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Muhu

Geography
Location	Baltic Sea
Coordinates	58°35′46″N 23°14′16″E / 58.59611°N 23.23778°E / 58.59611; 23.23778
Archipelago	West Estonian archipelago
Area	198 km (76 sq mi)
Administration
Estonia
Saare County
Demographics
Population	1,968 (2010)
Pop. density	8.8/km (22.8/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Majority Estonians

Muhu (also called Muhumaa in Estonian) is an island in the West Estonian archipelago of the Baltic Sea. With an area of 198 km (76 sq mi), it is the third largest island belonging to Estonia, after Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.

Together with neighbouring smaller islands of Kesselaid, Viirelaid, Võilaid and Suurlaid, it forms Muhu Parish (Estonian: Muhu vald), the rural municipality within Saare County. The municipality has a population of 1,968 (as of 2010) and covers an area of 206.12 km (80 sq mi). The population density is 8.8/km (23/sq mi).

History and geography

The German names for the island are Mohn and Moon. Moon is also the Swedish name for the island.

The most important villages in Muhu are Kuivastu, Liiva (where the school can be found) and Koguva. In Pädaste, an internationally renowned luxury hotel and spa operates in the restored manor house.

The island is divided from mainland Estonia by the Suur Strait (Moonsund) and from Saaremaa by the Väike Strait. It is linked by ferry to Virtsu on the mainland, and to Saaremaa by a causeway, the Väinatamm. In winter an ice road connects the island to the mainland.

In January 1227, an army of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword with Letts, Germans of Riga and native Livonians (20,000 men commanded by William of Modena) crossed on sea ice from the mainland and attacked the island of Saaremaa to reduce the last holdout of pagan Estonians. The Estonians surrendered on Muhu at a circular stronghold called Mona, the earthworks of which are still preserved near the causeway between the islands. This ended the Estonian Crusade.

The Battle of Karuse or Battle on the Ice was fought on 16 February 1270 between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Livonian Order on the frozen Baltic Sea between Muhu and the mainland. The Lithuanians achieved a decisive victory. The battle, named after the village of Karuse, was the fifth-largest defeat of the Livonian or Teutonic Orders in the 13th century.

The same waters saw the Battle of Moon Sound in September–October 1917 between Russian and German naval forces.

Muhu is the home of Estonia's first wine tourism farm – Luscher & Matiesen Muhu Winehouse.

Culture

Muhu is known for having the only traditional windmills in Estonia that are still operational. Muhu is also known for its traditional knitted stockings.

Gallery

• Northern coast of Muhu
• Muhu Stronghold, site of the native Estonian surrender to crusaders in 1227
• Monument in the center of the Muhu Stronghold
• Üügu cliffs
• Muhu St. Catherine's Church
• Pädaste Manor
• Tooma farm, part of Muhu museum and birthplace of writer Juhan Smuul
• Students and teachers in traditional clothing march in a procession in Liiva
• Old village school
• In Mõega village
• Koguva harbour
• Windmill in Koguva
• Flag of Muhu Parish
• Coat of Arms of Muhu Parish

See also

• Municipalities of Estonia
• List of municipalities of Estonia
• List of islands of Estonia

References

1. "History of Muhu Island". Pärdi Guesthouse.
2. "Gallery: World's Largest Muhu Stocking Exhibition on Display at ERM". ERR. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
3. Kenk, Olev (23 January 2024). "Knitters issue call to wear patterned Estonian Mittens on Independence Day". ERR. Retrieved 23 January 2024.

External links

• Media related to Muhu at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• Muhu Tourism Association
• Muhu Island in Jetsetter Top10
• Photos about Muhu.

v t e Municipalities of Saare County
Rural municipality	Muhu Ruhnu Saaremaa

v t e 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
Gulf of Riga	Adralaid Ahessäär Ahtra Annilaid Imutlaid Kihnu Kõrksaar Küllisäär Manilaid Oosäär Orikalaid Piiukaarelaid Pöörilaid Ruhnu Sangelaid Selglaid Sillalaid Sorgu Uulutilaid
Lakes and rivers	Kreenholm (Narva River) Piirissaar (Lake Peipus) Tondisaar (Lake Võrtsjärv)
Former islands	Harilaid Mardirahu Kopli Noarootsi Paljassaar Suur Paljassaar Väike Paljassaar Puhtu Sõrve
Bold marks currently populated islands.

• Muhu Parish
• Estonian islands in the Baltic
• Gulf of Riga