Abruka

 island  Add category

Αbruka is an 8.78 km² Estonian island in the Gulf of Riga, 4 km south of the island of Saaremaa.
Together with few neighbouring smaller islands (Vahase, Kasselaid, Linnusitamaa and Kirjurahu) Abruka forms the village of Abruka, which is part of Saaremaa Parish, Saare County. The village has a population of 33 (as of 1 January 2011) and an area of 10.1 km².
The first records about the population on Abruka originate from the Middle Ages, when the Bishop of Ösel-Wiek founded a horse breeding manor (Abro) there. Permanent population developed in the 18th century. 1881–1972 an elementary school operated on Abruka.
Abruka is the site of a Central European-type broadleaf forest, which is rare in the region. To protect this a nature reserve was created in 1937. There's a library (located in the harbour building) and a museum which is located on the side of the former manor park in the oldest building on Abruka (The Abruka House). Abruka can be reached by postboat Heili from Roomassaare harbour in Kuressaare.