Otste: Valley, Karst and Protected Landscapes

• The valley starts at Kurisu and extends to Otste Farm; small karst depressions occur within it.
• Otste lies in the Pihla-Kurisu protected area and the Kõrgessaare Nature Reserve.
• Patches of wooded meadow have been preserved in Otste.
• The Salajõe springs lie near Otste and about 2 km northwest of Kaarli Farm; they are usually dry in summer.

The valley starts at Kurisu and extends to Otste Farm. It is low and winding, with small karst depressions along its course. This landscape can therefore be described in terms of specific landforms: the valley shape is accompanied by smaller karst features within the same valley. Patches of wooded meadow have also been preserved in Otste. These meadows add an open, tree-studded aspect to the landscape. The valley, karst depressions and wooded meadows are distinct features that together shape the local landscape.

Kõrgessaare Nature Reserve is in Hiiu County and includes the settlement of Otste. Its conservation objectives include coastal meadows, springs and spring fens, species-rich fens, and old-growth natural forests. The Pihla-Kurisu protected area, where Otste is located, includes wooded meadows and wooded pastures among its conservation objectives. The priorities therefore differ: Kõrgessaare includes, among other things, wetland habitats, springs and old forests, while Pihla-Kurisu also focuses on wooded meadows and wooded pastures. The preserved wooded meadows in Otste give this landscape feature a direct connection to the area.

Some historic sites are in the wider Reigi–Lauka travel area, not in Otste itself. These include Reigi Parsonage, Lauka Manor and the Reigi outlying estate belonging to Kõrgessaare Manor. A lookout post stood on the Kootsaare Peninsula during the manor era. Reigi–Lauka is also a distinct regional landscape: it is classified as a Class I landscape of county-wide importance. For orientation, it is helpful to distinguish between these: the historic estates and landscape classification relate to the wider area, while the valley and wooded meadows are specific features of Otste.

The large, intermittently flowing Salajõe springs lie near Otste and about 2 km northwest of Kaarli Farm. The approximate distance is measured from Kaarli; it is not a measure of the distance from Otste. The springs flow intermittently and are usually dry in summer. If you are considering visiting them on a summer trip, bear in mind their seasonal nature.

When looking for a hotel in Otste, you can first decide whether to focus on the village itself, with its valley and wooded meadows, or also include the wider Reigi–Lauka area and its historic sites.

What is the course of the valley in Otste?

The low, winding valley starts at Kurisu and extends to Otste Farm. Small karst depressions occur in the valley.

Which protected areas are associated with Otste?

Otste lies in the Pihla-Kurisu protected area and the Kõrgessaare Nature Reserve. The conservation objectives mentioned include wooded meadows and wooded pastures, as well as springs, fens and old-growth natural forests.

When are the Salajõe springs usually dry?

The springs flow intermittently and are usually dry in summer. They lie near Otste and about 2 km northwest of Kaarli Farm.

For the broader travel overview: Otste.