Technical tour 2

Excursion to industrial areas in North-East Estonia

The excursion is taking participants to the north eastern region of Estonia. On our way we visit Kauksi beach on the shore of lake Peipus. Lake Peipus is 5^th largest lake in the Europe with an area of 3555 km² and is the largest trans-boundary lake in Europe, lying in the border between Estonia and Russia. About 30 rivers flow into the lake and is drained by only Narva river, into the Baltic Sea. Many of those rivers, especially Velikaya (Russia) and Emajõgi are transporting nutrients from agriculture and from point sources into the lake and therefore the ecological conditions are poor and lake suffers from eutrophication. 

After discussing several ecological problems that are impacting the lake we are going to Aidu quarry that is an open pit oil shale mine opened in 1974 and covering the area of about 25 km². In 2012 Aidu quarry was closed and groundwater pumping also stopped that resulted unique artificial water bodies. These channel-shaped water bodies are ideal for canoeing and rowing and therefore modern water sports and recreation center was established. We also visit several formerly mined areas that are re-cultivated in environmentally sustainable and community-focused ways. For examples more than 14 000 hectares of land that is reforested. From Aidu quarry we hike to the top of the Sipelgamägi hill for spectacular views across former and present industrial landscapes and have a picnic. Our last stop will take us to the Ahtme oil shale ash plateaus that formed due to wet ash removal from thermal power plants combusting oil shale.