Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Paldiski, where you find cats in trees!

Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri peninsula of north-western Estonia. Originally a Swedish settlement known as Rågervik, it became a Russian naval base in the 18th century. The Russians renamed it Балтийский ПортBaltiyskiy Port (i.e., Baltic Port) – in 1762, and the Estonian pronunciation, Paldiski, became the official name in 1933.
In 1962, Paldiski became a Soviet Navy nuclear submarine training centre. With two land-based nuclear reactors, and employing some 16,000 people, it was the largest such facility in the
Soviet Union. Because of its importance, the whole city was closed off with barbed wire until the last Russian warship left in August 1994. Russia finally relinquished control of the nuclear reactor facilities in September 1995.
After
Estonia restored its independence, the city had not enough Estonian citizens and Paldiski was subordinated to Keila until 30 October 1996. Located some 45 km west of Tallinn, Paldiski is a municipality within Harju County and has a regular ferry connection with Kapellskär in Sweden. Derelict Soviet-style apartment buildings make up much of the town, and the relics of military bases are widespread. For those interested in such things, it is easily accessible from Tallinn, and provides a grim and atmospheric feel, befitting its post-Soviet status.
Today the town has only 4,000 inhabitants and amenities are limited to two supermarkets, a small modern hotel (Hotel Valge Laev, with six guest bedrooms), and a small pub. Although there are no cafes or restaurants in the town, the hotel restaurant and bar are open to non-residents.

***Information taken from Wikipedia***










One tree, three cats!



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