Naissaar island - a combination of unique nature and military history

Naissaar is one of the biggest islands in North Estonia, located about 12 km from Tallinn. The island covers an area of 18.6 km², is 8 km long, 3.5 km wide, and is located about 8.5 km from the mainland. The Naissaar island has great history and is a great cultural inheritage from the former Soviet Union and Russian Empire. It has beautiful sandy beaches, a variety of hiking trails and the remnants of a naval fortress. Due to its location, Naissaar has often served a defensive purpose over the centuries. This island gives you an opportunity to take a look at the military installations and cannons dotted around the island, which date back to the imperial times of Russian Tsar Peter the Great. The fortifications were designed to avoid unwanted access to Tallinn from the Gulf of Finland. Until the Second World War, the island's population numbered about 450 people of Estonian-Swedish origin. However, these people fled during the war. Naissaar under Soviet rule was a military area and off-limits to the public.