Ruhnu

Ruhnu  is an Estonian island in the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is part of Saare County but is close to the Latvian mainland. It is 11.9 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi), 150 people live there.

Ruhnu Parish has the smallest population of Estonia's 79 municipalities. Before 1944, it was for centuries populated by ethnic Swedes and traditional Swedish law was used. Almost all the Swedish people left for Sweden during the second World War.  

The island's wooden church was built in 1644. It is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Estonia.    

There is an airfield with  flights from Pärnu and Kuressaare.  

There is a lighthouse  on the highest point of the island, Haubjerre hill. It was made in France and shipped to Ruhnu for assembly in 1877. The structure is believed to have been designed by Gustave Eiffel.

References

Category:Islands of Estonia