"Hiiumaa" Hiiumaa by Vcela

Hiiumaa is a small island in the Baltic sea. It is in fact Estonia's second largest island with a population of well over 11,000. A very popular place in summer when the population greatly increases as the beaches and forest attract people for their holidays and/or to their summerhouses. The island has a diverse habitat which is actually largely protected as a nature reserve. There are hundreds of small islets scattered around Hiiumaa some wooded and some bare. The island is one of the older one's in the world as an island arose 455 million years ago following a meteorite impact.

Hiiumaa has a slightly different climate to the mainland. The snows come about 4 weeks later here and leave 2 weeks earlier. Normally the island is reached by ferry or plane, but in winter an 'ice-road' is open when safe and solid, so you can actually drive across the sea!

Hiiumaa was previously known by its Swedish name Dago. The island was under Swedish rule from 1563 until 1710 when the Russian Empire, following the Great Northern War, took control. The Germans were here in 1917 and then again following Estonia's short period of independence from 1918-1940. By the end of the second world war it was Soviet. During these years Hiiumaa was fairly isolated with the inhabitants needing special papers to get on and off the island. Obviously with its position in the Baltic Sea looking to Finland and Sweden it was an important location for the Soviet army. In 1991 it returned to being recognised as Estonian. Despite deportations and mistreatment throughout the centuries by the Russians, Germans and Soviets the people of Hiiumaa have still retained their good sense of humour, something for which the islanders are famed.