Ida-Viru County

In Ida-Viru County you can experience the entire diversity of Estonian nature, in addition to the nature that is characteristic and unique to Ida-Virumaa only.  There is no scenery or landscape in Estonia, which could not be found in Ida-Viru County. Ida-Virumaa is rimmed in the North by the majestic costal limestone cliff, exposing intermittent layers of different rocks and is cleaved by waterfalls and primeval valleys, which is unique in the entire world.
Alongside the natural hills there are the artificial hills created as a result of oil-shale mining and these are ranging in colour from white to black. From the highest points in Kiviõli and Iisaku you can view the entire county, partially also the neighbouring counties and borderlands of our neighbour country Russia.
Ida-Virumaa is full of history’s footprints. The footprints of World War II are especially numerous on the banks of the Narva River and in the region of Boron, where you can find numerous trenches, bunkers and military junk that has been thrown around the woods and swamps of the riverside. At Sinimäed (Blue Mountains) there is also a memorial reminding us of the victims of wars.
At Kuremäe, the Pühtitsa (Holy hill) Orthodox Church of the Falling Asleep of the Virgin Mary is the oldest functioning nunnery in Estonia. Toila Oru Park and palace have become a picturesque location for walking and enjoying the many outdoor events taking place there.
Ida-Virumaa is Estonian Northeast county bordered with the Finnish Gulf in the North, the Narva River in the East and Peipsi Lake in the South.The Western and South-western borders of the county run mainly through  woods and swamps. The total area of the county is 3400 square kilometres and the county is a home to more than 178 thousand people. Ida-Virumaa is the most urbanised county in Estonia – about 88 % of the inhabitants live in towns.
Besides Estonian cultural organisations, which promote preservation and development of national culture, there are also numerous organized groups of ethnic minorities in Ida-Virumaa. Folklore Festival ’Kirde Killad’ takes place every other year, some of the more modern cultural events which keep growing in popularity are Tuhamägede Talvine Tantsupidu (Ash Mountain Winter Dance Festival) held in Kohtla-Nõmme and Suvine Tuhamägede Tantsupidu (Ash Mountain Summer Dance Festival) held at the Sinivoore hill. Avinurme Pütilaat (Avinurme Barrel Fair), Lohusuu Kalalaat (Lohusuu Fish Fair), and Rahvuskultuuriseltside Loomepada, all  take place in Ida-Viru County and are known nation wide.

Ida-Virumaa is a rich and contradicting county. The number of tourists who have started to find this county of old industrial traditions and beautiful nature has raised rapidly. Indeed, there is much to Ida-Virumaa, that cannot be found elswhere in Estonia, some of which could not be accessed by ordinary citizens before for various reasons.