Based on the protection rules of Vilsandi National Park, the main objective of the national park is to protect the coastal landscapes and sea of West Estonia and little islands rich in bird species.
The territory of the national park is divided into:
One of the objectives of Vilsandi National Park is the protection and introduction of the cultural heritage of the islands of West Estonia.
The Island of Vilsandi is 6 km long from east to west and at some parts up to 2.5 km wide. The island is divided into two parts: Suur-Vilsandi and Väike-Vilsandi (Big and Small Vilsandi, respectively). The narrow area between those two islands is called Vahemeri (the sea in between). The coastal scenery on the island is varied. Dolomitic cliff coasts from which the island has gotten its name (German Felsand = rocky, stony land) but also flat coastal meadows can be found on the island.
Kuusnõmme Peninsula that has a north-western direction is widely covered with pine forest. Part of it is an old natural forest, but planted pine forests can also be found. There are shallow lakes on the peninsula that are called silmad (eyes) by the local people. There are rarities, such as the alpine butterwort (Pinguicula alpina), Saaremaa yellow rattle (Rhinanthus osiliensis) and pale St. John’s-wort (Hypericum montanum) growing on the peninsula.
Harilaid is a peninsula with an elongated shape and an undulated shoreline in the northern part of the national park. A few centuries ago, Harilaid was still an island, but now it is connected with the Tagamõisa Peninsula. Most of Harilaid is covered with pine forest and a lake, named the Laialepa Bay that formed from an old gulf. As a result of the erosive-piling effect of the sea, the shoreline of Harilaid changes constantly, especially on the tip of the Kiipsaare cliff. Kiipsaare lighthouse was built in 1933 in the centre of the peninsula.
Alvar grasslands and overgrown wooded meadows are predominantly represented on the Elda Peninsula that is situated in the southern part of the national park. Alvar grasslands are habitats for different orchid species, such as the early-purple orchid (Orchis mascula) and fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera).
Early-purple orchid (Orchis mascula). Photo: Maris Sepp
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