I didn’t hold much hope of tiny Abruka rating a mention even in her thick book, but I tried to explain: find the island of Saaremaa, in the south-western part of Estonia, swimming where the Gulf of Finland meets the Baltic Sea.
He reminded me of my father somehow: a neat enough man who wouldn’t be out of place in a tidy suit and tie, but who looks far more comfortable in the physical world, jumping nimbly from jetty to boat while hauling ropes off moorings and pointing out landmarks with sun-freckled hands.
After reaching the Abruka side of the sea, it was just a short walk from the jetty until the landscape struck me as not so different from some parts of the bush back home in Australia, yet it was truly the other end of the world.
The President of the Republic of Estonia: The President of the Republic visited Abruka(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12)
The President during his tour of Abruka was accompanied by writers Ülo and Jüri Tuulik coming from the island, who showed him the local cemetery, a museum under construction and a post windmill, and gave explanations of local nature.
The residents of Abruka said with one voice that the state had to make its contribution in order to keep the island liveable and to preserve its natural environment.
The President agreed with the opinion of the people of Abruka: "Although it is continuously maintained as if the preservation of human settlement on islands were expensive, our permanently populated islands as such are great national assets.
Today’s Abruka Island (West Estonia) hosts a species-rich and lush nemoral forest, which has been regarded as a relict of broadleaf forests once widespread in Estonia that survived thanks to the local mild maritime climate.
Written sources until the mid-19th century, however, describe Abruka as a habitat of spruce forests.
By the 1930s, when a protection regime was enforced on the island, the percentage of spruce dominated stands had dropped to 0.1% and the overall share of the spruce had shrunk to 8.4%.
The main attraction is the botanical-zoological reservation, open in summer, which offers classes, horse riding, meals and rustic farmhouse accommodation.
Abruka lies 6km (4mi) from Roomassare, off Saaremaa's southern coast.
It's accessible by boat in summer, though during the dead of winter you can reach it by walking across the frozen strait.
Sille Rantanen - Tuule Villa(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12)
There are unspoiled country roads to be investigated, a botanical reserve to be admired and explored and many kinds of flora and fauna available to enhance this visit to Abruka.
It is a place for enjoyment of natural beauty and a place for relaxation and quiet.
A picnic rounds out this eventful day trip — wich includes local offerings such as eel soup and pancakes.To experience one of these trips to Abruka is to experience the best of Estonia.
In fact, our style of traveling doesn't usually bring us into contact with tour guides, but our newfound friend — dubbed "Abby" after Abruka, the name of the island — was self-appointed, and unique.
She turned up shortly after we arrived, and alternately followed and led us on our Abruka Island circumnavigation.
I didn't hold much hope of tiny Abruka rating a mention even in her thick book, but I tried to explain nonetheless.
[No title](Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12)
The archipelago comprises the islands of Abruka, Hilumaa, Muhu, Ruhnu, Saaremaa and Vormsi, and is within the administrative districts of Kingissepa, Hiiumaa and Haapsalu.
Fifty per-cent of the region is woodland, with some of the best preserved broadleaf forests to be found on the islands of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, and Abruka.
There are also a number of rare species and species that are at the limit of their area of distribution, namely Pinguiguicula alpina, Juncus obtusiflorus, Hedera helix, Cladium mariscus, Cypripedium calceolus, Gymnadenia odoratissima, Taxus baccata, Sorbus rupicola.
Compare Prices and Read Reviews on Estonia at Epinions.com(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12)
Then I cycled back to Kuressaare on a road which, so I was warned, would be very busy, but on which I actually came across almost no cars at all, and I still had time to visit an interesting, if no longer operational, windmill too.
The next day we crossed the narrow strait between Saaremaa and the islet of Abruka to set foot on the latter.
Our means of transport was a stunningly small motor-boat, in which we landed at a tiny-tiny port which really did not seem able to accommodate anything bigger than that.
The President of the Republic of Estonia: The President of the Republic to visit Estonian small islands(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12)
During their four-day tour, they are scheduled to visit the islands of Manilaid, Kihnu, Ruhnu, Vilsandi and Abruka.
On Thursday, the tour is to be continued on the islands of Kihnu and Ruhnu.
On Friday, President Rüütel and Mrs Ingrid Rüütel will attend the 6th World Gathering of the Natives of Vilsandi and, on Saturday, visit the island of Abruka.
On December 12 there was a seminar where people were taught how to make Christmas decorations from straw and reed, and on December 13 a Christmas programme introducing the customs related to this period was carried out.
Seven study tours were organised in 2002: Petseri - Staraya Russa - Novgorod, two trips to Kihnu and Ruhnu Islands and two to the Åland Islands, and one to Saaremaa — Abruka- Vilsandi as well as to Hiiumaa Island, combined with the information day of the ENM on Suuremõisa Castle Days in August.
Altogether, more than 22 000 people participated in the activities organised by the society in 2002.
For more information see Tourism Office of Denmark.
ISLANDS OF Abruka, Aegna, Ahtra, Aksi, Allu Island, Alumine Vaika, Haldi, Hara Island, Hiiumaa, Jüri, Kabüse, Kakrasaar, Kamenka, Kapussaar, Keri Island, Keskmine Vaika,Kihnu,Klippa, Kloostrisaar,Koipsi Island, Kolmenasva,Kolomtsõ,Krassi,Kreenholmi,Kräsuli, Kumari Island,Kumbli,Kõrksaar,Kääriku,Lahesaar, Laidu,Lambasaar Laurisaar, Lausma, Liia,Lõuna-Malusi,Mohni,Muhumaa,Munasaar,Saaremaa,Vormsi.
For more information see Tourism Office of Estonia/ Estonian Tourist Board.
