Saarnaki laid

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / height missing

Saarnaki laid ( German: Sarnak; laid = Estonian small Island) is an uninhabited island in the Baltic Sea, located in the nature reserve to the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. Like these it belongs to the Moon Sound Islands.

Description

The total area of the island is 136 hectares. The island is 3 km long and 1 km wide, one of the largest islands of Hiiumaa. It is between 7 and 9 m above the sea level. Administratively, it belongs to the village Salinõmme in the rural community Pühalepa.

Dominant is on the island of juniper.

History and colonization

The island was first documentary mentioned in 1564. At that time people lived there already permanently.

On the island lived mainly fishermen. Traditionally, there were three farmhouses: two in the center of the island and one in the north. Only in 1924 came new settlers after Saarnaki laid.

1880 a windmill was built, which is a protected monument today. The empty houses are partially preserved and of high ethnological value.

By 1973 Saarnaki laid was inhabited.