Hiiumaa Islets Landscape Reserve was founded in 1971. It comprises of islands in the southeastern waters of Hiiumaa (excl. Kaevatsi and Heinlaid). The biggest islands are Saarnaki (136 ha), Hanikatsi (83 ha), Vareslaid (31 ha), Kõverlaid (20 ha), Ahelaid (17 ha) and Kõrgelaid (16 ha). The areas of the rest of the islands are less than 10 ha, of Aherahu and Sitakare only 0.1 ha. The Centre of Hiiumaa Islets Reserve is on the Salinõmme peninsula, which used to be an island still in the 19th century. The distance from Salinõmme port to the farthermost islet is 18 km. Hiiumaa Islets Reserve has been inscribed on the List of Wetlands of International Importance on 17 June 1997 (so-called Ramsar site).

Most of the islets consist of moraine, which was formed as a result of the action of sheet glacier. Only Langekare is based on the limestone monadnok base bottom. The age of Saarnaki is about 2 000 years, others have risen from the sea later, some only a few hundred years ago. The land is still rising here nowadays 2 - 3 mm per year. Due to their young age the islands are flat, the maximum height of Saarnaki reaches 9 metres (a.s.i.), of Kõrgelaid 7 and Vareslaid and Hanikatsi 5 m. The height of the smaller islands is mostly 0.5 - 2.0 m.

The flora of the islets is exceptionally rich in species. More than 600 species of higher plants are found on the islets, this is almost half of the total number of the plants found in nature of Estonia. Especially rich is Hanikatsi islet with its 444 plant species. There are plenty of rare and rarely found species: Red Helleborine, Crab tree, Shining Crane's-bill, Musk Orchid, Fly Orchid, Early Purple Orchid etc. The Spear-leaved Skull-cap, Large Speedwell, Wood Anemone and others have reached their westernmost distribution range here. There are also several species characteristic of the sea islands only: Crested Cow-wheat, Cow-wheat, Wild Pansy and Small-flowered Willow Herb.

187 species of birds altogether have been recorded in the reserve, 110 of them breeding. The newcomers are the Mute Swan (1977), Avocet (1977) and Cormorant (1994). The Common Eider and Herring gull are numerous, there are less Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Greylag Goose, Mallard Duck, Sheldrake, Goosander, Tufted duck, Oyster-catcher and Great Ringed Plover. Of migrating birds, the most remarkable are thousands of Barnacle Geese, Long-tailed Ducks, Golden-eyes and hundreds of Whooper Swans. In autumn Fieldfares and Waxwings find food on the islets. In early spring there are flocks of Snow Buntings.

The sea between the islets is stony and shallow, two to four metres on average. In summer it warms up to +24oC and in winter it is usually covered with ice for three-four months. The bays offer a favourable spawning place for Perch, Ide, Whitefish and Hornfish. There are several higher plants growing in the sea, for example Common Water Crow-foot, Pondweed, Sea Grass etc., as well as the varied family of Algae. The most common of them are Fucus and Agar-agar. There are two species of Mammals in the sea, the Ringed Seal and Atlantic Grey Seal.

People have lived on the islets for centuries. In 1564 Saarnaki islet and in 1623 Hanikatsi islet were inhabited already. Land was cultivated, hay made, cattle bred and fish caught. In the old days, winter road to the mainland went across the islets. The inns on Hanikatsi and Kõrgelaid offered shelter. By now the islets have been deserted (Hanikatsi in 1966 and Saarnaki in 1973). To preserve the former appearance of the islets, hay and brushwood are cut and sheep are pastured. A farmstead on Saarnaki and a fisherman's cottage on Pihlakare have been restored and a dwelling house on Hanikatsi has been repaired, to serve the research work done on the reserve and ecotourism.

• Please register in advance either in person or by phone or by e-mail.
• Islets (excl. Saarnaki and Hanikatsi islets) are closed to the public beginning melting of ice up to 1 July.
• The Laidelaht Wilderness Area (among this Hanerahu, Ankrurahu, Ahelaid, Aherahu, Kõverlaid and Hülgerahu islets) is closed to the public.
• Please use only the footpath in the Hanikatsi broad-leaved deciduous forest.
• We ask You not to bring along Your pets.