Ahelaid

Island in Estonia

Ahelaid is a small uninhabited islet in Estonia. It lies in the Baltic Sea, south-east of Hiiumaa island. It has a surface area of 25 hectares. It is part of the Hiiumaa Islets Landscape Reserve.^[1]

Ahelaid lies 10.5 km from the Sarve Peninsula on Hiiumaa, 14 km from the Salinõmme peninsula on Hiiumaa and 6.5 km from Tammiski nukk on Muhu. Although it is closer to Muhu than to Hiiumaa, it is administered as part of Hiiu County. Near the island are some smaller islets: to the north, stony Aherahu; to the west Ankrurahu, which has some vegetation; to the east Luigerahu and to the northeast a few stone piles barely above the sea level called Kajakarahud.

The average height of the islet is below 2 meters and the highest point is 4.6 meters.

There are 45 bird species nesting on the islet annually, including sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) and whitethroat (Sylvia communis). All together 60 species of birds have been recorded.

The islet is also known as Hakilaid, probably from the common eider (Somateria mollissima) (Estonian: hahk).

There has been no habitation on the islet. People from both Muhu and Hiiumaa have gathered hay there in summer as until the end of the 19th century there was a shortage of land for hay. The islet may also have been used as pasture. There has been a fishermen's hut on the islet.

References

^ "Hiiumaa Islets Landscape Reserve website". Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2008-12-07.

External links

Map of Ahelaid

Islands of Estonia

Gulf of Finland

Aegna
Aksi
Allu
Hara
Keri
Koipsi
Kräsuli
Kumbli
Liivakari
Mohni
Munasaar
Naissaar
Osmussaar
Pakri Islands
- Suur-Pakri
- Väike-Pakri
Pedassaar
Prangli
Rammu
Rohusi
Tiirloo
Uhtju islands
Ulkkari
Umblu
Vaindloo

West Estonian archipelago
and the Väinameri Sea

Islands adjacent to the mainland	Esirahu Hanemaa Härjamaa Hobulaid Kajakarahu Kakrarahu Kitselaid Kumari Liia Mustarahu Öörahu Paljarahu Pasilaid Rukkirahu Seasaar Siimurahu Sipelgarahu Suurrahu Sõmeri Tagarahu Tauksi Tondirahu Väike Siimurahu Valgerahu Vormsi
Hiiumaa group	Eerikulaid Elmrahu Harilaid Härjakare Hellamaa rahu Hiiumaa Hõralaid Kadakalaid Kakralaid Kassari Külalaid Liivanuka ots Ninalaid Reigilaid Ristlaid Rohurahu Ruserahu Taguküla laid Urverahu Uuemaarahu Uuemererahu Vareslaid Vissulaid Vohilaid Hiiumaa Islets Ahelaid Aherahu Ankrurahu Auklaid Hanerahu Hanikatsi laid Hülgerahu Kaevatsi Käkirahu Kõrgelaid Kõverlaid Langekare Luigerahu Öakse Pihlakare Saarnaki laid Sitakare Vareslaid Varesrahu
Saaremaa-Muhu group	Abruka Allirahu Anekäbrud Antsulaiud Anulaid Hülgelaid Innarahu Juksirahu Käkimaa Kasselaid Kesselaid Koerakuiv Kõinastu Kriimi laid Kullikare Kunnatilaid Kurgurahu Laasirahu Laidu Läkumätas Leemetikare Liisi Linnusitamaa Lombimaa Loonalaid Maturahu Mihklirahu Mõndelaid Muhu Munaderahu Nabralaid Naistekivi maa Noogimaa Nootamaa Nosurahu Oitma Ojurahu Ooslamaa Paelaid Pakulaid Papilaid Papirahu Pihlalaid Pikknasv Pitkasääremaa Põdvalaid Põiksäär Pühadekare Puningalaid Püskumadal Rannasitik Riinurahu Rooglaid Rusulaid Saaremaa Salavamaa Sepasitik Siiasaar Sokulaid Suuregi laid Suurepoldi Suurlaid Täkulaid Täkunasv Tarja Telve Tõõdilaid Udrikulaid Umalakotid Uus-Nootamaa Vahase Vahelmisrahu Vaika islands Mustpank Väike-Tulpe Vasikalaid Vesiloo Vesitükimaa Viirelaid Vilsandi Võilaid Võrgukare Võrkrahu