Exploring the Lakes and Reservoirs of Estonia
Lake Peipsi-Pihkva
Lake Peipsi-Pihkva is located between the border of Estonia and Russia. It is the largest European trans-border lake, as well as the largest lake in Estonia. It is also holds record for the fourth largest European freshwater lake.
This lake is also called “Peipus.” Today, its surface area is 3,555 square kilometers (1,373 square feet). It is a shallow lake for its size; its maximum depth is only 15.3 meters (50 feet). There are several islands throughout the water, and there are about 30 rivers and streams that go into it, one of which being the Narva River. Many Estonians and Russians utilize the lake for fishing and other recreational activities. It had suffered pollution in the past, due to the results of Soviet agriculture.
Lake Võrtsjärv
Lake Võrtsjärv is the second largest lake in Estonia, and is located in the south of the country. It is relatively big, taking up a surface area of around 270 square kilometers (104 square miles). It is a very shallow lake; its maximum depth is only 6 meters (19.5 feet). The area around it is largely rural, and the lake’s primary outflow is the River Emajogi.
Narva Reservoir
The Narva Reservoir is shared by Russia and Estonia. Most of its premises exist within Russia, but about 40 square kilometers (25 square miles) of its area is situated in Estonia. It was created in the 1950s under the Soviet Union, and it provides water to the Narva Hydroelectric Station, as well as cooling waters to some power plants in Estonia. Its primary outflow is the Narva River.
Lake Ülemiste
Lake Ülimiste is one of the lakes around Tallinn, Estonia. It supplies Tallinn with its drinking water, so there is a large treatment plant on its shore. It is not a huge lake; its maximum depth is 6 meters (19.5 feet), and its surface area is about 9.6 square kilometers (6 square miles). There is an airport situated on the shore of this lake. There is also a mythical creature that is rumored to live in this lake, known as the “Ülemiste Elder.”