Vilsandi (Saaremaa)
Coordinates: 58 ° 23 ' N , 21 ° 51' E
The village of Vilsandi ( Estonian Vilsandi küla ) is the only settlement on the island of the same name, Vilsandi . It belongs to the Saaremaa rural community (until 2017: Kihelkonna rural community ) in the Saare district in Estonia .
location
Vilsandi is 39 kilometers from the county capital Kuressaare . Vilsandi is connected to the island of Saaremaa via a connection with the mail boat to the Papissaare port, five kilometers away .
National park
The village is part of the 238 square kilometer Vilsandi National Park ( Vilsandi rahvuspark ), which includes the island of Vilsandi and the surrounding marine area with its numerous small islets as well as the west coast of the island of Saaremaa.
Population
The village still has six inhabitants today (as of December 31, 2011).
The first permanent resident was probably the Dutchman Johann Doll, whose ship ran aground near Vilsandi in 1703 and who then settled on the island with his wife. The name Doll (or estonized Toll) lived on on the island. Estonian residents were added in the 18th century.
In 1809 there are four farms and eleven fishermen on Vilsandi. In the same year the lighthouse was built in the west of the island. A weather station and a rescue station were added later. In 1860 there were eighteen families on the island. By 1934 the number of inhabitants increased to 169. They lived mainly from fishing, seafaring, seal hunting and a little agriculture.
In 1944, 96 residents fled Estonia from the Soviet Red Army , mostly to Sweden. 46 residents stayed behind.
Personalities
The best known resident of Vilsandi was the Estonian writer Heino Väli (1928–1990), who had lived in the village since the 1970s. Today the place has become a home for the Estonian playwright, actor and singer Jaanätte (* 1964).
literature
- Baltic historical local dictionary. Part 1: Estonia (including Northern Livonia) (= sources and studies on Baltic history. Volume 8/1). Started by Hans Feldmann . Published by Heinz von zur Mühlen . Edited by Gertrud Westermann . Böhlau, Cologne / Vienna 1985, ISBN 3-412-07183-8 , p. 82f.
Web links
- Nature tourism on Vilsandi
- Description ( eestigiid.ee )