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Estonia
is for many people from Western Europe a rather unknown territory. However, that’s changing.
During worldwar II Estonia got occupied by the Soviet Union. That occupation ended in 1991, when they
acquired re-indepence. Over ten years later the country joined the European Union.
Although Estonia’s language, landscape and climate are similar to Finland, Estonia has a unique culture,
showing elements of a peasant culture, rich of songs and folktales and other artistic expressions, such as theater and
architecture.
At an economical level Estonia is one of the strongest growing economies of Europe, and well known for it’s internet
efficiency. In the cities and villages old buildings are getting new appearances, and modern business-buildings
and shopping-areas emerge.
Estonia offers an abundance of quietness and nature. One third of the country exists of forest. There are countless lakes,
a long, silent coastline with many large and small, populated and uninhabited islands and many wild animals in
plenty of national parks.
Valgamaa
Municipality Taheva and Karula
In the extreme Southern part of Estonia, next to the Latvian border is the province of Valgamaa situated.
The municipalities Taheva and Karula together cover over 400 km2 and there barely live 2000 people,
spread to a couple of smaller towns.
In South-Estonia nature rules. A landscape of small hills covered with forest, swamp and many lakes and rivers.
Villages rest discreetly in the large woods. Here wild animals find their habitat. Moose, bears, wolves, lynx,
foxes, beavers and many bird species. The surroundings of Karula National Park offer perfect possibilities
for nature tourism, such as dogsled tours, a journey with a kayak from the
‘black river’, fishing and hunting, leech treatment, or an enriching visit to one of the many farms that are
part of the Metsamoori Perepark. Farms that try to live in and with nature.
In and around the park are nature campsites with simple resources that everyone can use.
These campsites are located at the most beautiful places next to a lake or River. At many places there are
information signs about the park and there are signposted bicycle- and hiking trails.
In the north of the province of Valgamaa there is the winter capital of Estonia: Otepää. Here you can find a lot
of skiing en langlauf possibilities.
Also in the province of Võrumaa, in the Haanja National Park are a lot of skiing possibilities around
the highest point of Estonia, situated at 318 m above sea level.
Climate
For its Northern site Estonia has a favorable climate with old fashioned cold winters that can begin at the end
of October and end in April, where temperatures can drop to 30 degrees below zero, but rise above zero
the next week. The amount of snow changes from year to year, but normally there’s snow from December to March.
Although there can be short periods without snow. Global warming is tangible here too. Summers are pleasantly
warm and rather dry without extreme temperatures. Day temperatures seldom drop below 20 degrees or above 30.
At night however, it always cools down. In addition there is a period without nights from May till July when
the sun albeit disappears behind the horizon, but it never really gets dark. In wintertime the opposite is
true, the sun just rises above the horizon and drops soon after. Around three a clock in the afternoon the sun sets
and at nine the sun starts to rise. In wintertime, on clear nights, sometimes the well known northern light
can be seen.
An excellent holiday-destination for people who are looking for quietness, silence and adventure.
Links:
Karula Rahvuspark
State forrest management centre
Metsamoori Perepark
VALGA-CRUISING
Schapenboerderij in Talu
Textiel kunstenares
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