Nature Highlights of Estonia

1. NATURE HOLIDAY IN ESTONIA
Highlights 2012
Imbi Rüütel
Photo: J.Järva
Theme Manager (Nature Holiday)
Estonian Tourist Board

2. Nature Holiday
• What is so special?
• 10 Fascinating Destinations
• Self Guided Tours

3. Pearls of Estonian Nature
Unique variety of landscapes in such a small area.
Season’s colours and light nights
• Symbol of Estonian Nature - Limestone Cliff
• Migratory route of Birds
• Numbers of Big predators and Mammals
• Bog landscapes
• Meteorite Craters
• Open Air Museum of Ice Age
• Fifth Season and Tuhala Witch-Well
• Amazing biodiversity and public webcams

4. Did you know?
There are more than 1500 islands and islets to discover in Estonia

5. Did you know?
Estonian Limestone cliff is the
Unique Book of Earth History –
have you ever seen
so much layers and fossils
as in Estonian limestone outcrop
and around?

6. Did you know?
On the limestone klint there are unique plant communities in
the World, found only in Sweden and Estonia
Photo: http://www.haljassaare.ee

7. Did you know?
Low and lazy water - internationally important wetlands (Ramsar areas) in
the West Coast and around rivers - paradise for birds

8. Did you know?
West Estonian shallow waters is the best stop for waterbirds on migratory
route from Europe to Arctic – millions of birds - great opportunities for
Birdwatchers and impressive view to everybody.

9. Did you know?
• more than 50% is covered by forest - Estonia is one of the most
forest-rich countries in the world.
• We can count 3000 trees per each resident!
• So different forests and hiking trails to explore their secrets!

10. Did you know…
• We have unique complect of predators in Europe in such a small area –
Lynx, Bear, Wolf. And great possibilities to see them
• Symbol of Estonian primeval forest - Flying squirrel – is survived only in
Finland and in Estonia
Its easy to see also other Mammals, quite rare in Europe

11. Did you know…
• We have great assortiment (6 species) of Eagles and Black Stork,
who needs huge untouched forest areas for living.
• There are 8 woodpeckers from European 9 species in our woods.

12. Did you know?
There is unique amount of public webcams in the deep forests to
explore birds and animal’s life and migration!
http://birdmap.5dvision.ee/index.php?lang=en
http://www.looduskalender.ee/en/

13. Did you know?
After Finland and Canada Estonia is third state in the world, so rich in
natural Bog Landscapes.
About 20% of Estonia is covered with bogs and mirelands.

14. Did you know?
• Biodiversity is amazing also among plants and trees:
• In Estonia there is meeting point of different climate and plant zones –
We have species from North, South, East, West. Ice-age relicts and
newcomers.

15. Did you know?
• Estonians nature-based lifestyle hasn’t
reduced species but has increased
them! By mowing and grazing during
thousands of years new, semi-natural
communities appeared!
• World meadows biodiversity record
belongs to Estonian Wooded
meadows – 76 species for 1 m2.

16. Did you know?
• There is Open Air Museum of Ice Age in Estonia
• One can find 90% of European Big Erratic boulders from Estonia

17. Did you know?
• almost all Estonian landscapes are reflecting Ice-Age?
• Direction of North-Estonian peninsulas are showing us moving-
direction of Glacier sheet
• South-Estonian hills are formed by irregular melting of Ice
• Estonian bogs developed from the remain-lakes of the Big Ice-
melting lake.
• Since Estonia got free from massive pressure of Ice cover, Estonia is
still rising from the Sea.

18. Did you know?
• There are 6 meteorite craters in Estonia – unique amount for such a
small country.
• North Europe is the 3rd richest meteorite crater areas in the World
• Easy access to the European youngest crater in Saaremaa.

19. Great adventures,
Ice-Art and Ice-Road during winter

20. Did you know?
• Flood is not catastrophe but Fitfh Season – unique time and
great fun to canoe along fields, forests and even in Yards!

21. Did you know?
During flood time Tuhala Well is like
fountain

22. Did you know?
• Great infrastructure and easy acess to explore hidden secrets
of Estonian nature
• Just an hour from airport and you can enjoy wildlife and
privateness
• Lot of packages to get amazing experiences in Nature!

23. Where to go?
Great tips to recharge Your batteries in Nature
• 10 Fascinating Destinations in Estonian Nature
http://www.visitestonia.com/en/things-to-see-and-do-in-estonia/nature-holiday-in-
estonia/estonian-tourist-board-recommends-fascinating-destinations-in-
estonian-nature
Self-guiding NatureTours
http://www.visitestonia.com/en/nature-holiday-in-estonia

24. Enjoy Your trip!
Questions to:
Imbi.ryytel@eas.ee