"Laane Virumaa -little bit of everything" Laane-Virumaa by remigia

Laane Virumaa is one of 15 Estonian counties. It lies on northern part of the country on the coast of Baltic Sea. The main towns are Rakvere and Kunda and there are also 13 rural minicipalities that are called "vallad"- "parishes". Because of those neat villages , beautifully restored manors and lots of untouched nature views it's a good place for camping fans or for those who travel by car or bike.

The nr.1 Must Visit spot in Laane Virumaa is Lahemaa National Park. It was established in 1971 and was the first national park in former USSR. It's big teritory down the Northern coast that includes both natural and man created landscapes. Original name "Lahemaa" means "land of bays" because 4 peninsulas :Juminda, Perispea, Kasmu and Vergi separated by Kolga, Eru, Hara and Kasmu bays- create it's coastline. Some old traditional fishermen villages like Altja are intersting place to visit. Still the most part of the park is covered by forests and swamps which are just a paradise for mushroom and berry pickers. Swamps also are a source of firing - turf is excavated here. Another intersting thing in swamps are rivers- there are about 70 small river that start from nowhere and also end to nowhere, they dont' inflow into any other water source.... When you get bored with nature - visit one of restored manors like Palmse or Sagadi.
And one more intersting fact- back in 70ties in USSR authorities wouldn't permit to use word "national"( stupid, but that's the fact....)- everything had to be common and soviet. So Estonian park founders took some old Lenin's article where he was sharing his impressions about Switzerland. They quoted Lenin's words about Swiss National Park and that Soviet Union also had to creat something like that. So it was permitted to give park name- national.