Baltic Coast of ESTONIA

[ Photo Gallery # 80 ]

Estonia lies on the branch of the Baltic Sea named The Gulf of Finland. On a visit to Estonia in 2004, I was able to spend some time ambling along a stretch of coast, 70 kilometres to the east of the capital Tallin.

A substantial area of coast and its hinterland here has been designated as a national park with the name Lahemaa which translates as the ‘Land of Bays’. The park, one of the largest in Europe, has a coastline which faces north onto the Gulf of Finland. It is dedicated to preserve, research and promote the extensive North-Estonian landscapes, ecosystems, and its national heritage.

‘With forests covering more than 70 percent of Lahemaa, the area is rich in flora and fauna. The landscape has many raised bogs , including the 7,000-year-old Laukasoo Reserve. The park, marked by several trails, teems with wildlife, including a population of boar, red deer, wolves, bears and lynx’.

My photographs,I hope, will give just a taste of the coastal area of Lahemaa National Park.