Vaindloo (Stenskär) | |
|---|---|
 View of Vaindloo island from the sea | |
.png)  Vaindloo Location in Estonia Show map of Estonia Vaindloo Location in Europe Show map of Europe | |
| Coordinates:59°48′51″N26°21′43″E / 59.81417°N 26.36194°E /59.81417; 26.36194 | |
| Country | Estonia |
| County | Lääne-Viru County |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.062 km2 (0.024 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | no permanent population |
Vaindloo (alternatively:Vaindloo saar,Swedish:Stenskär) is a small island located in theGulf of Finland in theBaltic Sea.
Vaindloo belongs toEstonia; it is thenorthernmost land point of the country. It has an area of 6.2 hectares (15 acres) and marks the northernmost point of the nation of Estonia, situated 26 kilometers (16 mi) north of the Estonian mainland.[1] The island is administratively part of the village ofVainupea inHaljala Parish,Lääne-Viru County. The island is depicted on theEstonian two-euro coin. The Euro Coin Collector website notes:
"On the 2 Euro coin two small islands, Vaindloo andNootamaa, are depicted. These, the most Northerly point and most Westerly point of Estonia are not depicted on the other coins."[2]
Vaindloo is also notable for its functioning lighthouse, called the Vaindloo tuletorn. It was built in 1871 and is managed by theEstonian Maritime Administration. It replaced a previous timber lighthouse erected in 1718.[3] In addition to the lighthouse, there is anEstonian Border Guard station with a 50-meter-high (160 ft) observation tower and a radar installation.
Vaindloo is an important breeding sanctuary for such birds as thecommon tern,Arctic tern,Tengmalm's owl,great tit,purple sandpiper,shore lark,great grey shrike,yellowhammer and others.[4]
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