Kärdla

Infobox Settlement
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = EST
subdivision_type1 =

---

image_shield=Kardla_coatofarms.pngsubdivision_name1=Hiiu County
leader_name=Ene Kaups
area_total_km2=4.5
population_total=3736|population_footnotes=
population_as_of=2004
population_density_km2=830.2
coor=59°00' N 22°45' E
latd=59|latm=00|latNS=N|longd=22|longm=45|longEW=E

Kärdla is the largest town on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa and the capital of Hiiu County.

Geography

Kärdla is located on the north-eastern coast of Hiiumaa, by the Gulf of Tareste ("Tareste laht"). Southeast of the town is the Kärdla meteorite crater, which is 455 million years old.Several small rivers flow through the town. There are also artesian wells in Kärdla.

History

Kärdla was first mentioned in 1564 as a village inhabited by Swedes. Its growth was greatly influenced by the cloth factory founded in 1830. A port was built in 1849. Both the port and the factory were destroyed in World War II.Kärdla officially became a borough in 1920 and a town in 1938.

Transport

Road transport from Estonian mainland to Hiiumaa involves a 90-minute (28km) ferry crossing from Rohuküla to Heltermaa, which is 25km by road from Kärdla. There are about 10 ferry departures a day. [cite web|url=http://www.tuulelaevad.ee/webroot/|title=Ferry schedules and booking|Publisher=Tuulelaevad] In the summer weekends, getting car space on the ferry usually requires advance booking. There are about 2 scheduled buses a day between Tallinn (the capital of Estonia) and Kärdla. [cite web|url=http://www.bussireisid.ee/index.html?MENU=&KEEL=en|title=Bus schedules and booking|Publisher=BussiReisid]

There are no scheduled passenger boats directly to Kärdla.

Kärdla is served by Kärdla Airport, with regular flights to Tallinn.

Kärdla town itself is small enough to get around on foot. Bicycle rental is available and there is a good bicycle path built from Kärdla towards Kõrgessaare.

Events

June's first weekend annual [http://www.lastefestival.hiiumaa.ee Hiiumaa Children's festival] takes place.

In first week of August coffee-loving people of Kärdla expect visitors to [http://www.15kohvikut.ee 15 caffeterias] opened just for one day in their own gardens, serving coffee and home-made pastry.

Famous people

Famous people born in Kärdla include the composer Erkki-Sven Tüür.

External links

* [http://www.kardla.ee Official website] (in Estonian only)
* [http://www.kardla.ee/webcam.html Live webcam showing the central square of Kärdla]

References