Abruka
Encyclopedia
Abruka is a 8.78 km² Estonia
n island
in the Gulf of Riga
, 4 km south of the island of Saaremaa
.
Together with few neighbouring smaller islands (Vahase
, Kasselaid
, Linnusitamaa
and Kirjurahu) Abruka forms the village of Abruka, which is part of Kaarma Parish, Saare County
. The village has a population of 33 (as of 1 January 2011) and an area of 10.1 km².
The first records about the population on Abruka originate from the Middle Ages, when the Bishop of Ösel-Wiek
founded a horse breeding
manor there. Permanent population developed in the 18th century. 1881–1972 an elementary school operated on Abruka.
Abruka is the site of a Central European-type broadleaf forest
, which is rare in the region. To protect this a nature reserve was created in 1937.
There's a library (located in the harbour building) and a museum which is located on the side of the former manor park in the oldest building on Abruka (The Abruka House).
Abruka can be reached by postboat Heili from Roomassaare harbour in Kuressaare
.
The twin writers Jüri Tuulik and Ülo Tuulik (born 1940) were born on Abruka.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Gulf of Riga
Gulf of Riga
The Gulf of Riga, or Bay of Riga, is a bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia. According to C.Michael Hogan, a saline stratification layer is found at a depth of approximately seventy metres....
, 4 km south of the island of Saaremaa
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
.
Together with few neighbouring smaller islands (Vahase
Vahase
Vahase is a Estonian islet in the Gulf of Riga. It's located about west of the island of Abruka. Administratively Vahase belongs to the Abruka village in Kaarma Parish, Saare County....
, Kasselaid
Kasselaid
Kasselaid is a uninhabited Estonian islet in the Gulf of Riga. It's located about east of the island of Abruka. Administratively Kasselaid belongs to the Abruka village in Kaarma Parish, Saare County....
, Linnusitamaa
Linnusitamaa
Linnusitamaa is a uninhabited Estonian islet in the Gulf of Riga. It's located about south of the island of Abruka. Administratively Linnusitamaa belongs to the Abruka village in Kaarma Parish, Saare County....
and Kirjurahu) Abruka forms the village of Abruka, which is part of Kaarma Parish, Saare County
Saare County
Saare County , or Saaremaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It consists of Saaremaa , the largest island of Estonia, and several smaller islands near it. The county borders Lääne County to the east and Hiiu County to the north...
. The village has a population of 33 (as of 1 January 2011) and an area of 10.1 km².
The first records about the population on Abruka originate from the Middle Ages, when the Bishop of Ösel-Wiek
Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek
The Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek was a semi-independent Roman Catholic prince-bishopric in what is now Saare, Hiiu and Lääne counties of Estonia.The bishopric was created as a state of Holy Roman Empire on 1 October 1228, by Henry, King of the Romans...
founded a horse breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
manor there. Permanent population developed in the 18th century. 1881–1972 an elementary school operated on Abruka.
Abruka is the site of a Central European-type broadleaf forest
Broadleaf forest
Broadleaf forest can refer to:* Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests* Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests* Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests...
, which is rare in the region. To protect this a nature reserve was created in 1937.
There's a library (located in the harbour building) and a museum which is located on the side of the former manor park in the oldest building on Abruka (The Abruka House).
Abruka can be reached by postboat Heili from Roomassaare harbour in Kuressaare
Kuressaare
Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706 Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706...
.
The twin writers Jüri Tuulik and Ülo Tuulik (born 1940) were born on Abruka.