Osmussaar (Odensholm) in Estonia

Osmussaar is in Noarootsi commune,  Lääne county. The island is 4.7 km², the nearest distance from the mainland is 7.5 km. There is no constant inhabitants on the island.

Osmussaar, Swedish Odensholm, got its name after viking's chief god Odin, who, as the legend goes, is buried on the island. Before the World War II 130 people, mainly Swedes, lived on the island. All inhabitants were forced to leave the island in 1940, when the Soviet Army base layed the foundation on the island. Osmussaar was the last foothold in Estonia that was given up to the Germans.

When the Soviet Army, after the 50 years on the island, left the island, they left the buildings in a good state. Now the houses are devastated and destroyed.

On an August night, in 1914 German battleship "Magdeburg" got a ship aground nearby Osmussaar. The memorial to the perished seamen was erected near the lighthouse on the coast. Its stonefence is still notable in the nature.

The first lighthouse on the island was built in 1766. 1804-1941 there was a stone lighthouse on the island that was destroyed during the war. The present reinforced concrete lighthouse was built in 1954. 

There are lot of rare and scientifically valuable geological sights - denuded rocks of the bedground, beach ridges, erratic boulders and many others. Osmussaar's Landscape Reserve was established in 1996 for protecting the landscape and the natural associations of the island.

You can travel to the island by chartered boat for a day.