Small islands
Meadow and juniper.
Mats Volberg — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ivo Kruusamägi — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Amadvr — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zapxpxau — Public domain · Marko Vainu — CC BY-SA 4.0
Vilsandi is a marine protected area in Saaremaa Parish, Saare County, western Estonia, about 39 km west of Kuressaare in a straight line. It includes part of Vilsandi island, a number of smaller islands and parts of western Saaremaa, including the Harilaid peninsula. The park grew from a bird reserve founded in 1910. It is a highly sensitive ecosystem used as a stopover by many migrating birds and as breeding ground for over 247 bird species, the most common being the eider duck. A third of Estonia's protected plant species are found here, hunting is completely banned, and BirdLife International lists it as an Important Bird Area. Low rocky shores and shingle beaches stretch through the park, with small flat islands covered in meadow and juniper, and calm shallow water. Lighthouses stand on the islands, and rare wildflowers bloom in the meadows in spring. Visitors walk the coastal trails and the Harilaid peninsula, cross to Vilsandi island by boat, and watch birds. Many visitors come from Estonia and Finland, and spring and summer are the best times.
Meadow and juniper.
On the islands.
Eider ducks.
Saaremaa Parish, Saare County, Estonia
Spring and summer.
By boat.