Muhu (also called Muhumaa in Estonian), is an island in the

West Estonian archipelago West Estonian archipelago ( et, Lääne-Eesti saarestik, also Moonsund archipelago) is a group of Estonian islands located in the Baltic Sea around Väinameri. The total area is about . The archipelago is composed of the islands Saaremaa, Hiiu ...

of 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 fr ...

. With an area of it is the third largest island belonging to

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, and t ...

, after

Saaremaa Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring . The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island and west of Muhu island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago. The capital of the islan ...

and

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 withi ...

. Together with neighbouring smaller islands of Kesselaid, Viirelaid, Võilaid and Suurlaid it forms Muhu Parish ( et, Muhu vald), 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. The municipality has a population of 1,697 (as of 19 April 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

by the Väike Strait. It is linked by ferry to Virtsu in 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 ( la, Fratres militiæ Christi Livoniae, german: Schwertbrüderorden) was a Catholic military order established in 1202 during the Livonian Crusade by Albert, the third bishop of Riga (or possibly by Theoderi ...

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 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 the island of Muhu and the mainland. The Lithuanians achieved a decisive vic ...

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 the Muhu Island and the mainland. The Lithuanians achieved a decisive victory. The battle, named after the Karuse village, 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 also famous for having the only still-working traditional

windmill A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called sails or blades, specifically to mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and other applications, in so ...

s in Estonia. Muhu is the home of Estonia's first wine tourism farm – Luscher & Matiesen Muhu Winehouse.

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 Muhu St. Catherine's Church, ( et, Muhu Katariina kirik) sometimes simply Muhu Church, is a medieval Lutheran church on Muhu island, in Saare County, Estonia. History The church was founded by the master of the Livonian Order Otto von Lutterberg ...

File:Pädaste mõisa peahoone.JPG,

Pädaste Manor Pädaste manor is the only remaining manor house on Muhu island. It was established as a manorial estate in the village of Pädaste in the 16th century. The first owners were the Baltic German family von Knorring. Later it has been the property ...

File:Muhumuseum.jpg, Tooma farm, part of Muhu museum and birthplace of writer

Juhan Smuul Juhan Smuul (18 February 1922 – 13 April 1971) was an Estonian writer. Until 1954 he used the given name Johannes Schmuul. Career Smuul was born in Koguva village on the island of Muhu to Jüri and Ruudu Schmuul (née Tuulik). He had thr ...

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

External links

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Official websiteMuhu Tourism AssociationMuhu Island in Jetsetter Top10Photos about Muhu.
{{Authority control Muhu Estonian islands in the Baltic Gulf of Riga

History and geography

Gallery

See also

External links