Vormsi

Introducing Vormsi

Vormsi, Estonia's fourth biggest island (93 sq km), lies covered in pine and spruce forests, mixed with coastal pastures and wooded meadows, with tiny lakes dotting the landscape. Vormsi's topography is fascinating: this is the only place in the world where Arctic lichen grows south of the Arctic Circle. There's even coral reef hidden in one forest - brought by retreating glaciers 10, 000 years ago. (Some believe that trolls now lie buried under the rocklike coral). Vormsi has remained largely undisturbed owing to sparse human settlements, largely Swedes until 1944. Today cars are rarer than peregrine falcons - along with 200 other bird species.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009