Description of the attraction
Vilsandi National Park is a group of islands located in the Baltic Sea, off the northwestern coast of the Estonian islands of Saaremaa. The reserve was founded in 1993. Now its total area is 10689 hectares, including 940 hectares of water area. However, it took a while for Vilsandi National Park to become such a huge National Park. In 1906, Artur Toom, the keeper of the Vistula lighthouse, took on the task of protecting birds on 6 islands. And in 1910 the islands of Vilsandi and Vaika received the status of 1910, the status of ornithological reserves. In the future, about 100 sea rocky islands were added to them, which are real dolomitized coral reefs of the warm Silurian sea.
In our time, the following territories are included: Vilsandi island, 160 other islands, the western part of about. Saaremaa and the Hariland peninsula. So, the location of Vilsandi National Park is Kihekonna district in Saare County. The reserve was created with the aim of protecting the nature of the coastal landscape, its research, and, of course, the aim is to preserve the cultural heritage of the West-Estonian archipelago.
Vilsandi Island is the only one inhabited in the protected area, it is small - only 6 km long and only 3 km wide, the coastline of the island is completely indented by bays, coves and capes.
Vilsandi National Park is known primarily as a bird sanctuary. There are data on 247 species of birds, 114 of them nest in the spring on the territory of the reserve. In the waters of the reserve, mainly on the island of Innarahu, there are a large number of gray seals that breed in snowless winters.
Vilsandiski National Park is home to about 600 plant species, including rare ones.
The reserve is of international importance and, first of all, is valuable for the variety of bird species, which stop here, nest and feed. Among the 250 species, there are especially valuable ones, for example, whole colonies of the common eider. The mute swan, slender-billed guillemot, ducks, variegated tern, golden bee-eater, great and long-tailed merganser and sea sandpiper are widespread. Recorded data on 99 species of birds nesting in the Vilsandi National Park. In addition, it is confirmed that the migration routes of many birds pass through Vilsandi, including barnacle and black geese, whooper swan and others.
The Scientific Department of Vilsandi National Park deals with the improvement of the ecology of the reserve. And also by regulating the number of eiders.
The tourist destination is quite well developed; it will be interesting for any visitor. There will be a large number of hiking routes for your choice, a sufficient number of observation platforms are equipped for the convenience of bird watching.
