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Vormsi, also Vormsö (Template:Lang-sv, Template:Lang-de) is the fourth-largest island of Estonia, located between Hiiumaa and the mainland with a total area of 92 square kilometres (36 square miles). It is part of Vormsi Parish, a rural municipality.

History

Vormsi's history as an inhabited island dates back as far as the 13th century. During most of its history, the island has been inhabited by Estonian Swedes ("rannarootslased" in Estonian or "coastal Swedes" in English), whose population reached 3,000 before World War II. During the war, nearly all of Vormsi's population, along with other Swedes living in Estonia, were evacuated, or fled, to Sweden. The island's current population is approximately 240 inhabitants.

The island's Estonian name Vormsi is derived from its German name Worms or its Swedish name Ormsö. Swedish influence can also be seen in other place names, as in villages like Hullo (the administrative center), Sviby (the main port), Söderby, Norrby, Diby, Rälby, Förby, Borrby, Kärrslätt, Saxby, Busby, Suuremõisa (Magnushof, formerly Busby) and Rumpo; and lakes like Prästvik.

Economy

Vormsi is the per capita wealthiest island and region in Estonia outside of the Tallinn metro area, with incomes on the same level as inner Tallinn in Estonia. This is attributed to the fact that many wealthy people own summer homes on the island and are registered as residents, so their yearly income tax is forwarded to the island's budget.

Vormsi has no industrial activity. The island earns the majority of it's revenues from taxation of mainland and overseas income of residents.

Residents

The island of Vormsi has homeowners from several countries: Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland

Name

It is believed that a Viking from Iceland called Orms was the first man to have landed on the island and started a colony. Ormsö in Swedish means "Orm's Island". "Orms" also means "snake" in Swedish.

Literature

• Kanarbik, Madis, Ormsö. De estlandssvenska böndernas kamp mot godsägarna under 1700- och 1800-talet (Tartu, 2003)
• Beyer, Jürgen, 'Whom should one thank for a narrow escape? Lessons drawn from a perilous journey from Vormsi and Noarootsi to Finland in 1796', Pro Ethnologia 17 (2004), 175-95

Gallery

• Vormsi harbor
• Saxby lighthouse
• Paddock, Rälby
• Old windmill, Rälby
• Woodsman's cottage, Hullo
• Beach area in Rumpo
• Viewing platform in Rumpo peninsula, looking towards Sviby harbor
• Thatched roof house
• Vormsi cemetery
• The Huitberg Coral Reef
• Sunset in Saxby
• Aurora Borealis in Saxby
• Windmills in Hullo, 1930s
• The President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Vormsi in 2010
• Estonian Swedes in the 19th century
• Fleeing the Soviet occupation to Sweden (1944)]]

References

External links

• Vormsi vald (Vormsi municipality)

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.

59°00′N 23°13′E / 59.000°N 23.217°E / 59.000; 23.217

• Estonian islands in the Baltic
• Landforms of Lääne County
• Vormsi Parish