Thunderstorm, the mightiest and most dangerous among weather phenomena

Sven-Erik Enno gives an overview of thunder clouds and their genesis, as well as the lightening, hail and other grand weather phenomena. He explains scientifically, but clearly how the clouds are formed in the atmosphere and how three different stages of development are differentiated in the lifecycle of a thunder cloud. Movement of clouds and the accompanying wind system are described as well, backed by impressive photos and expressive figures. The article is summed up by describing the superstorms of the Mid-West USA.

Aspen as a habitat for lichens

Inga Jüriado takes a look at species that use aspen as a substrate: old aspen trees are favourite habitats for numerous lichen species. Different species prefer different parts of a tree, and old trees have the most species. The article is provided with 10 clear photographs of the most common lichens that inhabit aspen trees.

The Satan with horns

Juhan Javoið introduces the worms that have worried many people this year: the bird cherry ermine moths Yponomeuta evonymellus, the mass occurrence of which has buried the bird cherries with dense white nets that remind of horror movies. The author takes an exciting and even humorous look at the lifecycle of these small moths, explaining their behaviour and possible reasons for mass outbreaks.

In memoriam. The scientist who plunged into the distant history of fauna. Johannes Lepiksaar

Lembi Lõugas glances back to remember Johannes Lepiksaar, an internationally recognized paleozoologist and one of the best-known Estonian scientists of all. He spent most of his life in Sweden, but always stressed his Estonian origin and was a tremendous help to many Estonian scientists especially with his large library.

Estonian Nature enquires

Ain Kallis gives advice for behaving in case of a thunderstorm

Stig N¸hr speaks about nature guide system in Denmark and the future in Estonia.

Päite landscape protection area

Roland Müür introduces one of the most majestic, yet unknown section of the Baltic Klint: the Päite Cliff and the landscape protection area of the same name. Päite is situated between Toila and Sillamäe, as well as the Pühajõe Cliff and the Voka Bay which also belong to the protected area.

European rarities in Estonia: the Edible Snail

Annelie Ehlvest looks at Edible Snail, the snail that was introduced to Estonia during the Middle Ages and has adapted rather well to the Nordic climate. However, though the snail has become numerous enough not to be protected, it shouldn’t be collected or gathered in large amounts.

Interview: the plants of a lake indicate the state of the waterbody

Toomas Kukk has interviewed Helle Mäemets, a researcher of water plants.

Swinging grounds – special sites in the landscape

Piret Pungas goes swinging – and thinks of reasons why swinging grounds that have been among favourite places of rural people for centuries should be maintained. The swinging culture in Estonia is very old, and swings were always put up at sacred places in the landscape. There were different meanings to swinging, the most important being swinging in the spring to symbolize the way of the Sun in the sky.

A coastal trail between the sea and the forest

Egle Kaur recommends taking a hike from Keila-Joa to Kloogaranna. This is an area which has attracted summer guests for many centuries already. The 15 kilometres between the two mentioned places is mostly a beautiful sandy beach diversified by hooks with numerous erratic boulders, klint terraces and coastal formations from the different development stages of the Baltic Sea. And yet, despite of kilometers of sandy beaches and their Soviet-time popularity, the beaches are now almost empty even on a hot summer day. A welcome thought for hikers.

Rat Kings in Estonia and elsewhere

Andrei Miljutin brings forward the mystery of a strange natural phenomenon – the rat king, the term that stands for many rats bound together by their tails. In January 2005, a rat king with 16 rats (9 of these still alive) was found in Saru, South-Estonia. It was the 59th known finding of rat kings in the world. The most likely reason for the formation of a rat king seems to be sticking and freezing of the tails in (mostly) wintertime.

Beetle scientist Valentin Soo 100.

Georg Miländer reminds of his teacher Valentin Soo, the creator of Estonia’s most species-rich beetle collection. He is also responsible of many first finds. Nowadays his noteworthy collection is in the hands of the Estonian Nature Museum in Tallinn.