The European country of Estonia is situated on the eastern part of the Baltic Sea. It can be said to lie just beyond the Gulf of Finland. Economically, Estonia is no less advanced. The World Bank has ranked it as a country with a 'high income' and it is also a member of the European Union. Estonia is home to innumerable bogs and a coastline stretching for a distance of 3794 kilometers. This coastline is frequently punctuated by a number of bays, straits, and inlets. It boasts of owning a total number of 1500 islands and islets. Saaremaa and Hiiumaa are the two largest islands, large enough to constitute individual counties of their own. Estonia is placed in the north of the temperate zone as well as between the maritime and continental climate zones. The Gulf Stream continuously warms the Northern Europe as well as Estonia, helping it to maintain a mild temperature all through the year. The Baltic Sea is responsible for causing differences in the climate of the coastal regions and the inland regions. The western coast of the Saaremaa island is home to the Vilsandi National Park. The Vilsandi National Park houses a total of 161 big and small islands. In order to safeguard coastal plants and animals this conservation area was set up.
Vilsandi is housed in the Kihelkonna commune of the Saare county. It stretches for a area of 9 sq.km. It consists of a 10 km long waterpath between the Vilsandi and the Vikati harbour. It is very sparsely populated. Originally, it was known as the Vaika Birds' Reserve, that was established in 1914. Vilsandi is the middle part of the island of the National Park, which consists of two separate islands that have developed together. A narrow stretch of land joins them. Vilsandi is the visiting and resting place for millions of seabirds, who halt, nest or migrate here. Vilsandi is an important bird sanctuary housing a wide variety of rare birds from all over the world.
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