What is the name of the national park in Estonia. Nature reserves and national parks of Estonia
I bring to your attention a short story about a summer trip to Estonia, about getting to know its nature and visiting several nature reserves and national parks. After this trip, the word “Estonia” is firmly associated with such words as “beauty”, “harmony” and “peace”!
Initially, I planned to post this article in the magazine http://wild-magazine.ru/, but something happened to the magazine and it stopped publishing (ran out of money?), so I’m publishing the article here.
A short introduction.
Environmental protection activities in Estonia are at a fairly high level. Nature conservation began here back in 1910. That year, on the island of Vilsandi, on the initiative of the lighthouse keeper Arthur Tooma The first Estonian nature reserve was founded - the Vaika Ornithological Reserve. On August 14, 1910, an agreement was concluded between the parish pastorate and the Riga Nature Research Society to lease the island of Vilsandi and its surrounding islands in order to protect the birds nesting there. This event served as the starting point and became the most important in the history of nature conservation in Estonia (for more details, see). Currently, approximately a quarter of Estonia's area is protected area (for comparison, in Russia nature conservation areas occupy about 7.6% of the area).
Estonia's area is comparable to such European countries as Denmark and Holland, but its population is only 1.3 million people. And if we take into account that more than 600 thousand of them live in Tallinn, Tartu and Narva, then we get a population density in rural areas of only 15 people. per sq. km! And indeed, there are practically no people visible outside the city, the roads are magnificent, and the nature looks pristine!
Approximately half of Estonia's territory is covered by forests, and one fifth by swamps. In Estonian, two words are used to refer to swamps: soo- lowland swamp and slave- a raised bog that is fed by precipitation. Estonia can safely be called the kingdom of swamps - from any point on mainland Estonia to the nearest swamp, as a rule, no more than 10-15 km!
Estonia is actively promoting responsible family outdoor recreation and eco-tourism. In nature reserves and national parks (except for those places where tourists are prohibited from visiting), hiking trails are laid almost everywhere (including through swamps), observation towers, parking lots and places for tents are equipped where you can rest and spend the night. For safe movement and to minimize harm to nature, the swamp trails are equipped with wooden decking. Also offered are bog-shoe excursions, canoeing on the rivers of national parks, etc.
As a rule, most natural parks and reserves have information centers - their equipment and interactive equipment could be the envy of many Russian museums! In these centers, tourists have access to various printed materials free of charge (with some exceptions): beautifully designed brochures with diagrams, maps of nature trails, information about local flora and fauna, etc., and what’s especially nice is that all this is almost always presented on Russian language!
The only hiking trail with a length of about 7 km runs through the territory of the reserve; it is even visible on Google satellite maps:
The trail starts from a large swamp lake...
Large swamp lake.
... and after about 500 m it leads to the first observation tower:
View from the first observation tower
Swampy spaces
Swamp lakes with clear water
And how beautiful it must be here in the golden autumn!
We weren’t able to walk the entire trail - the midday sun was mercilessly hot, and in the swamp there was nowhere to hide from the sun’s rays. Unfortunately, during the day in the swamp you will not see its inhabitants (herons, cranes, etc.) - for this you need to come before dawn or late in the evening. By the way, for secret observation of these same inhabitants, the first floor of one of the observation towers in the swamp is made in the form of a shed with observation windows for photography. It was not possible to get inside (there was a lock), but I assume that the shed has a table and a couple of places to sleep. Most likely, the keys to this house are issued by agreement with the administration of the reserve.
View from the second observation tower.
Luitemaa Landscape Reserve.
Just 35 kilometers from Nigul towards the sea, on the coast of Pärnu Bay, the Luitemaa landscape reserve is located. It also has swamps, but its main part is dunes and coastal meadows. Luitemaa is translated as “land of dunes”. The most picturesque part of the landscape of southwestern Estonia and the largest dunes of the Bay of Pärnu are located here. Moreover, the dunes that form the coastline here are more than 5,000 years old!
Coastal meadows in Luitemaa
Lahemaa National Park.
We also managed to visit such an amazing place as Lahemaa National Park. It is located in northern Estonia on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, about seventy kilometers east of Tallinn. The area of the park is 72.5 thousand hectares, and about a third of the territory is occupied by the sea. The coastline is colored by peninsulas, bays and small islands. There are four peninsulas (Juminda, Pärispea, Käsmu and Vergi) and four bays (Kolga, Hara, Eru and Käsmu). It was because of the large number of bays that the founder of Estonian landscape science, J. G. Grano, called this region “Lahemaa” - Edge of the Bays, and in 1971 a national park was created to protect the unique landscapes of the coast.
The natural landscapes in the park are quite diverse; there are pine forests with boulder fields, swamps, rivers and lakes, and of course the picturesque sea coast. Despite its fairly high environmental status, this is an almost completely open to the public (with the exception of a small natural reserve) territory with protected nature. There are some restrictions, they relate to places for setting up tents and making fires.
The park has more than 20 equipped nature trails ranging from 0.5 to 18 km in length. To explore the park, we chose the Käsmu Peninsula. From the village of Käsmu I headed to Cape Vana Yuri and the island of Kuradisaar. The local coast is a paradise for photographers; here you can observe many mute swans, cormorants, terns and other birds, although it is quite difficult to get closer than 30–50 m to them unnoticed.
Swans and cormorants against the backdrop of the island of Kuradisar
Lahemaa Park is also famous for the large number of boulders brought in by a glacier. The largest boulder field in Estonia (400 ha) is located on the Käsmu Peninsula. The dimensions of some boulders reach five meters in height and fifteen meters in girth.
Huge boulders at Cape Van Yuri
Boulders in the forest on the Käsmu Peninsula
Arctic terns
And instead of a conclusion.
After the trip, I never tired of wondering how the Estonians managed to achieve all this. In my humble opinion, they are developing eco-tourism exactly the way it should be done. Their extensive network of ecological routes and nature trails is evenly distributed throughout the country. With the exception of reserves that are closed to visitors, the rest of the territory is suitable for travel; there are routes for both trained tourists and ordinary city residents, including people with disabilities. Moreover, we are not talking about the development of mass tourism. Tourism in protected areas is developed taking into account minimizing the negative impact on nature. The number and behavior of tourists are strictly regulated. No roads are built in the immediate vicinity of parks and reserves - only dirt roads, bike paths and hiking trails. They do not build hotels and sanatoriums - only miniature huts for overnight stays and places for tents.
But let’s not idealize - this approach certainly has its downsides. For example, I immediately imagined what difficulties the “wild” tourism, so familiar to me in our Karelia, might encounter here...
NATIONAL PARKS OF ESTONIA
More than 10% of the entire territory of the country is under special state protection in Estonia, including soils with unique natural resources and rare landscapes, as well as five national parks.
Getting to any of Estonia's national parks is quite easy; entry is free, and if you wish, you can even stay there for a few days.
KARULA National Park (est.KARULARahvuspark)
Karula is the smallest national park in Estonia, which received its status in 1993.
The Karula plateau was formed thousands of years ago under the influence of continental glacial movement. Today the area is extremely diverse and rich in natural landscapes: marshy marshes, swampy forests, small lakes, rivers and streams, meadows, flower fields and hills.
The territory of the park is sparsely populated, since 70% of it is made up of forests and lakes (there are 38 of them). Small fields, swamps, swamps and farms give it a special charm. The highest hill in the park is called Tornimägi. Its height is 137 meters; you can find it near the village of Lyllemäe.
There are 157 bird species in Karula National Park. Large mammals include moose, western roe deer, wild bear and lynx. The class of small mammals includes red foxes, raccoons, ferrets, squirrels and beavers.
Not far from Lake Ahijärv, the park has a tourist information center where you can get detailed information about the park's hiking routes, campgrounds and attractions, as well as shows and exhibitions taking place in the park.
LAHEMAA National Park (est. LAHEMAARahvuspark)
Lahemaa National Park is the largest national park in Estonia, located 70 km east of Tallinn and covering an area of 725 km².
The park's landscape is quite diverse. The plateau regions of Harju and Viru, where the park is located, were among the first to be developed by the indigenous settlers of Estonia. The so-called natural boundary between the plateaus and the coastal plain forms the North Estno rocky block, which looks especially picturesque in combination with a waterfall. It was this block that laid the foundation for the emergence of forests and beaches here.
The southern part of Lahemaa National Park stretches across the wide forests and swamps of Kõrvemaa. Fascinating historical, natural and hiking routes laid through the park will become your excursion into the ancient history of Estonian settlements, the cultural heritage of the Baltic Germans, the rich ecosystem of the northern Estonian swamps and, finally, the world of beavers.
Lahemaa National Park is home to numerous species of animals and birds, as well as flowers and plants. Among the animals presented, in particular, communities of bears, wolves and lynxes can be distinguished. Visitors are always advised to keep their cameras ready - you never know when the moment will present itself.
White swans and other migratory waterfowl can often be seen from the beaches along the park. Not far from the village of Altja, also in the park, is the only open-air geology museum in Estonia. Võsu is the most famous small beach village in the park, offering tourist accommodation opportunities for holidays. You can also stay here in several manors located within the park.
MATSALU National Park (est.MATSALURahvuspark)
Matsalu is a national park and nature reserve in Western Estonia, with an area of 486.4 km².
The park includes Matsalu Bay and the mouth of the Kasari River, along with coastal flower meadows, reed beds and forests. Matsalu Bay is quite shallow, its water is brackish and rich in nutrients. The park also includes 40 islands, which include the Väinameri Sea, bordering the bay. The length of the bay is 18 km, the width is 6 km, and the depth is only 1.5 meters.
Matsalu National Park is very large and is a temporary stopover for migratory birds in Europe in the autumn. In addition, this is a real paradise for lovers of observing the habits and behavior of birds: there are only about 275 species of birds in the park, including 175 nesting and about 33 migratory. Thousands of geese, ducks and swans have chosen the sea coast in the park, giving it a unique flavor. About 49 different species of fish, 47 species of mammals and 772 species of different plants have been recorded in the park.
Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the park on foot, on bicycles, or even by boat, traveling along the Matsalovsky Bay. There are several bird watching towers here. The most popular ones are in Haeska, Keemu and Kloostri.
Every autumn, near the town of Lihula, the Matsalu International Nature Film Festival takes place.
SOOMAA National Park (est.SOOMAARahvuspark)
Soomaa National Park, translated as "land of swamps", was founded in 1993 in the southwest of the country. Its area is 390 km²; it is the second largest park after Lahemaa. Soomaa Park was created to protect marshes, flowering meadows, forests and meandering rivers.
Most of the park's territory is covered with swamps, sometimes divided by tributaries of the Pärnu River. In the eastern part of the park there are the highest dunes in Estonia, 50 kilometers from the sea coast. The Soomaa Park Tourist Information Center is located in Tõramaa.
Soomaa Park has not only become a habitat for a number of animals, but also a breeding ground for royal deer, moose, wild boar, beaver, lynx, wolves and bears. The park's wetlands have become nesting grounds for some rare bird species, including the golden eagle, black stork, black grouse and wood grouse. Very often you can find rare species of wild orchids here.
What makes this park unique is the so-called “fifth season” - the spring flood, which causes the water level to rise to 5 meters. During this period, the flood spreads everywhere - to meadows, fields, forests and paths, even houses in some places are flooded with water. The maximum flood area reaches 7-8 km; however, there were also floods reaching 150 km². Therefore, canoeing and kayaking are sometimes the best way to get to know the area and explore the vast expanses of Soomaa Park. Along with canoe tours of the park, there are also many hiking trails.
VILSANDI National Park (est.VILSANDIRahvuspark)
Vilsandi National Park is a popular tourist destination for both Estonians and foreign visitors. The park has a huge number of walking routes, which are especially pleasant to combine with observing the habits and behavior of birds - for this purpose, special viewing platforms have been installed in the park.
The park is located in the Kihekonna district of Saare County and includes the island of Visandi, 160 other islands and islets, the western part of the island of Saaremaa and the Hariland peninsula. The area of the National Park is 238 km²: 163 km² of marine territory and 75 km² of land. The park was originally the Waika Bird Sanctuary, established in 1914.
Vilsandi National Park today is an international bird sanctuary, with over 250 recorded species (112 of which are breeding). The most famous inhabitant of the park is the common eider; Thousands of them nest on the islets of Wislandy Park. Even in winter, visitors can see flocks of these noble birds.
Among the animals, gray seals, on the islet of Innarahu, chose Vilsandi Park as their breeding site. The tourist information center is located in the Loona Manor building, within the park.
The vegetation of this area has been of interest to botanists since the last century, but the reserve was founded here only in 1957.
The protected area is located in the west of the island of Saaremaa. The main purpose of its creation is the study and preservation of rare plants. The fauna of the reserve is also rich, but not as interesting as the flora. 16 species of animals live here. There are many, for example, squirrels, badgers and roe deer. More than 60 species of birds live here. The rarest among them are the tawny owl and the great owl.
Most scientists call this amazing place a natural botanical garden. The reserve covers an area of 0.6 thousand hectares. Almost the entire territory is covered with forest, and the altitude above sea level is 54 m.
Geomorphological formations that stand out from under the soil as bedrock protrusions require special attention. The soil cover consists of Silurian limestone, sand and moraine. It is here that the beginning of most of the small springs is located, which then form a peat spring bog.
Slopes and swamps with various shrubs are quite typical for the landscape of the reserve. The climate here is mild and maritime. The warmest summer month is July, when the temperature is around 18-19 degrees. In general, the warm period lasts almost 200 days. Snow lasts about 80 days.
On the slope and in the swamp you can see rare relict plants, and on the plateau of the reserve there are lichen, alvar and heather forests. The largest area is occupied by alvar forests, dominated by pine, spruce, as well as birch and pedunculate oak. The most common shrubs are hazel and juniper. The herbaceous layer is also quite rich, dominated by meadowsweet, coppice, primrose and blood-red geranium. The rarest tree can be called rowan aria, which does not grow anywhere else. There are not many heather and lichen forests in the reserve. A fairly large area is occupied by lingonberries, sorrel berries, blueberries and green moss.
In the reserve you can also see other types of forests, for example, lowland forests of transitional swamps and broad-leaved forests. Among the rarest plants, it is usually customary to distinguish black peas, Kashubian and chin-shaped peas, ostrich and mountain St. John's wort.
A particularly valuable place in this reserve is occupied by a shrubby bog, popular for such rare plants as Lesel's liparis, sword grass, Charles's scepter myrtle, small bladderwort and, of course, Esel's rattle. There are a lot of rare plants in this area.
The main task of the nature reserve is the preservation and detailed study of rare plants and relict communities. Research and various observations are constantly carried out here, as a result of which a map of the reserve’s vegetation was compiled on a large scale.
Many people here simply walk, enjoying the clean air and admiring the beautiful scenery. The reserve helps you forget about the bustle of the city at least for a while and allows you to fully isolate yourself with nature.
The main objects of ecotourism are unique natural complexes, namely:
- · national and natural parks, state nature reserves, natural monuments;
- · dendrological parks and botanical gardens;
- · health-improving areas and resorts;
- · nature reserves.
National parks are environmental, environmental, educational and research institutions, the territories of which include natural complexes and objects of special ecological and historical value, and which are intended for use for environmental, educational, scientific and cultural purposes and for regulated tourism . A protective zone with a limited regime of environmental management is being created around the national park.
A differentiated regime of special protection is established on the territory of national parks, taking into account their natural, historical, cultural and other features. In the territories of national parks, various functional zones can be distinguished, including:
- · a protected area, within which any economic activity and recreational use of the territory is prohibited;
- · educational tourism, intended for organizing environmental education and familiarization with the sights of the national park;
- · recreational, intended for recreation;
- · protection of historical and cultural objects, within which conditions for their preservation are provided;
- · visitor services, designed to accommodate overnight accommodations, tent camps and other tourist service facilities, cultural, consumer and information services for visitors.
In the territories of national parks, any activity that can cause damage to natural complexes and objects of flora and fauna, cultural and historical sites and that contradicts the goals and objectives of the national park is prohibited.
Natural parks are environmental recreational institutions, the territories of which include natural complexes and objects of significant environmental and aesthetic value, and are intended for use for environmental, educational and recreational purposes.
Let's consider the main tasks of national and natural parks.
Table 6 Main tasks of national and natural parks
Objectives of National Parks |
Objectives of natural parks |
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In the territories of natural parks, various regimes of special protection and use are established depending on the ecological and recreational value of the natural areas. In natural parks, environmental, recreational, agricultural and other functional zones can be distinguished, including zones for the protection of historical and cultural complexes and objects.
In the territories of natural parks, activities that entail changes in the historically established natural landscape, reduction or destruction of the ecological, aesthetic and recreational qualities of natural parks, or violation of the regime for maintaining historical and cultural monuments are prohibited.
Nature reserves do not belong to the main objects of ecological tourism, although in the so-called buffer zones it is possible to organize, for example, ecological trails.
Reserves are environmental, research and environmental educational institutions. Their main goal is the preservation and study of the natural course of natural processes and phenomena, the genetic fund of flora and fauna, individual species and communities of plants and animals, typical and unique ecological systems. One of the tasks of the reserves is environmental education.
In Estonia, 10% of the territory (4548 km2) is taken under state protection. There are four national parks - Vilsandi, Karula, Lahemaa, Soomaa, four nature parks - Loodi, Naissaar, Otepää, Haanja, 58 nature reserves and 154 landscape reserves.
Table 7 Distribution of the largest natural complexes in Estonia by region
Name of the natural complex |
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Northwestern Estonia |
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North-East Estonia |
Š Kurtna (natural landscape reserve) |
South-East Estonia |
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Southwestern Estonia |
Sh Soomaa (national park) |
West coast and islands of the West Estonian archipelago |
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The first Estonian Red Book of endangered and rare species began to be compiled in 1976 (published in 1982), which included 155 plant species and 104 mammal species. Work on the second book began in 1990. It includes 229 species of plants, 92 species of animals and 12 species of fungi.
In recent years, the principles of ecotourism have been widely used in the work of national parks and reserves. The rapid development of ecological tourism in recent decades is explained not only by the deterioration of environmental quality, but also by the increasing “cultivation” of popular recreation areas - mountainous areas, sea coasts, etc.
The territory of the Estonian national parks - Lahemaa, Karula, Soomaa and Vilsandi - is mostly open to everyone.
In natural reserves, the movement of people and any economic activity is prohibited. Depending on the season, certain areas of the parks may be closed, for example, during bird nesting periods.
The flow of tourists into nature reserves should be limited and carefully regulated. Instead of mass tourism, it seems more acceptable for reserves to organize long, specialized (and more expensive) tours for a small number of groups.
Landscape reserve (nature park) is a protected area of rare or characteristic natural or cultural landscapes of Estonia, which is established for environmental, cultural or recreational reasons.
On European Nature Reserve Day, 24 May, Estonian nature reserves hold open days, clean-ups and training days. Games are organized in the area, new hiking trails and paths leading to springs or into the quiet of swamps are opened.
Nature reserves and other areas closed to traffic must be marked.
In the summer of 2000, in Lahemaa National Park, traffic restriction signs complying with state standards were installed in nature. Parking of motor vehicles in security zones is permitted only in designated areas.
In recent years, the principle has been introduced in state national parks in Europe and Estonia: everything that you brought into the reserve must be taken with you when leaving it.
Estonian national parks are promising regions for the development of ecotourism due to factors such as:
- 1) high diversity and aesthetic appeal of natural landscapes;
- 2) rich recreational resources;
- 3) unique flora and fauna, the presence of a large number of relict species, as well as rare species included in the International Red Book;
- 4) the presence of unique ecosystems;
- 5) favorable opportunities for observing wild animals and birds;
- 6) convenient location, well-developed transport network;
- 7) extensive tourist infrastructure - hotels, holiday homes, camp sites;
- 8) great interest in the development of the ecotourism industry and its support from authorities, protected areas, commercial structures and the general public, who link the prospects for economic development with tourism.
Lahemaa - a natural national park in Estonia, on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, in the central part of the North-Estonian Lowland, area 64.9 thousand hectares. Formed in 1971
The name Lahemaa characterizes the local coastal landscape, where several bays are located between peninsulas extending far into the sea.
Along with the protection of natural ecological systems, the reserve has general cultural significance and is intended to disseminate environmental and natural knowledge.
The landscape of Lahemaa is diverse: there are both dense virgin forests and swamps untouched by land reclamation, as well as many traces of ancient agriculture and more recent manor culture. More than other parks in Estonia, Lahemaa National Park preserves historical and cultural continuity. People have lived here continuously for 4,000 years.
The predominant part of the national park is occupied by natural landscapes, whose appearance people should not change. Familiarity with nature is important; the most common form of this can be considered educational hikes with a leader or independently, as well as overcoming natural educational trails. The national park's cultural mission is to preserve the archaic landscape and semi-natural communities, as well as store and exhibit numerous archaeological, ethnographic and architectural values.
The northern part of the park is characterized by rocky islands, bays, boulder fields with giant stone blocks, pine and spruce forests. In the central part there is a vast plain with alvars, waterfalls, karst fields, and swamps. In the southern part there are many lakes, rivers with rapids and waterfalls.
The forests are inhabited by elk, wild boar, roe deer, and lynx; on reservoirs - waterfowl.
On the territory of the park there are architectural and cultural monuments (ancient settlements, burial grounds). There are cultural landscapes where economic activities (agriculture, fishing, forestry) are carried out in the interests of the park. Traditional crafts are preserved and supported, and individual villages and hamlets are taken under protection.
The rules of behavior in the national park are simple. You must follow the signs and follow them. The excursions are educational and recreational in nature.
Lahemaa is an area where nature conservation runs parallel to the daily life and economic activities of local residents. Traditional nature conservation is combined here with the restoration of ancient architecture and furnishings. Tens of thousands of people visit the park every year, many of them get to know the area for several days. Only the reserves are closed to visitors.
In Lahemaa National Park and the nearby Viitna landscape area there are several educational trails that are suitable for both children and older people. Typically, the length of the study trail is 3-5 kilometers (in some places up to 10 kilometers). There are several observation platforms located in the areas where the trails pass. There are about two dozen such observation platforms on study trails.
For recreational recreation, areas with a boarding house, motel, and rest home are allocated.
Marked study trails:
- 1. Pikkjärve trail to Viitna. Starts from the northern shore of the lake. Length 2.5 km.
- 2. Manor park in Palms. The length of the trail is 4 km.
- 3. Natural history and cultural trail to Altya. The length of the trail is 3 km.
- 4. Käsmu nature and cultural trail. Starts at the end of the village at the parking area. The length of the trail is 3.5 km.
- 5. Mayakivi Trail on the Yuminda Peninsula. Starts from the village of Virve. The length of the trail is 3 km.
- 6. Viru Swamp. It starts at a distance of 1 km from the Tallinn-Narva highway on the right side of the road leading to Loksa. The length of the trail is 3.5 km.
- 7. Natural history and cultural trail in Muuksi. The length of the trail is 5 km.
- 8. Võsu-Oandu trail. The length of the trail is 9.5 km.
- 9. Kopra Trail. The length of the trail is 4.7 km.
Vilsandi - the reserve was organized in 1058 as the Vaika Reserve (Kingisepp District).
The area of the reserve is 10689 hectares. Located on more than 100 sea rocky islands, which are dolomitized coral reefs of the warm Silurian Sea.
The vegetation is rather sparse, dominated by halophytes.
The only habitat in Estonia for the Danish Spoonfoot. An important object of protection is the colony of the common eider (about 2000 birds). In addition to the eider, diving and true ducks, mergansers (great and long-tailed) and greylag geese, mute swan, slender-billed guillemot, spotted tern, sandpiper and bee-eater nest in the reserve.
The scientific profile of the reserve is the development of conservation methods and the study of the species composition, abundance and ecology of sea island birds, as well as animals.
Analysis of visitation to nature reserves using the example of Soomaa, Endla and Nigula To carry out this analysis, requests were made to obtain statistical data from various nature reserves in Estonia. Let's look at the dynamics of tourist visits using the example of the Soomaa, Endla and Nigula nature reserves.
Fig.2.
Soomaa. According to Soomaa National Park in 2005, the number of registered visitors was 8,980 people. Of these, 6,810 tourists were from Estonia, 2,170 were foreign tourists. Among foreign tourists, the largest number of tourists were from Germany (812), Finland (302), Great Britain (173), Sweden (96) and Holland (90). The maximum number of tourists was registered in 2004 - their number was 11,176 people. Figure 2 shows that the number of visitors has increased sharply recently. If in 1994 Soomaa was visited by 80 tourists, then over the past 7 years the average annual number of tourists is 9,518.