The Lake Museum, a subdivision of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, located on the shore of Lake Võrtsjärv, is the go-to destination for everything you've ever wanted to know about freshwater fish in Estonia but were afraid to ask, covering everything from perch to bream.
Lake Võrtsjärv is a lake in Southern Estonia with an area of 270 km², and it is the second largest lake in Estonia (after Lake Peipus), with around 35 species of fish found in the lake. The lake has been the largest natural eel breeding ground in Europe for years, with close to a million glass eels released into the lake annually (since 1956). The lake and the nearby wetlands are also an important breeding ground for birds, as well as a staging site for migratory birds.
The museum houses 35 tanks and 2 large aquariums located under the floor, featuring various common Estonian freshwater fish such as pike, pikeperch, bream, roach, tench, and perch, as well as some foreign species (for instance, the red-bellied piranha). Visitors can also explore a special Amazon-themed exhibition. The museum provides a wealth of information and displays about aquatic creatures that live in Estonia today, as well as those that lived here in the past. A great place to educate children as well!
To make the experience even more engaging, the museum offers fish life cycle animations and a unique chamber where visitors can listen to the sounds made by fish. In addition, the new and unique virtual reality experience "Expedition in the Underwater World of Lake Võrtsjärv" allows visitors to dive into the lake and study different Estonian freshwater fish. You can even find out what sound a fish makes! The virtual reality experience is viewed with a VR headset and can be used by two visitors at the same time. The experience takes approximately 10 minutes and is suitable for everyone above the age of 7. The VR experience is included in the museum ticket price.
In collaboration with scientists from the Võrtsjärv Limnological Center, the museum has also created an exhibition where visitors can explore various aspects of Lake Võrtsjärv. This includes information on lake monitoring and its implications, the lake’s ecological status, food chains within its ecosystem, as well as topics such as protozooplankton, phytoplankton, macrozoobenthos, aquatic plants, the European eel and its complex life cycle, protected fish species, and commercial fishing activities in Lake Võrtsjärv.
That’s not all – visitors can also learn how to identify different types of fish, explore the history of fishing, and gain knowledge about fishing regulations, among other things. Guided tours and a variety of educational workshops can be booked to make the visit even more interactive and informative.
If you haven’t had enough of the lake just yet, the museum also offers sauna raft rental for a relaxing sauna session or a pleasant cruise. In addition, visitors can use a seminar room with a million-dollar view and enjoy refreshments at the on-site café.
Experience the museum through the immersive lens of the 3D tour: 1st floor and aquariums and 2nd floor and seminar room.
Lake Võrtsjärv is a lake in Southern Estonia with an area of 270 km², and it is the second largest lake in Estonia (after Lake Peipus), with around 35 species of fish found in the lake. The lake has been the largest natural eel breeding ground in Europe for years, with close to a million glass eels released into the lake annually (since 1956). The lake and the nearby wetlands are also an important breeding ground for birds, as well as a staging site for migratory birds.
The museum houses 35 tanks and 2 large aquariums located under the floor, featuring various common Estonian freshwater fish such as pike, pikeperch, bream, roach, tench, and perch, as well as some foreign species (for instance, the red-bellied piranha). Visitors can also explore a special Amazon-themed exhibition. The museum provides a wealth of information and displays about aquatic creatures that live in Estonia today, as well as those that lived here in the past. A great place to educate children as well!
To make the experience even more engaging, the museum offers fish life cycle animations and a unique chamber where visitors can listen to the sounds made by fish. In addition, the new and unique virtual reality experience "Expedition in the Underwater World of Lake Võrtsjärv" allows visitors to dive into the lake and study different Estonian freshwater fish. You can even find out what sound a fish makes! The virtual reality experience is viewed with a VR headset and can be used by two visitors at the same time. The experience takes approximately 10 minutes and is suitable for everyone above the age of 7. The VR experience is included in the museum ticket price.
In collaboration with scientists from the Võrtsjärv Limnological Center, the museum has also created an exhibition where visitors can explore various aspects of Lake Võrtsjärv. This includes information on lake monitoring and its implications, the lake’s ecological status, food chains within its ecosystem, as well as topics such as protozooplankton, phytoplankton, macrozoobenthos, aquatic plants, the European eel and its complex life cycle, protected fish species, and commercial fishing activities in Lake Võrtsjärv.
That’s not all – visitors can also learn how to identify different types of fish, explore the history of fishing, and gain knowledge about fishing regulations, among other things. Guided tours and a variety of educational workshops can be booked to make the visit even more interactive and informative.
If you haven’t had enough of the lake just yet, the museum also offers sauna raft rental for a relaxing sauna session or a pleasant cruise. In addition, visitors can use a seminar room with a million-dollar view and enjoy refreshments at the on-site café.
Experience the museum through the immersive lens of the 3D tour: 1st floor and aquariums and 2nd floor and seminar room.
