Ahelaid
Encyclopedia
Ahelaid is a small uninhabited islet
in Estonia
. It lies in the Baltic Sea
, south-east of Hiiumaa
island. It has a surface area of 25 hectares . It is part of the Hiiumaa Islets Landscape Reserve.
Ahelaid lies 10.5 km from the Sarve peninsula on Hiiumaa, 14 km from the Salinõmme peninsula
on Hiiumaa and 6.5 km from Tammiski nukk on Muhu
. Although it is closer to Muhu than to Hiiumaa, it is administered as part of Hiiu County. Near the island are some smaller islets: to the north, stony Aherahu
; to the west Ankrurahu
, which has some vegetation; to the east Luigerahu
and to the northeast a few stone piles barely above the sea level called Kajakarahud.
The average height of the islet is below 2 meters and the highest point is 4.6 meters.
There are 45 bird species nesting on the islet annually, including Sedge Warbler
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Arctic Tern
(Sterna paradisaea) and Whitethroat
(Sylvia communis). Altogether 60 species of birds have been recorded.
The islet is also known as Hakilaid, probably from the Common Eider
(Somateria mollissima) .
There has been no habitation on the islet. People from both Muhu and Hiiumaa have gathered hay
there in summer as until the end of the 19th century there was a shortage of land for hay. The islet may also have been used as pasture. There has been a fishermen's hut on the islet.
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
in Estonia
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...
. It lies in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, south-east of Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa is the second largest island belonging to Estonia. It is located in the Baltic Sea, north of the island of Saaremaa, a part of the West Estonian archipelago. Its largest town is Kärdla.-Name:...
island. It has a surface area of 25 hectares . It is part of the Hiiumaa Islets Landscape Reserve.
Ahelaid lies 10.5 km from the Sarve peninsula on Hiiumaa, 14 km from the Salinõmme peninsula
Salinõmme peninsula
Salinõmme peninsula is a peninsula in southeastern Hiiumaa, 5 km to south of Suuremõisa, an Estonian territory in the Baltic Sea. It lies in east of Salinõmme Bay and in west of Soonlepa Bay. Village of Salinõmme comprises all of the peninsula. In 1870 the peninsula was still an island....
on Hiiumaa and 6.5 km from Tammiski nukk on Muhu
Muhu
Muhu , is an island in the Baltic Sea. With an area of 198 km² it is the third largest island belonging to Estonia, after Saaremaa and Hiiumaa....
. Although it is closer to Muhu than to Hiiumaa, it is administered as part of Hiiu County. Near the island are some smaller islets: to the north, stony Aherahu
Aherahu
-See also:List of islands of Estonia...
; to the west Ankrurahu
Ankrurahu
-See also:List of islands of Estonia...
, which has some vegetation; to the east Luigerahu
Luigerahu
Luigerahu is a small, moraine-based Baltic Sea island belong to the country of Estonia.Luigerahu covers approximately 0.2 hectares and lies half a kilomter off the western coast of the island of Ahelaid. The island is adiministered by Hiiu County, and along with a number of other islands, makes up...
and to the northeast a few stone piles barely above the sea level called Kajakarahud.
The average height of the islet is below 2 meters and the highest point is 4.6 meters.
There are 45 bird species nesting on the islet annually, including Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler
The Sedge Warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge Warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa...
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
The Arctic Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar breeding distribution covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America...
(Sterna paradisaea) and Whitethroat
Whitethroat
The Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical Africa, Arabia and Pakistan.This is one of several Sylvia species...
(Sylvia communis). Altogether 60 species of birds have been recorded.
The islet is also known as Hakilaid, probably from the Common Eider
Common Eider
The Common Eider, Somateria mollissima, is a large sea-duck that is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. It breeds in Arctic and some northern temperate regions, but winters somewhat farther south in temperate zones, when it can form large flocks on...
(Somateria mollissima) .
There has been no habitation on the islet. People from both Muhu and Hiiumaa have gathered hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
there in summer as until the end of the 19th century there was a shortage of land for hay. The islet may also have been used as pasture. There has been a fishermen's hut on the islet.