View source for Hiiumaa

{{Short description|Second largest island in Estonia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Hiiumaa (Dagö) 
| image_name       =Vaade tahkuna tuletornist4.jpg
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location within Europe##Location within [[Baltic Sea]] region##Location within Estonia|pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_map            = Europe#Baltic Sea#Estonia 
| map_image        = Estonian_archipelago_(Saaremaa_and_Hiiumaa).jpg
| native_name      = 
| native_name_link = Estonian
| nickname         = 
| location         = [[Baltic Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|58|53|03|N|22|38|40|E|region:EE_type:isle|display=title}}
| archipelago      = [[West Estonian archipelago]]
| total_islands    = 
| major_islands    = 
| area_km2         = 989
| highest_mount    = Tornimägi
| elevation_m     = 68
| country          = Estonia
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[Counties of Estonia|County]], [[Municipalities of Estonia|parish]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Hiiu County]], [[Hiiumaa Parish]]
| country_largest_city              = [[Kärdla]]
| country_largest_city_population   = 3,287 <small>[as of 1 January 2012]</small><ref name="ppe">[http://www.stat.ee/ppe-46953 Comparison of self-government units] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707192611/http://www.stat.ee/ppe-46953 |date=7 July 2013 }}, Statistical Council's Regional Portal (checked 7 November 2012)</ref>
| population       = 9,558 (2019)
| population_as_of = 
| density_km2      = 9.1
| ethnic_groups    = 
| additional_info  =
| image_caption    = Tahkuna peninsula is the northernmost part of Hiiumaa
| image_size       = 
}}
'''Hiiumaa''' ({{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|h|iː|ʊ|m|ɑː|,_|ˈ|h|iː|ə|m|ɑː}} {{respell|HEE|uum|ah|,_-|ə|mah}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hiiumaa|title=Hiiumaa|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Hiiumaa|access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|et|ˈhiːumɑː|lang}}) is the second largest [[List of islands of Estonia|island]] in [[Estonia]] and is part of the [[West Estonian archipelago]], in the [[Baltic Sea]]. It has an area of 989&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and is 22&nbsp;km from the Estonian mainland. Its largest town is [[Kärdla]]. It is located within [[Hiiu County]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Hiiumaa|title=Hiiumaa {{!}} island, Estonia|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.b7.org/index.php/b7-islands/hiiumaa|title=Hiiumaa|website=b7.org|access-date=2019-04-18|archive-date=18 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418210743/https://www.b7.org/index.php/b7-islands/hiiumaa}}</ref>
<!--Hiiumaa was controlled by the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword|Brothers of the Sword]] in the early 1200s (known as the [[Teutonic Order|Teutonic Knights]] from 1237). During this time it was first settled by Swedes and Germans. The island was ruled first by the kingdom of [[Denmark]], then by [[Sweden]] in the 1500s-1600s, and became part of the [[Russian Empire]] in 1721. After the German occupation of Estonia during World War I, Hiiumaa became part of the newly independent country, Republic of Estonia, in 1918. During World War II, the island was first invaded and occupied by the Soviet army in 1940-1941, and then again in 1944. Hiiumaa remained under Soviet control until 1991, when Estonia restored its full independence.<ref name=":0" /> -->

== Names ==
Administratively Hiiumaa is the "main island" of the [[Hiiu County]], called {{lang|et|Hiiumaa}} or {{lang|et|Hiiu maakond}} in [[Estonian language|Estonian]]. The [[Swedish language|Swedish]] name of the island is {{lang|sv|Dagö}} ('Day' island), {{lang|de|Dagden}} in [[German language|German]], and {{lang|da|Dagø}} in [[Danish language|Danish]]. In modern [[Finnish language|Finnish]], it is called {{lang|fi|Hiidenmaa}}, literally '[[Hiisi]]'s Land'. In [[Old Gutnish]], it was {{lang|mis|Dagaiþ}} ('day isthmus'), from which the local [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]] name {{lang|gmq|Daë}} is derived.<ref name=":0" />

== History ==

=== Prehistory ===
Hiiumaa emerged from the Baltic Sea 8500 years ago due to [[Post-glacial rebound|isostatic uplift]] after the retreat of the [[ice cap]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qqBCT3H2afsC&q=Hiiumaa+geology&pg=PA84|title=Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Geology|date=1994|publisher=Estonian Academy Publishers|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> [[Mesolithic]] settlements are found on the island's Kõpu Peninsula from about 5500 BC.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/julkaisut/hum/kultt/vk/kriiska/tekstid/11.html|title=Coastal Adaption and Marine Exploitation of the Island Hiiumaa, Estonia, During the Stone Age with Special Emphasis on the Kõpu I Site|website=ethesis.helsinki.fi|access-date=2019-04-18|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305042846/http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/julkaisut/hum/kultt/vk/kriiska/tekstid/11.html}}</ref> These settlements seem to be related mostly to [[seal hunting]] and extend into the earliest [[Neolithic]]. As Hiiumaa is constantly uplifting the local [[sea level]] was 20 m higher than today at this time. For this reason these settlements are located far from the modern coastline. The pottery found at these sites is of the Narva Type and is similar to that found on Saaremaa and the Estonian mainland.<ref name=":3" />

A series of [[Cist|stone-cist]] graves are also present on the island from the [[Bronze Age|Late Bronze Age]] through to the [[Iron Age|Late Iron Age]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Laneman|first=Margot|date=2012|url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=221121|journal=Eesti Arheoloogia Ajakiri|language=en|volume=16|issue=2|pages=91–117|issn=1406-2933|doi=10.3176/arch.2012.2.01|title=Stone-Cist Grave at Kaseküla, Western Estonia in the Light of Ams Dates of the Human Bones|doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Crusades ===
The first documented record of the island of ''Dageida'' was made by contemporary chroniclers in 1228, when Hiiumaa and the rest of Estonia were conquered by [[Livonian Crusade|Germanic crusaders]]. In 1254, Hiiumaa was divided between the [[Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek]] and the [[Livonian Order|Livonian branch]] of the [[Teutonic Order]], acting partly on behalf of the [[Hanseatic League]].

=== Swedish and Russian era ===
[[File:Kõpu Lighthouse-033.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Kõpu Lighthouse]] in [[Kõpu, Hiiu County|Kõpu]], Hiiumaa is one of the island's landmarks.]]
The island was part of [[Sweden]] ([[Swedish Estonia]]) from 1563 to 1721, after which it passed to the [[Russian Empire]] as part of the [[Governorate of Estonia]], though Dagö's Swedish population kept most of their privileges. Most of the island's previously numerous [[Gammalsvenskby|Swedish-speaking population emigrated]] or were "[[Estonianization|Estonianised]]" during the period of Imperial Russian rule, although a minority remained until the 20th century. [[Estonian Swedes]] are also known as ''aibofolke'' ("the island people" in the [[Estonian Swedish|local Swedish]]) or ''rannarootslased'' ("coastal Swedes" in Estonian). Administratively the island of Hiiumaa belonged to Lääne County.

===World War I===
Hiiumaa was occupied during [[World War I]] by the [[German Army (German Empire)|Imperial German Army]], in [[Operation Albion]]. After the war, in 1918, it became a part of independent Estonia.

===World War II===
The waters near Hiiumaa were active during World War II:<ref name="fnw">{{Cite book|title=The Finnish Navy At War in 1939-1945 (Suomen Laivasto Sodassa 1939-1945)|first=Jorma |last=Mäntykoski|year=1991|publisher=Tietoteos Ky|location=Espoo|isbn=978-951-8919-05-9|page=154|ol=1778118M}}</ref>

* 23 June 1941: The Soviet destroyer [[Gnevny-class destroyer|''Gnevny'']] was sunk by a German [[naval mine|seamine]].
* 25 June: the Soviet minesweeper ''T-208 Shkiv'' was destroyed by a German seamine.
* 27 June: Two German motor torpedo boats, ''S43'' and ''S106'', were destroyed by Soviet seamines.
* 1 July: the Soviet submarine ''M-81'' was destroyed by a German seamine north of Hiiumaa.
* 7 July: the Soviet minesweeper ''T-216'' was sunk.
* 30 July: the Soviet minesweeper ''T-201 Zarjad'' was sunk.
* 10 August: the German submarine {{GS|U-144|1940|2}} was sunk by a torpedo from the Soviet submarine ''SC-307''.
* Hiiumaa Island was occupied by the [[Stalin]]ist [[Soviet Union]] in 1940, by [[Occupation of Estonia by Nazi Germany|Nazi Germany]] in 1941, and by the USSR again in 1944. 
<!--=== Soviet era ===-->
Hiiumaa remained under Soviet control until Estonia regained independence in August 1991. During the period of Soviet occupation (1944–1991), Hiiumaa was declared a restricted zone, closed to foreigners and to most mainland Estonians. <!--Since 1991, the island has been a part of independent Estonia.--> A number of derelict Soviet forts and communication towers are still present on the island's northern coast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/military-structures-of-hiiumaa|title=Military Structures of Hiiumaa|website=Atlas Obscura|language=en|access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref>

==Natural environment==
[[File:Tahkuna looduskaitseala.jpg|thumb|[[Tahkuna Nature Reserve]]]]
Hiiumaa is an island in [[Estonia]] located north of [[Saaremaa]] in the [[Baltic Sea]]. It is the northernmost island in the Muhu archipelago, which includes Saaremaa and [[Muhu]].<ref name=":0" /> Hiiumaa has a low relief (up to 68 m above sea level)<ref name=":1" /> and is mostly formed of limestone, that is exposed in cliffs around parts of the island's coast.<ref name=":0" /> In the north of the island there are a series of fossilized beaches preserved as uplift has occurred. The modern beaches are primarily on the northern and western coast lines.<ref name=":4" /> The natural environment is protected within the [[Tahkuna Nature Reserve]] and [[West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve]].

The [[Hiiu Shoal]] (Nekmangrund) is located off the northwestern shore of Hiiumaa Island. The Soela Strait separates Hiiumaa from Saaremaa to its south, and the Muhu Strait separates it from the mainland of [[Estonia]].<ref name=":0" />

=== Ecology ===
[[File:Sääretirbi rannataimestik.jpg|thumb|Beach vegetation on Hiiumaa]]The fauna and flora of Hiiumaa are similar to the Estonian mainland. The [[mammal]] fauna includes [[elk]], [[red deer]], [[roe deer]], [[wild boar]]s, foxes, [[lynx]]es and [[marten]]s.<ref name=":1" /> Wolves and bears have recently started to repopulate the island after being made locally extinct.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Saarma|first1=Urmas|last2=Kübarsepp|first2=Marko|last3=Männil|first3=Peep|last4=Jõgisalu|first4=Inga|last5=Hindrikson|first5=Maris|last6=Remm|first6=Jaanus|last7=Keis|first7=Marju|last8=Plumer|first8=Liivi|date=2016-07-06|title=Wolves Recolonizing Islands: Genetic Consequences and Implications for Conservation and Management|journal=PLOS ONE|language=en|volume=11|issue=7|article-number=e0158911|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0158911|issn=1932-6203|pmc=4934778|pmid=27384049|bibcode=2016PLoSO..1158911P|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.err.ee/1608711796/expert-nothing-remarkable-about-a-bear-swimming-to-hiiumaa|title=Expert: Nothing remarkable about a bear swimming to Hiiumaa|date=10 September 2022|website=ERR}}</ref>
Minks were also reintroduced in 2000, after they were exterminated by [[trappers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/scientists-think-they-can-save-european-mink-killing-its-ruthless-rivals|title=Scientists think they can save the European mink—by killing its ruthless rivals|last1=Karát|first1=Kata|date=2017-08-15|website=Science {{!}} AAAS|language=en|access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref> Since the end of the 1990s the island shelters a conservation project aimed at restoring populations of [[European mink]], an endangered species of which there is about only 1,000 individual specimens left in Europe as of 2017. This project started with removing from the island all [[American mink]]s that had escaped from [[breeding farm]]s, and reintroducing some European minks. The latter started breeding.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pZziPy1jLM The Baltic coast], video by ''Free High-Quality Documentaries'', on ''youtube.com''. For the European mink conservation project on Hiiumaa, see 32'20 - 34-02. For the American mink having supplanted the European mink and the former's removal from the island, see 33'40 - 34'02.</ref>

The bird species found on the island include [[black stork]]s, [[golden eagle]]s, [[crane (bird)|crane]]s, [[avocet]]s and [[swan]]s. The forests are dominated by pine and [[deciduous trees]], the rest of the uncultivated land is covered by swamps and dunes. The island has about 1000 species of large plants of which 50 are protected.<ref name=":1" />

=== Geology ===
The exposed geology of Hiiumaa is composed of [[Paleozoic]] [[limestone]] which dips towards the South, covered by [[glacial sediment]]s. In the North of the island the limestones are [[Ordovician]] and they young upwards to the [[Silurian]] in the South.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last1=Schwartz|first1=Maurice|last2=Bird|first2=Eric|last3=Orviku|first3=Kaarel|date=1995-01-09|title=The Provenance of Beaches on the Estonian Islands of Hiiumaa, Saaremaa and Muhu|url=http://journals.fcla.edu/jcr/article/view/79510|journal=Journal of Coastal Research|language=en|volume=11|issue=1|issn=0749-0208|access-date=21 April 2019|archive-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421223022/http://journals.fcla.edu/jcr/article/view/79510}}</ref> These limestones formed at 30 degrees South and have since been moving North with the rest of the Estonian block.<ref name="Suuroja2002">{{cite book|last1=Suuroja|first1=Kalle|title=Impacts in Precambrian Shields|year=2002|chapter=Natural Resources of the Kärdla Impact Structure, Hiiumaa Island, Estonia|pages=295–306|doi=10.1007/978-3-662-05010-1_12|issn=1612-8338|series=Impact Studies|isbn=978-3-642-07803-3}}</ref> Bore holes have found [[Cambrian]] [[sedimentary rock]]s and a [[crystalline]] [[Basement (geology)|basement]].<ref name="PuuraSuuroja1992">{{cite journal|last1=Puura|first1=Väino|last2=Suuroja|first2=Kalle|year=1992|title=Ordovician impact crater at Kärdla, Hiiumaa Island, Estonia|journal=Tectonophysics|volume=216|issue=1–2|pages=143–156|doi=10.1016/0040-1951(92)90161-X|issn=0040-1951|bibcode=1992Tectp.216..143P}}</ref>

In the [[Ordovician]] (c. 455 million years ago) the sea floor was hit by a [[meteorite]] forming the 4&nbsp;km wide Kärdla [[impact structure]].<ref name="PuuraSuuroja1992" /><ref name="Suuroja2002" /> This structure was then filled with Paleozoic sediment. It located about 4&nbsp;km west-southwest of [[Kärdla]] and is barely visible in the modern [[geomorphology]]. The [[Impact crater|crater]] is well preserved at depth, with a clear rim, [[breccia]] and minerals and rocks formed from the heat and pressure of the impact.<ref name="PuuraSuuroja1992" />

The limestone is overlain by [[Pleistocene]] glacial deposits that were deposited as the ice cap retreated 11 to 12 thousand years ago. These include [[terminal moraine]]s, the two most prominent being one in the South of Island running towards the North-East and another forming the [[Kõpu, Hiiu County|Kõpu]] Peninsula.<ref name=":4" />

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Hiiumaa (Ristna 1991–2020 normals and extremes 1922–present, western part of Hiiumaa)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 8.4
|Feb record high C = 7.1
|Mar record high C = 15.0
|Apr record high C = 21.5
|May record high C = 27.8
|Jun record high C = 29.4
|Jul record high C = 31.5
|Aug record high C = 31.5
|Sep record high C = 27.0
|Oct record high C = 18.6
|Nov record high C = 13.0
|Dec record high C = 9.6
|year record high C = 31.5
|Jan high C = 1.2
|Feb high C = 0.3
|Mar high C = 2.5
|Apr high C = 7.3
|May high C = 12.6
|Jun high C = 16.9
|Jul high C = 20.8
|Aug high C = 20.3
|Sep high C = 15.9
|Oct high C = 10.3
|Nov high C = 5.8
|Dec high C = 3.2
|year high C = 9.7
|Jan mean C = -0.5
|Feb mean C = -1.6
|Mar mean C = 0.3
|Apr mean C = 4.1
|May mean C = 9.0
|Jun mean C = 13.5
|Jul mean C = 17.5
|Aug mean C = 17.3
|Sep mean C = 13.3
|Oct mean C = 8.3
|Nov mean C = 4.2
|Dec mean C = 1.6
|year mean C = 7.2
|Jan low C = −2.7
|Feb low C = −3.7
|Mar low C = −2.0
|Apr low C = 1.1
|May low C = 5.6
|Jun low C = 10.4
|Jul low C = 14.4
|Aug low C = 14.2
|Sep low C = 10.5
|Oct low C = 5.9
|Nov low C = 2.3
|Dec low C = −0.3
|year low C = 4.6
|Jan record low C = −28.4
|Feb record low C = −26.9
|Mar record low C = −20.0
|Apr record low C = −11.9
|May record low C = −3.8
|Jun record low C = -0.6
|Jul record low C = 4.6
|Aug record low C = 1.5
|Sep record low C = −2.3
|Oct record low C = −6.9
|Nov record low C = −15.1
|Dec record low C = −26.2
|year record low C = −28.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 52
|Feb precipitation mm = 42
|Mar precipitation mm = 35
|Apr precipitation mm = 31
|May precipitation mm = 32
|Jun precipitation mm = 50
|Jul precipitation mm = 53
|Aug precipitation mm = 72
|Sep precipitation mm = 60
|Oct precipitation mm = 72
|Nov precipitation mm = 72
|Dec precipitation mm = 58
|year precipitation mm = 628
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 11.8
|Feb precipitation days = 9.4
|Mar precipitation days = 8.3
|Apr precipitation days = 6.5
|May precipitation days = 5.9
|Jun precipitation days = 6.9
|Jul precipitation days = 6.8
|Aug precipitation days = 9.2
|Sep precipitation days = 9.2
|Oct precipitation days = 12.9
|Nov precipitation days = 13.0
|Dec precipitation days = 14.1
|year precipitation days = 114.0
|Jan humidity = 86
|Feb humidity = 86
|Mar humidity = 83
|Apr humidity = 81
|May humidity = 79
|Jun humidity = 81
|Jul humidity = 80
|Aug humidity = 80
|Sep humidity = 81
|Oct humidity = 83
|Nov humidity = 86
|Dec humidity = 85
|year humidity = 83
|Jan sun = 28.2
|Feb sun = 59.3
|Mar sun = 119.4
|Apr sun = 190.9
|May sun = 293.1
|Jun sun = 297.6
|Jul sun = 303.2
|Aug sun = 251.0
|Sep sun = 166.2
|Oct sun = 96.1
|Nov sun = 36.3
|Dec sun = 19.0
|year sun = 1864.4
|source 1 = Estonian Weather Service (sun, 1971-2000)<ref name=temp>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.ilmateenistus.ee/kliima/kliimanormid/ohutemperatuur/?lang=en
| title = Climate normals-Temperature 
| publisher = Estonian Weather Service
| access-date = 5 April 2021}}</ref><ref name=precip>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.ilmateenistus.ee/kliima/kliimanormid/sademed/?lang=en
| title = Climate normals-Precipitation
| publisher = Estonian Weather Service
| access-date = 5 April 2021}}</ref><ref name=humidity>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.ilmateenistus.ee/kliima/kliimanormid/ohuniiskus/?lang=en
| title = Climate normals-Humidity
| publisher = Estonian Weather Service
| access-date = 5 April 2021}}</ref><ref name=extremes>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.ilmateenistus.ee/kliima/rekordid/ohutemperatuur/
| title = Rekordid 
| language= Estonian
| publisher = Estonian Weather Service
| access-date = 5 April 2021}}</ref><ref name=precipdays>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.emhi.ee/index.php?ide=6,299,303
| title = Kliimanormid-Sademed, õhuniiskus
| publisher = Estonian Weather Service
| language = et
| access-date = 5 April 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120222112141/http://www.emhi.ee/index.php?ide=6,299,303
| archive-date = 22 February 2012}}</ref><ref name=sun>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.emhi.ee/index.php?ide=6%2C299%2C307 
 |title=Kliimanormid-Päikesepaiste kestus 
 |publisher=Estonian Weather Service 
 |language=et 
 |access-date=28 September 2016 
 |url-status=bot: unknown 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222111655/http://www.emhi.ee/index.php?ide=6%2C299%2C307 
 |archive-date=22 February 2012 
}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[NOAA]]/[[NCEI]] (precipitation day, 1991-2020)<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/4.4/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Estonia/CSV/Ristna_26115.csv
| title = Ristna Climate Normals 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 20 October 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Towns and buildings==
The island has several villages, as well a small town of [[Kärdla]] (pop. 3,287) and small boroughs of [[Käina]] and [[Kõrgessaare]]. The oldest surviving church was built in Pühalepa in 1259, though it was rebuilt in the 18th century.<ref name=":1" /> The [[Hanseatic League]] built a lighthouse in Kõpu near the start of the 16th century. It is the third oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the world.<ref name=":1" />

== Employment and land-use ==
The island's economy is mostly tourism, livestock, farming, [[Wrecking (shipwreck)|wrecking]], fishing, and fish processing.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The tourism is mostly seasonal.<ref name="AhasAasa2007">{{cite journal|last1=Ahas|first1=Rein|last2=Aasa|first2=Anto|last3=Mark|first3=Ülar|last4=Pae|first4=Taavi|last5=Kull|first5=Ain|year=2007|title=Seasonal tourism spaces in Estonia: Case study with mobile positioning data|journal=Tourism Management|volume=28|issue=3|pages=898–910|doi=10.1016/j.tourman.2006.05.010|issn=0261-5177}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hiiumaa.ee/page/activities/|title=Hiiumaa - Official tourist activities|website=hiiumaa.ee|access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref>

Hiiumaa council agrees to the construction of a wind farm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.err.ee/601291/hiiumaa-council-agrees-to-construction-of-wind-farm|title=Hiiumaa council agrees to construction of wind farm|date=2017-06-10|website=ERR|language=en|access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref> Recently there has been a trend towards smaller farms and more tourism<ref name=":1" />

==Transport==
Road transport from Estonian mainland to Hiiumaa involves a 75-minute (28&nbsp;km) ferry crossing from [[Rohuküla]] to [[Heltermaa]], which is 25&nbsp;km by road from [[Kärdla]]. There are up to 10 ferry departures a day operated by [[TS Laevad]].<ref>[https://www.praamid.ee/wp/?lang=en Praamid.ee.] Ferry schedules and booking.</ref> In the summer weekends, getting car space on the ferry usually requires advance booking. There are about 2 scheduled buses a day between [[Tallinn]] (the capital of Estonia) and Kärdla.<!-- the following archived URL doesn't confirm the above-mentioned fact. Checked September 2021 --><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bussireisid.ee/index.html?MENU=&KEEL=en|title=Bus schedules and booking|publisher=BussiReisid|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913193341/http://www.bussireisid.ee/index.html?MENU=&KEEL=en|archive-date=13 September 2008}}</ref>
In the winter, the island can be reached, conditions permitting, via a 26.5&nbsp;km [[ice road]] (the longest in [[Europe]]) across the frozen Baltic Sea.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/estonia-claims-europes-longest-ice-highway-2219449.html Estonia claims Europe's longest ice highway.] ''[[The Independent]]''. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9450807.stm |title=BBC: No seatbelts allowed on Europe's longest ice road |access-date=18 February 2014|date=7 April 2011 }}</ref> A bridge to the mainland of Estonia has been occasionally proposed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.err.ee/862241/10-companies-ready-to-privately-finance-bridges-to-saaremaa-hiiumaa|title=10 companies ready to privately finance bridges to Saaremaa, Hiiumaa|date=2018-09-18|website=ERR|language=en|access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref>

Hiiumaa is served by [[Kärdla Airport]], with regular flights to Tallinn. Bicycle rental is also available in Kärdla and there is a good [[bicycle path]] built from Kärdla towards [[Kõrgessaare]].

== Culture and politics ==
[[File:Estonia2007 by municipality.png|thumb|2007 Estonia election. Social Democratic Party (Red), Estonian Reform Party (yellow), Estonian Center Party (green), Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Blue), People's Union of Estonia (brown)]]
The island is part of the B7 Network, a loose grouping of the major islands of the Baltic Sea.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.b7.org/index.php/what-is-the-b7/b7-steering-committee|title=B7 Steering Committee|website=b7.org|access-date=2019-04-18|archive-date=18 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418210741/https://www.b7.org/index.php/what-is-the-b7/b7-steering-committee}}</ref> Smoked cooked [[plaice]] is a traditional summertime delicacy. There is a friendly rivalry with the neighboring island of [[Saaremaa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/rival-estonian-islands-drawn-closer-through-10km-long-tug-of-war-battle|title=Rival Estonian islands drawn closer through 10&nbsp;km long tug-of-war battle|website=SBS News|language=en|access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref>

===Notable people===

*[[Juhan Maaker]] (1845–1930), Estonian folk musician
*[[Rudolf Tobias]] (1873–1918), Estonian composer
*[[Marie Under]] (1883–1980), Estonian poet, nominated for the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] several times
*[[Roman von Ungern-Sternberg]] (1885–1921), Russian White military commander in the [[Russian Civil War]]
*[[Aleksander Maaker]] (1890–1968), the last traditional player of the ''[[torupill]]'' (Estonian bagpipe)
*[[Lydia Mei]] (1896–1965), Estonian artist
*[[Ivan Triesault]] (1898–1980), Estonian-American actor
*[[Natalie Mei]] (1900–1975), Estonian artist
*[[Elmar Tampõld]] (1920–2013), Estonian-Canadian architect
*[[Ülo Sooster]] (1924–1970), Estonian artist 
*[[Ave Alavainu]] (1942–2022), Estonian poet
*[[Erkki-Sven Tüür]] (b. 1959), Estonian composer of contemporary classical music
*[[Heiki Nabi]] (b. 1985), Estonian Olympic champion Greco-Roman wrestler

==Image gallery==
<gallery>
Tahkuna tuletorn Hiiumaal, päikeseloojanguvalguses.jpg|{{center|[[Tahkuna]] lighthouse}}
File:Hiidenmaa-Kassarin kirkko.JPG|{{center|Church of [[Kassari]]}}
File:Talo Tammelan kylässä.JPG|{{center|Old farmhouse}}
File:Sorven museo.JPG|{{center|[[Sõru]] museum}}
File:Malvastechapell.jpg|{{center|[[Malvaste]] chapel}}
File:Port of Heltermaa 2.jpg|Cars boarding the ferry to mainland at [[Heltermaa]]
Hellamaa panoraam.jpg|Coast of Hiiumaa
Tubala tuulik august 2014.jpg|[[Tubala]] windmill
Hiiu-Suuremõisa mõisahoone.jpg|Suuremõisa Manor in [[Suuremõisa, Hiiu County|Suuremõisa]]
23623 Suuremõisa mõisa allee.jpg|Avenue at [[Suuremõisa Park]]
Orjaku sadam-kohvik.JPG|Café at [[Orjaku]] Harbor
Orjaku õpperada.jpg|Nature trail near Orjaku 
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Estonia}}
*[[List of islands of Estonia]]
*[[List of islands in the Baltic Sea]]
*[[Estonian Swedes]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage inline|Hiiumaa}}
*{{commons category-inline|Hiiumaa}}
*[http://www.hiiumaa.ee Hiiumaa County government] Official site
*[http://www.mil.hiiumaa.ee Pictures of Coastal batteries World War I and World War II in Hiiumaa] Official site

{{Islands of Estonia}}
{{Islands in the Baltic Sea}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Estonian islands in the Baltic]]
[[Category:Landforms of Hiiu County]]
[[Category:Kreis Wiek]]