Estonia Nature Preservations

The natural landscape of Estonia is very important to the people. They have seen what overdevelopment of land has done to other countries and they do not want to have it happen to them. Currently there is about 500,000 hectares or 11% of Estonia’s landscape protected by the law. They have three types of protection areas: 1. National Parks 2. Nature Reserves 3. Landscape Reserves. These protected areas provide zones for wildlife and plant life to flourish in an untouched environment. Many of them are open to the public where visitors are advised to behave respectful and dignified.

National Parks

These places are set up for the preservation and protection of special natural sites. There are 5 national parks in Estonia that offer a variety of different experiences for the visitors. The most frequented park is the Lahemaa National Park on the north coast. The park was created in 1971 and claims the honor of being the first National Park of the Soviet Union. Lahemaa (land of bays) is just a 70 km east of Tallinn. It got its name from the 4 peninsulas that jut into the Gulf of Finland creating 4 bays. The park is huge and its proximity to Tallinn gives it even more appeal as a fun day trip.

If you want to go on a longer journey with your rental car, drive west to the Matsalu National Park on the coast of the Matsalu Bay. It is best to visit the park during the autumn migration of approximately 2 million birds. The park has long been the place for major research projects of the migratory habits of European flocks.

The other national parks in Estonia include Karula, Soomaa, and Vilsandi. Every park has its own unique identity and they are all great places to visit anytime of the year. Hike and swim in the summer or ski and snowshoe in the winter.

Nature Reserves

Protected zones for the preservation of plants, animals and fungus for the purpose of longevity and scientific research are the requirements for a nature reserve. These areas tend to be much larger in size than the parks and they are set up to keep the natural environment in pristine condition. Very close to Tallinn you will find the Pohja-Korvemaa Nature Reserve. It has an area of over 130 sq km and is rich with wildlife and hiking trails. The reserve was made to protect the endangered species in the area and give people a huge area for recreation. One of the favorite local pastimes is collecting berries and mushrooms in the autumn. The other Nature Reserves in Estonia are Alam-Pedja and Nigula. The two reserves are protecting the plants and animals that live in the wetland areas.

Landscape Reserves

In Estonia, a landscape reserve is used to conserve an area for recreational or cultural activities. The main way they preserve the landscape is by preventing the building of certain structures and by offering unabated vistas of their surroundings.