Ruhnu [1] ( Est. Ruhnu , Swede. Runö , Latvian. Roņu , Rus. Runo [2] ) - a small island in the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea . Belongs to Estonia , belongs to the parish of the same name in the county of Saaremaa . [3]
| Ruhnu | |
|---|---|
| est. Ruhnu | |
 Church on the island | |
| Specifications | |
| Square | 11.9 km² |
| Highest point | 28 m |
| Population | 67 pax (2013) |
| Population density | 5.63 people / km² |
| Location | |
| Archipelago | Moonsund Archipelago |
| Water area | Gulf of Riga |
| A country |
|
| County | Saaremaa |
| Municipality | Ruhnu |
 | |
Content
Geography
The island is a surface surface of the main, directed to the southwest, underwater ridge of glacial origin, which is located in the middle of the Gulf of Riga. [3]
The area of the island is 11.9 km², length 5.5 km, width 3.5 km. [3]
The closest land point to the island is the Kurzeme cape Kolka , which is located 37 km west. [3]
The highest point of the island is the hill of Haubiarre, whose height is 28 meters above sea level .
Cape Islands:
- south coast: Shustaki, Rinx (Rindes, Rinxu), where the airport is located;
- west coast: Holm, Pers, Joam;
- North coast: Cugnier. [2] [4]
Flora and Fauna
Forest, which covers the dunes of the eastern part of the island, occupies 60% of its area. The west of the island is a plain on which black alder grows in places. Most of this plain is used as agricultural land.
Deer, foxes, gray rats, house mice, toads, snakes, etc. live on the island. Hares, squirrels, moles, hedgehogs and poisonous snakes are absent on the island.
Spotted and gray seals live in the sea near the island. Of the fish, flounder, salmon, whitefish, herring and eel are most common. [3]
History
The island was first mentioned under 1341 in the decree of the Kurzeme bishop Johannes, in particular, the decree secured the Swedish-speaking population of the island the right to live and manage their possessions under Swedish laws. [3]
Archaeological research indicates that the island was inhabited already in the V — VII millennia BC. e. [3]
On November 22, 1643, the construction of the church of St. Magdalena began on the island. It is known that the church is the oldest wooden structure preserved on the territory of Estonia.
After the First World War and the formation of the independent Baltic republics, the island became the subject of border disputes between Latvia and Estonia, but the local population opted for the latter, and Latvia refused further claims.
Demographics
In the XI-XIX centuries, the island was inhabited mainly by the Baltic Swedes , who left it in August 1944 during the Second World War , only two families remained. New settlers on the island came mainly from the Kihnu and Saaremaa islands. Subsequently, the composition of the population of the island repeatedly changed almost completely. [3]
According to available sources, the largest population on the island was in 1842, when 389 people lived on it [3] .
The number of inhabitants in 2013 was 67 people [5] .
Notes
- ↑ Geographic Encyclopedic Dictionary: Geographic Names / Ed. A.F. Treshnikov . - 2nd ed., Ext. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia , 1989. - S. 405. - 210 000 copies. - ISBN 5-85270-057-6 .
- ↑ 1 2 Map of the Livonia Province (1820). "Geographical Atlas of the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Finland"
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Official site of the Ruhnu parish (Est.) (Latvian)
- ↑ Map sheet O-34-83 .
- ↑ Estonian population
Links
- Official site of the Ruhnu parish (est.) (Latvian)