Nature in Hiiumaa

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Hiiumaa (1000 square km) is situated in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea, the shortest distance from the mainland is 22km. Hiiumaa is separated from the island of Saaremaa by the 6km-wide Soela strait and from the island of Vormsi by the 11km-wide Hari strait. The Swedish coast lies about 230km to the west and the Finnish coast is 120km to the north.

The coastal area around Hiiumaa is shallow and full of reefs. The best known of them is Hiiumadal in the northwest, where hundreds of ships have wrecked during canturies. There are about 200 small islands and partly exposed reefs around Hiiumaa. The coastline is about 320 km long and is not indented by many coves or inlets. There are many kilometers of isolated sandy beach. The relief of the island is generally rather flat, whereas the highest point is only 68m above sea level.

Hiiumaa is a part of Atlantic-continental region of the temperate climatic zone, which is characterised by warm summers and moderately cool winters. February's mean temperature is -3,5:-4,5°C, while July's mean temperature is +16,5:+17°C. Year mean temperature is +5,2:+5,8°C.

Hiiumaa is situated in an area where there is a transition from temperate needle-leaf to broad-leaf forests. Thus, in the landscapes there can be found pine forests, mixed spruce and deciduous forests, swampy thickets and juniper shrubs, coastal meadows and bogs. The most frequent tree is pine which makes about a half of forests. Pine is followed by birch, spruce and alder. In total, there are about 1,000 species of vascular plants, of which about 100 are under protection.

The wildlife of Hiiumaa is remarkable. Out of 30 species of mammals, big game as elk, deer, fox, wild boar and lynx roam the island. There are about 250 species of birds on the island, 195 of them nesting. Important migration routes for birds go over Hiiumaa, and Käina bay is a best known bird sanctuary. Also, herds of grey seal and ringed seal gather in the coastal waters, a sight rarely seen anywhere in the Baltic Sea.

Among the Estonian counties Hiiumaa is the richest in forest – above 60 % of the island are wooded areas. There are large marsh areas in the middle of the island, the marshes cover about 7 % of its area. Cultivated land and settlements take about 23 % of the area of the island.