| A unique city surrounded with nature |
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The nature around Pärnu is enchanting and enables you to spend time actively in the vicinity of the city. You can go hiking in the woods, take a boat trip on the river or the bay, go riding, fishing or hunting. Visitors can also enjoy adventurous bog or canoe trips in Tolkuse bog, Nigula Nature Reserve, Soomaa National Park and other places in the county.
Soomaa National Park is a fine example of primeval nature shaped by the processes brought about by the Ice Age. You can find here the largest bog in Estonia – Kuresoo – with the highest edge of bog in the world in its southern part.
The most fascinating and attractive time of the year hereabouts is the so-called fifth season - the spring floods, which can last from a couple of days to an entire month.Due to the floods, Soomaa remains one of the few spots where the custom of building and using an ancient type of boat made from a hollowed aspen trunk – haabjas meaning ‘made of aspen’ - is still preserved. The varied landscapes of the nature reserve provide wonderful habitats for several animals that lucky visitors can meet on their trip in these parts such as when taking a beaver-safari by canoe.
Another fascinating attraction is Kihnu – the homely and exotic island where local folk wear national clothes every day and the unique handicraft originating from their grandmothers is held in high esteem. The traditional culture of Kihnu is entered in the UNESCO’s world list of oral and intellectual inheritance. Other small islands and the romantic western coast also provide opportunities to learn about the way of life and customs of local people. |
