Rukkirahu (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

translation: ''Rye shoal'') is a small, uninhabited island in the

Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain. The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and ...

belonging to the country of

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

Rukkirahu lies off the western coast of Estonia, between the mainland in the

Väinameri The Väinameri (Estonian for ''Strait Sea'' or ''Sea of Straits'') or Väinameri Sea is a strait and sub-bay of the Baltic Sea, located between the West Estonian Archipelago and the Estonian mainland, within western Estonia. It is the northern se ...

Strait and is located west of the mainland village of Rohuküla, near the city of

Haapsalu Haapsalu () is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Lääne County, and on 1 January 2020 it had a population of 9,375. Description Haapsalu has been well known for centuries for its ...

. The island belongs administratively to the municipality of Ridala Parish in

Lääne County Lääne County ( et, Lääne maakond or ''Läänemaa'', literally "Western land"; german: Wiek; la, Rotalia) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders the Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-ea ...

. The island's name origins are traced to a time when grain was transported across the winter road on the frozen sea from Hiiumaa to the mainland. As rye was one of grains transported during winter months, some would inevitably trickle out on the stopover on Rukkirahu and then germinate on the island in spring. Since 1860, a prominent, operational lighthouse has been in use on the island, especially important for sea links between Heltermaa on the island of

Hiiumaa Hiiumaa (, ) is the second largest island in Estonia and is part of the West Estonian archipelago, in the Baltic Sea. It has an area of 989 km2 and is 22 km from the Estonian mainland. Its largest town is Kärdla. It is located within ...

and Rohuküla on the Estonian mainland. The current lighthouse dates from 1940 and the light is visible at night for .EestiTurism.ee
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References

External links

Piel, Tiina. ''Uurimisretked Väinamere laidudele / Fieldtrips to the Islets in the Väinameri''. Tallinn Academia.edu

Rukkirahu 360° aerial panorama
Estonian islands in the Baltic Haapsalu (urban municipality) Uninhabited islands of Estonia {{Lääne-geo-stub

See also

References

External links