visit the site are encouraged to use the flat stones found on the beach to make their own unique contributions to the landscape. The rocks in the area also contain a lot of fossils.

The limestone cliff is 1 km long, the highest point is 5.0 m. There is a second terrace on the Ninase limestone cliff of Jaagarahu dolomites, which is located inland, away from the water. On the cliff you'll find stones with holes the sea has carved, but also marks of fossils that stratified in the stones thousands of years ago. Useful information: A memorial stone to cruise ferry MS Estonia is on the cliff.

Harilaid has an infrequent, elongated trapeze shape with waved boundary lines, extending from South-East to North-West. It is a low plain, the highest point of which in the northeasterly part does not exceed 5 m. The area of the peninsula is 3.62 km². The most northeasterly point of Harilaid is named Kiipsaare and the opposite southeasterly point is Kelba. The Flora of the peninsula represents 261 species of flowering plants and vascular cryptogams. Interesting to know: Harilaid arose from the sea as an island 1000-2000 years ago. There is a lighthouse on the northeasterly point on Kiipsaare cape.

The bottom of the lake is mainly sandy. In Karujarv there are five islands. According to the folktale Karujarv got its name after 7 bears quarrelled on this place. To stop the God made such a heavy rain that the lake was created. Bears went away each one of them in his own direction, that why the lake has 7 gulfs.Interesting to know:Karujarv is the oldest lake on Saaremaa, almost 8000 years old.Lake is under nature protection.The area of the lake is 330 ha and the deepest place is 6 m.

The peninsula ends with the tip of Sorve, which is continued by a number of islets in the Irbe Strait. According to a legend, they were created by Great Toll. The hero was chasing the Devil out of the country and throwing stones after him. Heavier stones fell down sooner, lighter ones flew further. Good to know: Sorve peninsula was first mentioned in 1234. The peninsula has only 1600 inhabitants. The tip of Sorve is loved by birdwatchers.

The maximum height of the cliff is 21.3 m. The cliff runs for about 2.5 km. Panga Cliff stands as a slate wall reaching up straight from the beach. Interestingly, couple of hundred meters from the cliff in the sea there is a steep slope. The location of the slope becomes visible on stormy days as line of foamy waves. Good to know: Panga Cliff is the highest of all Saaremaa and Muhu northern coast cliffs. The cliffs of Saaremaa are all slate cliffs. On the highest point of the Panga cliff there is an ancient ritual site where people sacrificed for the sea.

The ecological reserve was established in 1957. The area of the ecological reserve constitutes 1873 ha. Different forest types can be seen here, from swamp forests to high pine forests. The Burgundy snail, the biggest land snail in Estonia, lives on the grasslands and greenwoods. The wooded meadows, semi-natural biotic communities that are typical for Saaremaa but almost extinct, are preserved in the Viidumae ecological reserve by means of traditional maintenance methods.Good to know: The Viidumae ecological reserve is located in the highest and oldest part of Saaremaa.85% of Viidumae are covered with woods.

The establishment of housing and landscape gardening got into full speed in the second half of the 19th century when Kuressaare became thanks to discovery of medical mud one of the spa cities of Estonia. For park establishment and administration in 1861 was formed a park committee. Versatile help was offered by residents who donated money, seedlings and gave for work horses and vehicles. In 1930 new rare types of trees that were ordered from Tartu University were planted in town park. The plant life of park is rich, here you can find around 80 species of trees and bushes.Interesting to know:Town park is a former cemetery.