Kihnu Island
Description:
Kihnu is an island in the Baltic Sea with an area of 16.4 square kilometers. It is the largest island in the Gulf of Riga and the seventh largest island in Estonia. Administratively it is part of the Pärnu district of the country with the center in the city of Pärnu.
The first settlements appeared on Kihna about 3 thousand years ago. The first mention of the island in written sources dates back to 1386. The population moved to the island mainly from the islands of Saaremaa and Muhu, as well as from the territory of the Liaene county. Swedes and Livs also lived on the island.
Today, the main areas of activity of Kihnu residents are fishing and food industry. There is an old way of life on the island. In 2003, the World Organization of UNESCO declared Kihna an important part of the cultural heritage of mankind.