Editing Saaremaa (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Varahommik ja Panga pank.jpg|thumb|[[Panga Cliff]]]]
The island forms the main barrier between the [[Gulf of Riga]] and the Baltic Sea. To the south of it is the main passage out of the gulf, the [[Irbe Strait]], next to [[Sõrve Peninsula]], the southernmost portion of the island. In medieval times islanders crossed the strait to form fishing villages on the [[Livonian coast]], notably [[Pitrags]]. In those days it was easier and quicker to cross the strait towards nearby [[Kolka, Latvia|Kolka]], [[Saunags]] or [[Mazirbe]], than travel by horse large distances inland. The highest point on the island is 54&nbsp;m above sea level. The [[Kaali crater]] is on the island. The island has much forested terrain. One of the symbols of the island is the [[juniper]].

=== Nature ===
[[File:Shore of Saaremaa.konradmagi.jpg|200px|thumb|''Shore of Saaremaa'', by Estonian artist [[Konrad Mägi]] (1913–1914).]]

More than 10,000 years ago the first parts of Saaremaa arose from the [[Baltic Ice Lake]]. The uplift of the Earth's crust is continuing even today at a rate of {{convert|2|mm|abbr=on}} per year. The West Estonian islands are low-lying plains resting on limestone; their average elevation is roughly {{convert|15|m|sp=us}} above sea level. [[Limestone]] has become denuded in a great number of places, resulting in cliffs, limestone pits and [[quarries]] at [[Mustjala]], [[Ninase]], [[Pulli, Saare County|Pulli]], [[Üügu cliff|Üügu]]<!--etWiki confirms--> and [[Kaugatuma]].

Because of its mild maritime climate and a variety of soils, Saaremaa has a rich [[flora]], illustrated by the fact that 80% of the plant species found in Estonia are represented here. Altogether 1200 species of vascular plants can be found in Saaremaa. About 120 of the local plant species are rare ones that have received special protection status. The most famous endemic species is [[Rhinanthus osiliensis]], a rare little flower growing mostly in spring fens. Rare and beautiful flowers are widespread; out of the 36 species found in Estonia, 35 of them are found on Saaremaa and its adjacent islands.

Over 40% of Saaremaa is covered with forests, most of which are mixed forests, but in some areas, one can find broad-leaved (deciduous) trees, which are relicts of plant communities of former milder climatic periods. [[Wooded meadow]]s were common in Saaremaa before [[World War II]], but many of these unique natural complexes have gradually become overgrown and thus converted into the ordinary forest. The same is true for [[alvar]]s (limestone areas covered with thin soil and stunted vegetation). Once a typical and exclusive landscape element in Saaremaa alvars are now in decline. Nature conservation planning for Saaremaa now includes protection of the largest and most unusual alvar areas.

Saaremaa has a wide variety of rare wildlife species, ranging from insects to seals. The smallest protected wildlife species in terms of size include the [[clouded apollo]] butterflies and [[Roman snail]]s.

The coastal areas of Saaremaa are well-known seal habitats; in fact, the indigenous [[gray seal]] can be found in three large permanent resting areas on the islets off the coast in the western and southern parts of Saaremaa. Nowadays, the local population of said seals is slightly increasing {{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}. [[Ringed seal]]s can be encountered everywhere in the coastal waters of Saaremaa but, because of their timidity, it has not been possible to make an estimation of their number.

The islands lie in the [[East Atlantic Flyway]], a migration path of waterfowl. This "bird road" connects northeastern Europe with Arctic regions. Each year hundreds of thousands of migratory birds visit Saaremaa in spring and autumn. The [[barnacle goose]], [[mute swan]], [[whooper swan]], [[common eider|eider]], [[common shelduck|shelduck]] and a great many other [[bird]] species have been given protection status. But on the whole, the islands are somewhat poorer in wildlife species than the mainland. Neither [[European mole|mole]], [[mink]], nor [[European otter|otter]] can be found here, whilst the [[Eurasian lynx]] and the [[brown bear]] are infrequent guests.<ref>http://www.saaremaa.ee/eng/general/default.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314131906/http://www.saaremaa.ee/eng/general/default.htm |date=2008-03-14 }}<br />Saaremaa County&nbsp;– nature</ref>

=== Kaali Meteorite ===
{{Main|Kaali crater}}
[[File:Kaali main crater on 2005-08-10.3.jpg|thumb|The nearly circular main [[Kaali crater|Kaali meteorite crater]]]]

Kaali is a small group of nine unique [[meteorite]] [[impact crater|craters]] on Saaremaa. The largest of the craters measures {{convert|110|m|abbr=on}} in [[diameter]] and contains a small lake, known as ''Kaali järv'' ("Lake Kaali"). The meteor cluster had an impact velocity of {{convert|10|–|20|km/s|0|abbr=on}} and a mass of {{convert|20-80|t|sp=us}}. At the altitude of {{convert|5|–|10|km|0|abbr=on}} the meteor broke into pieces. The largest fragment produced the main crater with a depth of {{convert|22|m|abbr=on}}.

Eight smaller craters with diameters ranging from {{convert|12|to|40|m|abbr=on}} and depths varying from {{convert|1|to|4|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} are all within {{convert|1|km|sp=us}} of the main crater. The age estimates of the crater vary, with 4000 ± 1000 [[Common Era|BCE]] being a commonly accepted estimate,<ref>{{Cite Earth Impact DB | name = Kaalijärv | linkname = kaalijarv | access-date = 2008-12-30 | nocat = 1 }}</ref> though other estimates suggest the explosion was as recent as 660 ± 85 [[Common Era|BCE]].<ref name="MPS">{{cite journal|title=Ecological catastrophe in connection with the impact of the Kaali meteorite about 800–400 BC on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia
| first1=Siim|last1=Veski|first2=Atko|last2=Heinsalu|first3=Kalle|last3=Kirsimäe|first4=Anneli|last4=Poska|first5=Leili|last5=Saarse|journal=Meteoritics & Planetary Science|volume=36|issue=3|pages=1367–1375|year=2001|url=http://www.gi.ee/pdfid/10200.pdf|doi=10.1111/j.1945-5100.2001.tb01830.x|doi-access=free| bibcode=2001M&PS...36.1367V}}</ref> The energy of the impact—about 80 [[joule|TJ]] (20 kilotons of TNT), comparable with the [[Hiroshima bomb (unit)|Hiroshima bomb]]—burned forests within a radius of {{convert|6|km|abbr=on}} of the impact site. There are numerous legends related to the crater; these are summarized by [[Lennart Meri]] in his book ''Hõbevalge''.<ref name="MPS" />

=== Resources ===
[[File:Mihkli Talumuuseum 2009 - 004.JPG|thumb|Mihkli Farm Museum in [[Viki, Estonia|Viki village]].]]

[[Dolomite (rock)|Dolomite]], [[limestone]], [[curative mud]], [[mineral water]], [[Fire clay|ceramic clay]], [[sand]], and [[gravel]] are the major local resources. Of these local resources, dolomite is perhaps the most famous above all.<ref>http://www.saaremaa.ee/eng/general/default.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314131906/http://www.saaremaa.ee/eng/general/default.htm |date=2008-03-14 }}<br />Saaremaa County&nbsp;– resources</ref>