Estonia - Rummu Quarry and Abandonned Aircraft

From 1938, the quarry was an open mining system for limestone and Vasalemma marble, a specific kind of limestone resembling marble. 

When the pumps were turned off in the 1990s, the quarry quickly filled with groundwater, forming a lake, immersing some of the utility buildings and machinery. Next to the lake is the Vasalemma spoil tip (slag heap). Over time, the spoil tip assumed a lunar appearance through erosion by water.

Since 2015, Architecture students from Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) have been discussing ideas and drafting several possible sketches and proposals of what the abandoned area of the quarry could become in the future. As of 2017, the owners of the property are planning a technology park.

 In 1988, this An-12 Soviet transport plane was donated to the Keila Model Flying Club. It performed its last flight from Lvov to Tallinn airport where it was partially disassembled, transfered to Keila by road and reassembled again at the current location.

Estonia - Murru Prison

The second area we visited on Saturday was the Murru prison and quarry established around 1930. The prisoners had to work in the quarry and the prison was notorious for human rights infringements. Every year at least one person died “in an accident” and this prison became well known after the prisoners went on a hunger strike demanding more humane treatment. When Estonia regained independence in 1991, times changed and the works at the quarry stopped. The prison was only closed in 2012. Here a few images from the prison wall, guard huts and buildings (quarry images to follow).

Estonia - Keila-Joa Waterfall

On our last day in Tallin, we went on a day tour to some interesting sites outside Tallin. The Keila waterfall is the third largest and the longest waterfall in Estonia. It is 6 metres high. There is a renovated hydroelectric power plant and one of the grandest manor houses in Estonia. The weather had been milder than expected so the waterfall was not fully frozen. 

 

Wicken Fen on Cloudy Day

We visited Wicken yesterday morning on a dull day with intermittent showers but found a handful of birds to photograph along with the scenery and Konik ponies.The Long-tailed tits were surprisingly brave as the feeders have been repositioned very close to the hide.  We also had a very close view of a Kestrel and distant views of several Marsh Harriers.

 

Tallin - Estonian Open Air Museum

The Estonian Open Air Museum spans 72 hectares of very attractive forest bordering the sea just outside Tallin city centre. Established in 1957, the museum showcases 68 farmhouses assembled into twelve farmyards from North, South and West Estonia. I visited the 18th-century rural/fishing village, which comes complete with schoolhouse, a fire station, inn, church, etc, together with interesting toilets and inquisitive red squirrels