Hiiu County : Estonia

Hiiu County : Estonia
Harju County or Harjumaa (Estonian Harju maakond or Harjumaa) is a County or maakond of Estonia on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland. It borders to Lääne County to the southwest, Rapla County and Järva County to the south and Lääne-Viru County to the east. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia is in the county, although it is separately marked on the map of counties.
History
Human inhabitation of Hiiumaa can be traced back to the 5th millennium BC. Mesolithic sites in Kõpu peninsula are presented by the seal-hunters’ settlements. There are several well preserved grave fields of the Iron age. In 1228 the island was first mentioned in written annals under the name Dageida. In 1254 Hiiumaa was divided between the Livonian Order and the Saare-Lääne bishop. In 1563 Hiiumaa got annexed to Sweden. In 1710, as a result of Great Northern war island goes under the Russian Empire. German military forces occupy Hiiumaa in 1917. In 1918 – 1940 Hiiumaa was part of the Republic of Estonia, then until 1991 occupied by the Soviet Union.
On demands of the Hanseatic League a lighthouse was built in Kõpu in the beginning of XVI century (known also as Dagerort). It is considered the third oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the whole world, still showing its light to 35 miles to the sea.
The best part of the farm architecture comes from the XIX century. Examples are Mihkli farming complex and Soera farm-museum with all the old national artefacts.
Municipalities
There are 1 urban municipality (est: linn – city) and 4 rural municipalities (est: vallad – parishes) in the county.
Urban municipality:
Kärdla
Rural municipalities:
Emmaste
Kõrgessaare
Käina
Pühalepa