Kärdla: the island of Hiiumaa amid lighthouses and forests

On Estonia's second largest island, Kärdla remains surrounded by dense forests and one of the Baltic's oldest lighthouses.

A car remains useful for exploring the island of Hiiumaa.

The Kõpu Lighthouse, among the oldest still functioning in the world, has guided ships in the Baltic Sea for over five hundred years.

A few minutes away, the forests of Hiiumaa, which cover much of the island, are home to one of Estonia's densest elk populations.

Continuing toward the coast, one visits the Hiiumaa Museum, which tells the story of traditional island life, historically tied to fishing and shipbuilding.

Toward evening, the coastal villages of Hiiumaa offer smoked fish according to local traditions passed down by generations of fishermen.

The Kõpu Lighthouse, built in 1531, remains among the world's oldest still-functioning lighthouses, an essential maritime reference point for navigation in the Gulf of Finland for nearly five centuries, having survived wars and storms.

Hiiumaa, isolated from the rest of Estonia for centuries, developed a distinct culture and dialect, with unique maritime traditions centered on wooden boat construction still practiced by small local shipyards.