Vaindloo
Vaindloo
Stenskär (Swedish) | |
|---|---|
.jpg) View of Vaindloo from the sea | |
| Coordinates: 59°49′04″N 26°21′36″E / 59.8177°N 26.36005°E | |
| Country | Estonia |
| County | Lääne-Viru County |
| Village | Vainupea |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.062 km2 (0.024 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | no permanent population |
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Vaindloo (alternatively Vaindloo saar; Swedish: Stenskär) is a small island in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea.
Description
[edit]Vaindloo belongs to Estonia; it is the northernmost land point of the country. It has an area of 6.2 hectares (15 acres) and marks the northernmost point of the nation of Estonia, situated 26 kilometers (16 mi) north of the Estonian mainland.[1] The island is administratively part of the village of Vainupea in Haljala Parish, Lääne-Viru County. The island is depicted on the Estonian two-euro coin. The Euro Coin Collector website notes:
"On the 2 Euro coin two small islands, Vaindloo and Nootamaa, are depicted. These, the most Northerly point and most Westerly point of Estonia are not depicted on the other coins."[2]
Infrastructure
[edit]Vaindloo is notable for its lighthouse. It was built in 1871 and is managed by the Estonian Maritime Administration. It replaced a previous timber lighthouse erected in 1718.[3] In addition to the lighthouse, there is an Estonian Border Guard station with a 50-meter-high (160 ft) observation tower and a radar installation.
Environment
[edit]Vaindloo is an important breeding sanctuary for such birds as the common tern, Arctic tern, Tengmalm's owl, great tit, purple sandpiper, shore lark, great grey shrike, yellowhammer and others.[4]
Recent history
[edit]On 20 September 2025, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets flew 12 nautical miles into Estonian airspace, flying around Vaindloo island for around 12 minutes, they were forced to turn back after Italian F-35's stationed at Ämari Air Base under NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission intercepted them. The event caused Estonia to activate Article 4 of the NATO treaty. Russia has denied any wrong-doing and has said that the fighter jets were flying in neutral airspace.[5]
Gallery
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See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Eesti Post. Stamps
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2] Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society
- ^ BirdLife IBA Factsheet
- ^ "Chart shows Russian jets' 12-minute violation of Estonian airspace". Estonian World. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
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