Vilsandi National Park

Vilsandi National Park
Soeginina coastline, Vilsandi National Park during summer.
Vilsandi National Park is located in Estonia
Vilsandi National Park
Vilsandi National Park
Location within Estonia
Interactive map of Vilsandi National Park
LocationEstonia
Coordinates58°22′43″N 21°52′38″E / 58.37861°N 21.87722°E / 58.37861; 21.87722
Area241.0 km2 (93 mi2)
Established1957
Designated17 June 1997
Reference no.913[1]

Vilsandi National Park (Estonian: Vilsandi rahvuspark) is a marine protected area in Saaremaa Parish, Saare County, Estonia.[2] It includes part of the island of Vilsandi, a number of smaller islands and adjacent parts of western Saaremaa including the Harilaid peninsula.[3]

Environment

The park grew from a bird reserve founded in 1910. It is a highly sensitive ecosystem, which is used as a stop-over area by many migratory birds, like barnacle geese and Steller's eider and as a breeding and nesting ground for over 247 species of birds, of which the most common is the eider duck. One third of all protected plant species in Estonia are found in the national park.[4] Hunting is absolutely prohibited.

The park is a popular tourist destination for both Estonians and foreign visitors, particularly from Finland. It has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. It supports breeding and wintering populations of many species of waterfowl, as well as of common crane on passage.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Vilsandi National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ↑ Cite error: The named reference planet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ↑ Vilsandi Rahvuspark in Estonia Protected Planet
  4. ↑ Taylor, Neil (2010). Estonia (6 ed.). Bradt Travel Guides. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-84162-320-7.
  5. ↑ "Vilsandi archipelago". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
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