Muhu (also called Muhumaa in
Estonian) is an island in the
West Estonian archipelago of the
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by the countries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and the North European Plain, North and Central European Plain regions. It is the ...
. With an area of , it is the third largest island belonging to
Estonia
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...
, after
Saaremaa and
Hiiumaa.
Together with neighbouring smaller islands of
Kesselaid,
Viirelaid,
Võilaid and
Suurlaid, it forms
Muhu Parish (), the rural
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
within
Saare County
Saare County ( or ''Saaremaa''; ; ; ; ) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It consists of Saaremaa, the largest island of Estonia, and several smaller islands near it, most notably Muhu, Ruhnu, Abruka and Vilsandi. The county borders Lääne Count ...
. The municipality has a population of 1,968 (as of 2010) and covers an area of . The population density is .
History and geography
The German names for the island are Mohn and Moon. Moon is also the Swedish name for the island.
The most important villages in Muhu are
Kuivastu,
Liiva (where the school can be found) and
Koguva. In
Pädaste, an internationally renowned luxury hotel and spa operates in the restored manor house.
The island is divided from mainland Estonia by the Suur Strait (''Moonsund'') and from
Saaremaa by the Väike Strait. It is linked by ferry to
Virtsu on the mainland, and to Saaremaa by a
causeway, the
Väinatamm. In winter an
ice road connects the island to the mainland.
In January 1227, an army of the
Livonian Brothers of the Sword
The Livonian Brothers of the Sword (; ) was a Catholic Church, Catholic Military order (monastic society), military order established in 1202 during the Livonian Crusade by Albert of Riga, Albert, the third bishop of Riga (or possibly by Theode ...
with Letts, Germans of Riga and native Livonians (20,000 men commanded by
William of Modena) crossed on sea ice from the mainland and attacked the island of Saaremaa to reduce the last holdout of pagan Estonians. The Estonians surrendered on Muhu at a circular stronghold called Mona, the earthworks of which are still preserved near the causeway between the islands. This ended the
Estonian Crusade.
The
Battle of Karuse or Battle on the Ice was fought on 16 February 1270 between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Livonian Order on the frozen Baltic Sea between Muhu and the mainland. The Lithuanians achieved a decisive victory. The battle, named after the village of Karuse, was the fifth-largest defeat of the Livonian or Teutonic Orders in the 13th century.
The same waters saw the
Battle of Moon Sound in September–October 1917 between Russian and German naval forces.
Muhu is the home of Estonia's first wine tourism farm – Luscher & Matiesen Muhu Winehouse.
Culture
Muhu is known for having the only traditional
windmills in Estonia that are still operational. Muhu is also known for its traditional knitted stockings.
Gallery
File:NorthMuhuCoast.JPG, Northern coast of Muhu
File:MuhuStronghold.JPG, Muhu Stronghold, site of the native Estonian surrender to crusaders in 1227
File:Muhu stronghold memorial stone2.JPG, Monument in the center of the Muhu Stronghold
File:Üügu Cliff.jpg, Üügu cliffs
File:Muhu Katariina kirik Liiva külas.JPG, Muhu St. Catherine's Church
File:Pädaste mõisa peahoone.JPG, Pädaste Manor
File:Muhumuseum.jpg, Tooma farm, part of Muhu museum and birthplace of writer Juhan Smuul
File:Rongkäik, Muhu Põhikool.IMG 5102.JPG, Students and teachers in traditional clothing march in a procession in Liiva
File:In classroom of village school.JPG, Old village school
File:Old village.JPG, In Mõega village
File:Koguva sadam 2015.jpg, Koguva harbour
File:Windmill in Koguva(Estonia).jpg, Windmill in Koguva
File:EE Muhu fl.png, Flag of Muhu Parish
File:Muhu Valla vapp.svg, Coat of Arms of Muhu Parish
See also
*
Municipalities of Estonia
A municipality (, plural ) is the smallest administrative subdivision of Estonia. Each municipality is a unit of self-government with its representative and executive bodies. The municipalities in Estonia cover the entire territory of the coun ...
*
List of municipalities of Estonia
*
List of islands of Estonia
References
External links
*
Official websiteMuhu Tourism AssociationMuhu Island in Jetsetter Top10
Photos about Muhu.
{{Authority control
Muhu
Estonian islands in the Baltic
Gulf of Riga