Estonia is a tiny country in the northern part of the globe. Have you ever heard of this country before? There are still preserved beautiful forests, mysterious wetlands and springs of fresh water. I would like to introduce you the wildlife, hiking trails and amazing landscapes of this beautiful country. Would you also like to come here to hike and wonder?
Maybe you can meet some elves or even fairys
Ancient estonians have been so-called forest people. Some of them remember old fairy tales about mysterious creatures to this day. People used to live in harmony with nature. If you are lucky, who knows, maybe you can see or hear some of them, for example elves, if you visit hidden places in nature, or goblins while you visit old houses and gardens.
Exploring a bog with a dog
The dog happily jumps up on my lap and before I know it, I feel a wet tongue mark on my face. At first I’m amazed that I’ve become such a favourite, but after a few jumps I remembered my real value – three meat pies in my backpack.
My adventurous husky friend has taken me and my hostess hiking again, and until we get to the pies, he’ll be stalking the tiny creatures hiding in the bogs. The friendly dog seems convinced that something exciting can be unearthed from under the moss if you stick your nose deep enough.
The Valgesoo bog in Estonia is unusual and particularly beautiful
The coolness that nips at the skin and the joy of an adventurous dog wash away the footprints of dreams. Early morning is the best time to discover nature.
The marsh landscape is adorned with bog pines, cranberries in bloom, white swamp tussocks, bog-rosemary and other bog plants. I consider the bog landscape one of my favourite places and the beginning of summer my favourite season. We have come to the Valgesoo bog in Estonia, near the town Põlva.
Valgesoo Nature Reserve is located in Põlva County, on the banks of the Ahja River, near the village of Kiidjärve. The hiking trail, with a length of less than 2 kilometres, starts and ends near the lookout tower. Valgesoo is the smallest bog in Estonia.
There’s always a sense of warmth and tranquillity in the bog
It’s a place where you can be alone with your thoughts, without being drowned in noise. Quite quickly all thoughts and concerns dissolve into the beauty and spaciousness that surrounds you.
The early morning silence above the blossoming cranberry bushes allows you to listen to the calling whisper of the marsh birds. Tussock cottongrass, resembling tiny white cotton buds, greet arrivals with a gentle nod in the breeze, and their luminosity makes the surrounding space particularly bright.
I eagerly heed the call of the marsh herons and as I walk among the brownish-green bog lichens. The word bolota, from a Russian film, and a dog that seemed to want to be part of one of the Baskerville family, come to mind. In the surrounding silence, however, there is no sad howl. I let my gaze slip over the empty space and inhale the smell of pine and Marsh Labrador Tea, which is Estonian rhododendron.
Estonian bogs play an important role in the Earth’s water and carbon cycle
Have you ever wondered what the value of clean water really is? In Estonia, we are used to drinking water always coming from the tap, but in other parts of the world this is not the case. You don’t need to look to Indonesia, Asia or Africa, you can already find examples in Europe.
Peat, which grows in swamps, has the ability to purify both polluted rainwater and soil water. In addition, peatlands binds carbon dioxide and release the oxygen needed for life.
Water deficiency is increasing rapidly around the world and Estonia’s marshes and swamps – the storehouses and producers of clean water – are a real wonder of the world. Although you can drink Coca-Cola in every corner of the world, you don’t often come across such luxuries as clean bog landscapes, even in Europe.
Have you thought about how we can better preserve and protect our nature?
Then we hike to the old baron trees
In the Valgesoo bog, there is a smooth boardwalk for about a kilometre, then the trail continues through the forest.
About 150 years ago, the former landowner of Ahja had a very different perspective from the decision-makers of today. At that time, Conrad von Brasch considered the forest, also a private forest, to be of value and created one for himself, which would remain for his children …
This forest came to be known as the landlord’s pine forest and the ancient baron’s trees are among the specimens that have escaped the blades of the harvesters and can still be admired today. Stepping off the boardwalk, we now walk along the forest trail. We walk very quickly past the wood ant nests on the edge of the forest, mainly to protect the husky’s furry coat.
So very different world
The sun glancing through the branches of a pine tree.
Thorns inside hiking boots.
Birdsong.
Peace.
Bogs and marshes are in a different world from the hustle and bustle of the city and it’s always surprising how good you feel there. Carrying the loads of the packhorse, I forget about the bog and think about not needing to go far, and the cold, and that there’s a lot of work to be done at home … But when I arrive, I wonder why it’s been so long since I’ve been here ….
