On Saturday we broke from our normal routine for an outing and saun in the evening. We drove around the area with our guide Peeter Vissak with Estonian Nature Tours who showed us areas in and around the Matsalu National Park-Nature Reserve. The National Park is one of the most important wetland bird areas in Europe located along the East Atlantic Flyway. We started the day with a rainbow over the Viita Coastal Meadows and were able to mostly avoid the rain.

We visited the Viita coastal meadows, Keemu Sadam and look out tower, Näärikivid, Salevere hiking trail in Salumäe, and took a boat ride through the Matsalu reeds. The area is a rich habitat for animals and migrating birds.

Of course there were some towers to climb, and we took a boat out through the Matsalu reeds.

The Salevere Matkarada (Hiking Trail) is an archaeologically and geologically significant area. It has a history of human habitation traced bak to 5,000 years! I agree with what our tour guide Peeter said, I don’t know if it makes a difference, but I like it. The Salevere Salumägi, Grove Hill, is a limestone hill hat is part of the Siluri Klint that stretches to Gotland, Sweden. Archaeological remains indicate that the hill was used as a fort from 360-50 BC and for agricultural uses from the 3rd to 13th century AD.