Loonalaid

Loonalaid(Swedish:Letenholm,German:Lettenholm) is a smallislandin theBaltic Seabelonging to the country ofEstonia.Its coordinates are58°19′42″N21°48′19″E.Loonalaid lies just off the northwest coast of the island ofSaaremaa,and is administratively part ofAtlavillage inSaaremaa Parish,Saare County(Estonian:Saare maakond) and is also part ofVilsandi National Park.

Loonalaid is a windswept, rocky, low-lying 1 km²islet west ofVilsandiin the westernmost part of Estonia. The islet is exposed to the Baltic Sea's predominantly westerly winds and weather systems. Historically, the area had many shipwrecks due to the winds, weather and numerous uncharted shoals. These were a hazard, particularly to ships accessing theGulf of Riga,off the southern tip of Saaremaa.

Peeter All's family farm on Loonalaid in the 1920s

During the days ofserfdom,Loonalaid and adjacent areas of Saaremaa (called Oesel/Ösel by the Germans) belonged to the Loona Manor, owned by Baron Hoyningen-Huene.In 1830 Baron Huene sent a man by the name of Aadu All to live on Loonalaid, primarily to guard the hay that was grown there as feed for the manor's livestock and to prevent it from being stolen or burned. All, his wife and young son Peeter, who was 1 yr old at the time, became the islet's first residents and built a farmhouse.Peeter Allbecame a seaman and businessman and eventually purchased the family farm from the Baron.

See also

• List of islands of Estonia