Lääne-Virumaa
Lääne-Virumaa is one of the 15 counties of Estonia. It was settled in prehistoric times by the Vironians, a Finnic tribe. Twelve landscape preserves and 3 state nature reserves are located at least partially in the county.
According to the county's English website:
"The development of the Estonian culture and population has been directed and influenced by the sea. According to the common law, every kind of profit gained from the sea is lawful and so the profession of coast watchers is well-known since ancient times: he was a man, who kept watch on a high shore, lit signal fires, informed about ship accidents and the arrival of the enemy, observed the movements of fish shoals. The villages were situated away from the coastline then, because of the lack of farmland near the sea and also to avoid the frequent looting raids from the ships. Fish was mainly caught from inland waters, coastal fishing took place only during the spring and autumn seasons."
I got this card from Eellaa for the favorites tag. Looks like a lovely place to visit... picnic in the poppy fields, go out on the water in the little boat in the foreground...
The stamp on the right is a Christmas stamp from 2002. The stamp on the left is from 1996.
