Loonalaid

Loonalaid (Swedish: Letenholm) is a small island in the Baltic Sea belonging to the country of Estonia. Its coordinates are . Loonalaid lies just off the NW coast of the island of Saaremaa, is administered by Kihelkonna Parish, Saare County (Estonian: Saare maakond) and is also part of Vilsandi National Park.

Loonalaid is a windswept, rocky, low-lying 1 km² islet west of Vilsandi in the westernmost part of Estonia. The islet is exposed to the Baltic Sea’s predominantly westerly winds and weather systems. Historically, the area had many shipwrecks due to the winds, weather and numerous uncharted shoals. These were a hazard, particularly to ships accessing the Gulf of Riga, off the southern tip of Saaremaa.

During the days of serfdom, Loonalaid and adjacent areas of Saaremaa (called Oesel by the Germans) belonged to the Loona Manor, owned by Baron Hoyningen-Huene. 1830 Baron Huene sent a man by the name of Aadu All to live on Loonalaid, primarily to guard the hay that was grown there as feed for the manor’s livestock and prevent it from being stolen or burned. All, his wife and young son, who was 1 yr old at the time, became the islet’s first residents and built a farmhouse. Their son, Peeter All, grew up to become a seaman and businessman and eventually was able to purchase the family farm from the Baron.

See also

List of islands of Estonia