Wolf in Estonian forest. Photo by: Eleri Lopp-Valdna
People have always feared the wolf but also admired and respected it. And all of
that with good reason; the wolf was the
main threat to cattle and even to children.
Therefore, wolves have many by names
in the Estonian language. Back in the day,
people preferred to use euphemisms
when talking about wolves,hoping that this way they would not show up.
Currently, out of 200,000 wolves in
the world, around 200 live
in Estonia. Estonian bogs and larger
forests have often been called wolf
lands.
In 2018, the wolf was named the
Estonian national animal. There are many
reasons for that: the wolf symbolises
wild, untouched nature. The wolf is also
very resilient, supple, and extremely
clever. The wolf is a survivor and a brave
defender of its family in the face of other
wolves. The wolf is a universal indicator
species: they measure the health of the
forest.
The wolf reflects the Estonians’
understanding of nature as a whole.
When we understand the wolf’s position
in the forest, we understand how nature
functions. And those that understand
nature understand themselves, naturally.
Forests are an important landscape with regard to the Estonian psyche. Estonian
forests belong to the mixed forest zone,
and Estonia is still one of the most
forested countries in the world. Prior to
Christianisation, sacred rituals took place in
the forest in sacred groves, where people
communicated with the spirits of nature.
And they say that if Lithuanians were the
last pagans of Europe, then Estonians
were the last savages of Europe. Perhaps in their heart they still are.
In addition to
wolves, Estonian forests are homes to
brown bears, lynxes, and smaller mammals
and birds, of course. Ornithologists say that
the Estonian bird population is becoming
increasingly interesting and diverse, and
to hear that for yourself, Estonians have
developed an app called 'Siuts' which helps to identify
different wild birds by their song.
Forest trail in Taevaskoja, Southern Estonia. Photo by: Taivo Aarna / Enterprise Estonia
Due to Estonia’s northern location, the
seasons as well as light and dark periods
are starkly contrasted. While the shortest
winter day lasts barely six hours, thelongest summer day goes on for 18 hours.
The summertime twilight also considerably
shortens the nighttime, and therefore
southerners might find it rather difficult
to get good shut-eye here from May till
the end of July. This time is not
easy on Estonians, either: there is
so much to do, it would be a shame
to waste the precious light!
The average annual temperature in Estonia
is +5°C or a little higher. The coldest
month is usually February, when the
average temperature is -5°C. The average
temperature in winter months is between
-4 and -5°C. July is considered the hottest
month, with temperatures averaging +20°C.
Nowadays, we increasingly experience
winters with no permanent snow cover.
However, no Estonian can imagine a
completely snowless winter. Nor can they
picture a summer without at least two
weeks of intolerable heat.
Night Sky in the bog. Photo by: Simo Sepp
Winter in Estonia. Photo by: Tõnu Runnel / Enterprise Estonia
The Estonian climate is mainly influenced by the sea. Thanks to the Baltic Sea, which surrounds Estonia in the North, West, and South, and the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, the climate here is considerably milder than in some eastern continental regions. They say that living by the sea makes you more forbearing, as you witness the moods and changes of the sea daily and learn to respect them in order to put food on the table and stay true to yourself. Estonians have had plenty of time to practice that throughout history. A different kind of experience are Estonian swamps and bogs, which cover approximately 5% of the country’s territory; their beauty can be enjoyed by taking walks on plankways that criss-cross them.
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