Visit Estonia’s Frozen Waterfalls
Text Stewart Johnson Photos Andrei Chertkov, Toolbox Estonia / Priidu Saart
Winter in Estonia can be cold, but the colder it is, the more beautiful! Take a day trip to one of several waterfalls that completely freeze over in the northern part of the country. It truly resembles an inside-out cave, with icicles dangling from atop the frozen fall, connecting with ice stalagmites forming upwards from the bottom of the fall. Here are some of the most popular frozen waterfalls to visit in Estonia.
Jägala Waterfall, or “juga” in Estonian, is located near Koogi in Harju County, less than an hour’s drive east from Tallinn. Jägala is the most powerful waterfall in Estonia, boasting an impressive width of 50 meters, and a drop of eight meters. Visitors can access both sides of the waterfall, and if you’re careful, you can climb down the side and explore the area behind the frozen water.
Keila Waterfall, in Meremõisa, also in Harju County, is about an hour west from Tallinn. The third most powerful waterfall in the country, Keila Waterfall is 70 meters wide, and six meters high. While not possible to climb under the frozen fall—or rather, it’s generally not advised—there is a wonderful park full of easy hiking trails surrounding the area.
Narva Falls, crossing the Narva River, which is the border with Russia, is the second most powerful waterfall in Estonia. While sometimes it does freeze over, it is not advised to walk through the tunnel to the Russian side.
Pakri Waterfall located on the Pakri Peninsula in northwestern Estonia near Paldiski is not that impressive, but it is tall, and the mist from the waterfall as it freezes tends to coat nearby trees in a gorgeous layer of ice. There are in fact several smaller waterfalls in this general area, providing for an exciting day of exploration.
And finally the tallest waterfall in Estonia, Valaste Waterfall in Toila, in the northeastern part of the country. At more than 30 meters in height, when it freezes over, it is quite a spectacle!
Valaste Waterfall, if you don’t already know, was the subject of a recent near tragedy when a large portion of the ice collapsed while a small crowd of people, including children, were nearby. Fortunately no one suffered injuries, but this does serve as an example of why caution should always be exercised when visiting a frozen waterfall, if you choose to get close. There are warning signs that must be obeyed, and always use your common sense.
Enjoy Estonia’s frozen waterfalls!
To learn more about this and similar topicsDay Trip Estonia juga Jägala Keila natural wonder Valaste waterfall
