Permisküla

• Permisküla Island is the largest island in the upper reaches of the Narva River. It is 2.5 km long and up to 0.7 km wide.
• The Tsiretoki Stream rises at the southern tip of the island and flows into the Narva near the island.
• The 15.7 km-long Permisküla Main Ditch carries water from the edge of the Puhatu bog to the Narva in the northern part of the village.
• A regulation designated the Permisküla permanent habitat for the protection of the flying squirrel; it came into force on 7 April 2025.

The island and waterways offer different points of reference for understanding the landscape around Permisküla. The island is clearly defined by its location in the Narva River and its dimensions. The Tsiretoki begins at its southern tip and reaches the Narva near the island. The main ditch is separate: it runs through the northern part of the village, is 15.7 km long, and carries water from the edge of the Puhatu bog to the river.

The protection of the flying squirrel is also one of the area’s nature-related features. The relevant regulation for the Permisküla permanent habitat came into force on 7 April 2025. The island, waterways, and this protected-area designation each tell a different story about the surroundings. If you are particularly interested in nature and landscape, you can take these features into account when deciding whether to visit Permisküla.

Near Permisküla, the Poruni hiking trail runs through old-growth forest along the Poruni River to the Narva River and back. The described route therefore follows two rivers and passes through old-growth forest; it is a nature feature in the area, distinct from a trail across the island. For your travel plans, it is particularly relevant whether you would like to include a nearby hiking trail as well as your interest in the river island.

Permisküla is connected with the life of pharmacology professor Osvald Schmiedeberg. He spent his childhood in Permisküla, in the home of his father, who was a forester. Later, as a professor, he spent his summer holidays there until the First World War. Schmiedeberg gained international recognition for his research into the effect of muscarine, the poison in the fly agaric mushroom, on heart activity.

Another historical connection dates to July 1944, when the II Battalion of the 6th Border Guard Regiment took up defensive positions on Permisküla Island in the Narva River. In the wider region, the Narva River has for centuries served as a historical and cultural boundary between East and West.

Local lore also tells of a silver casket on an island between Permisküla and Kuningaküla.

Where is Permisküla Island?

It lies in the upper reaches of the Narva River and is the largest island there. It is 2.5 km long and up to 0.7 km wide.

What is known about the protection of the flying squirrel?

The Permisküla permanent habitat was designated for the protection of the flying squirrel by regulation. The regulation came into force on 7 April 2025.

Where does the Poruni hiking trail run?

Near Permisküla, it runs through old-growth forest along the Poruni River to the Narva River and back.

To the broader travel overview: Illuka.