Editing Saaremaa (section)

== Etymology ==
Saaremaa was called ''Eysýsla'' in the [[Iceland]]ic [[saga]]s and other early medieval Scandinavian sources ([[Old Norse]]: {{IPA|non|ˈœyˌsyːslɑ|}}, meaning "the island district"), and named in contrast with ''Aðalsýsla'' ("the great district") or the Estonian mainland. The island is called {{lang|et|Saaremaa}} in modern [[Estonian language|Estonian]] and {{lang|fi|Saarenmaa}} in [[Finnish language|Finnish]] — literally "land of the isle" or "land of the island",<ref name="traveller.ee">Toomse, Liine. "10 Estonian Islands You Should Visit." http://www.traveller.ee/blog/tallinn/10-estonian-islands-you-should-visit. Retrieved 8 March 2016.</ref> i.e. the same as the ancient Scandinavian name for the island.

The old Scandinavian name is also the origin of the island's name in [[Danish language|Danish]] {{lang|da|Øsel}}, [[German language|German]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] {{lang|de|Ösel}}, [[Gutnish]] ''Oysl'', and in [[Latin]], {{lang|la|Osilia}}. In [[Latvian language|Latvian]], the island is called {{lang|lv|Sāmsala}}, which possibly means "the island of [[Sami people|Saami]]". Saaremaa <!--is believed by Estonian medical scholar Raul Talvik and former Estonian president Lennart Meri--> may have been the historic [[Thule|Ultima Thule]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://arhiiv.saartehaal.ee/2015/10/17/raamat-saaremaa-ongi-ultima-thule/|title=Raamat: Saaremaa ongi Ultima Thule|first=Piia|last=Tamsalu|date=October 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.err.ee/550811/saaremaal-arutati-kuidas-ultima-thule-muuti-turundamisel-ara-kasutada|title=Saaremaal arutati, kuidas Ultima Thule müüti turundamisel ära kasutada|first=Margus Muld |last=ERR|date=December 12, 2015|website=ERR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1111/j.1945-5100.2001.tb01830.x|title = Ecological catastrophe in connection with the impact of the Kaali meteorite about 800–400 B.C. On the island of Saaremaa, Estonia|journal = Meteoritics & Planetary Science|volume = 36|issue = 10|pages = 1367–1375|year = 2001|last1 = Veski|first1 = Siim|last2 = Heinsalu|first2 = Atko|last3 = Kirsimäe|first3 = Kalle|last4 = Poska|first4 = Anneli|last5 = Saarse|first5 = Leili| s2cid=55496802 |doi-access = free| bibcode=2001M&PS...36.1367V }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |jstor = 44912445|title = Ultima Thule – liegt die Lösung in Estland?|journal = Osteuropa|volume = 35|issue = 3|pages = 153–157|last1 = Hasselblatt|first1 = Cornelius|year = 1985}}</ref>