 Soomaa 1
Soomaa calls …
Soomaa National Park was formed in 1993 to protect the wildlife of bogs, flood plains rich in species and different forests.
The different nature in Soomaa, peculiar suspension and trestle bridge culture and the five seasons have made this region very popular. Soomaa interests travellers who admire nature as well as simple vacationists.
As the territory of the Soomaa National Park can be compared to Hiiumaa in size, it is hard to pass it on foot. The offered route is one of many possibilities to travel through the National Park by bike or car.
When you drive 11 ½ km from Viljandi towards Pärnu, a sign directs you to the right, into the Soomaa National Park.
Driving through Tohvri village you will cross the bridge and find yourself in the park. There you can start your acquaintance with Soomaa.
1. On the north-eastern part of the Sakala Upland you can find 10000 years old dunes that have been formed after the recession of the Baltic Ice Lake in the Raudna River valley. The dunes inside the National Park borders have different names – Sauga, Osju, Ruunaraipe and Miiliaugu. The dunes are relativly small, their height is about 11-12 metres. They are covered with beautiful heath and pine forests that surely interest mushroom and berry pickers in summer and autumn. On Sauga dunes a sign directs you to a campfire ground on the bank of the Raudna river. When turning to the right, after 1 km you will reach the highest point of the Ruunaraipe dunes with a picnic place and hiking cabin.
At this place a 3 km long hiking trail begins that leads you through Ruunaraipe and Miiliaugu dunes to Lubjasaare. The route is marked with coloured stripes on the trunks of the trees, meant as orientational help for hikers.
2. Lubjasaare was the home of the artist Johann Köler and headed by the Johann Köler foundation a museum has been founded there. The museum shows former farm life and the works of the artist. In Lubjasaare you can find an old farmhouse, next to it a barn, a restored sauna and outhouses. Former household appliances and reproductions of the artist’s work are exhibited.
There it is possible to camp, have a rest, start a fire and enjoy the village swing.
When you go back the way you were coming through the forest and reach the Viljandi-Pärnu road again, it would be advisable to drive on towards Pärnu. Before Kõpu village the road turns right and takes you to the Soomaa National Park Visitor Centre. It is about 24 kilometres from Kõpu to the Centre. If this trip seems to be too long, instead of this you could go to see the Öördi bog-lake.
3. The transition of the Sakala Upland to the Pärnu Lowland can be noticed near Uia village that is about 3.3 km away from the Kõpu crossing. From the hilly landscape of the Sakala Upland you have now reached the Pärnu Lowland.
4. Before the Iia village, about 3 more kilometres from Uia the road turns right and takes you to the beautiful Öördi lake. The road is just passable by cars and minibusses. Next to a small cabin starts a natural trail to the 1.4 km long boardwalk ending at the lake.
Öördi bog lake is a relic of ancient Baltic Ice Lake, 4.4 ha in size, 3-4 metres deep and living space for some fishes, main species is perch. Sunset makes a summer evening at the lake very romantic. In autumn there are lots of cranberries in the bog.
At the campsite it is possible to take a breath or stay overnight in the hiking cabin.
When moving around in Soomaa it is possible to meet a curious elk, an eagle looking for food or even Soomaa’s king of the birds itself – the capercaillie.
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Manor houses of Viljandi County 1
Museums of Viljandi county 1
Museums of Viljandi county 2
Museums of Viljandi county 3
Old buildings of Viljandi II
Old buildings of Viljandi III
Old buildings of Viljandi IV
Põhja-Viljandimaa
Soomaa 1
Soomaa 2
Soomaa 3
Soomaa 4
Soomaa 5
Soomaa 6
Southern part of Viljandi County I
Tour around the Viljandi
Viljandi
Viljandi vanad majad I |
