Introduction to Estonia – Part 3

Lakes and Forests

Estonia, similar to much of the region, is a low lying country. The highest point is the summit of Suur Munamagi, which rises to just 318m above sea level. The terrain can be marshy due to the high rainfall with the heavily forested woodland covering around 45% over the land. Only about 15% of the country is available as arable farmland. There are around 1400 lakes which range from small forest pools to Lake Peipsi, which is the fourth largest lake in Europe with an area of 3500sq km. Estonia' s frontier with Russia runs through Lake Peipsi from north to south and follows the course of the River Narva, which rises from Lake Peipsi to flow north into the Gulf of Finland. The other large lake is Lake Vortsjarv which is in the south of the country and is around 270sq km.

Estonia' s lakes are mostly very shallow with Lake Peipsi being only 15m at its deepest, and Lake Vortsjarv being less than 6m at its deepest point. Marshland, which includes some deep peat bogs, cover about 20 percent of the country. Peat is one of Tallinn' s natural resources, along with oil shale, however, both are mixed blessings. The wholesale extraction of Peat is a threat to Estonia' s unique natural environment, and the emissions from power plants that burn oil shale for fuel have been a major cause of air pollution.

However, over the last 20 years, Estonia has managed to reduce pollution by these plants by more than 80 percent. Since the end of the Soviet period, there has been a much greater awareness of environmental issues in the country.

Coasts and Islands

Estonia' s coastlines face north, across the Gulf of Finland, and west, across the Gulf of Riga. Offshore lie more than 1500 islands and islets, ranging from larger isles such as Saaremaa and Hiiumaa to dots on the map like Kihnu, Ruhnu. Most of these islands are barren and uninhabited, partly because access to them was banned during the decades of Soviet rule.

Wildlife

Environmental awareness does not yet extend to offering full protection to Estonia' s forest wildlife. The country' s thick woodlands which are mainly coniferous, with some beech and birch woods are home to as many as 800 brown bear, 400 wolves, 900 lynx plus many thousands of elk and wild boar. All these animals are hunted by Estonians and since independence, Estonia has attracted wealthy hunters from Western Europe and America.

Continued in part 4