Page 117 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

EASTERN EST ONIA  115

2 Kohtla water has carved its way
Underground through a bed of 470 to
Mining Museum 570 million-year-old rocks
Kohtla kaevanduspark-muuseum to create an amazing sight.
Road Map E1. Tel 332 4017. @ from Environs
Kohtla-Järve. Open May–Sep: 11am– The beautiful Oru Park, Toila
7pm Tue–Sat, 11am–5pm Sun & Mon; is located 14 km (9 miles) east
Oct–Apr: 10am–6pm Tue–Sat. & of Ontika Coast and is worth
8 book in advance. 0 summer visiting. The park is spread
only. ∑ kaevanduspark.ee out over an area of 1 sq km
(0.4 sq m) along the coast.
Undoubtedly one of the most
fascinating museums in Estonia, Exhibit at the intriguing Kohtla
Kohtla Underground Mining Underground Mining Museum 4 Sillamäe
Museum is located in the Road Map E1. * 17,000. @ from
sprawling industrial area of before World War II, it saw speedy Tallinn, Narva. ∑ sillamae.ee
Kohtla-Nõmme. Set in a massive develop ment during the Soviet
oil-shale mining complex, the era with the expansion of the Situated midway between
museum operates guided tours oil-shale mines in the area. Kohtla-Järve and Narva,
in which the history, technology Sillamäe makes for a fascinating
and purpose of mining are excursion. This Soviet-era town
explained before visitors are 3 Ontika Coast was the site of a uranium mine
taken to explore the dark, damp Road Map E1. @ from Tallinn to for the Soviet nuclear
labyrinth of the mines. Jõhvi, then bus or taxi to Toila, Ontika. programme. However, it was
Visitors can see the infernal ∑ ida-virumaa.ee so secret that it was not even
mining machines at work and marked on official maps.
can even attempt to drill for oil- The coastal limestone cliff of The town is a living example
shale or ride an underground Ontika forms one of the most of the more elegant side of
bike. There is also the added striking areas of natural beauty late-Stalinist residential
option of sampling a miner’s in Estonia. Sprawling over architecture. Many of the
lunch under ground. almost 20 km (12 miles) ornately decorated apartment
The outdoor tour continues between Saka and Toila, the blocks set along tree-lined
on to the very impressive Ontika cliff is the highest point boulevards and manicured
mountains of mined stone and of the North Estonian limestone parks are very attractive. The
it is possible to see one of the escarpment. At Ontika, the cliff mine was closed in 1991 and
biggest diggers in the world. reaches a height of 57 m (184 ft) a number of other industries
Wall and mountain climbing are and offers a view across the Gulf have since moved in. Sillamäe
some of the adventure sports of Finland. Valaste, which lies is slowly but surely reinvent ing
offered here. Located nearby is 5 km (3 miles) east, has Estonia’s itself as an upcoming coastal
the vast industrial town of highest waterfall. The 26-m and historical tourist
Kohtla-Järve. A small town (85-ft) stream of cascading destination of interest.

The limestone cliffs set against the azure Baltic Sea, Ontika Coast
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp298–9 and pp318–19

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