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 that have been found in the lake. The lake has been the largest natural eel breeding farm 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 with various common Estonian freshwater fish such as pike, pikeperch, bream, roach, tench, perch as well as some foreign species (for instance red-bellied piranha). They provide a wealth of information and displays about aquatic creatures that live in Estonia now as well as those that have lived here in the past. A great place to educate the kids as well! And to make it more fun - the new and unique virtual reality experience "Expedition in the Underwater World of Lake Võrtsjärv" allows visitors to dive into the lake Võrtsjärv 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 price of the museum ticket.

In addition, the museum collaborated with scientists from the Võrtsjärve Limnological Center to create an exhibition where visitors can explore various aspects of Lake Võrtsjärv. This includes information on the monitoring process of the lake and its implications, the lake's health status, food chains within its ecosystem, as well as topics such as protozooplankton, phytoplankton, macrozoobenthos, aquatic plants, the European eel and its intricate life cycle, protected fish species, and commercial fishing activities in Lake Võrtsjärv.
That's not all – you can also learn how to identify different types of fish, explore the history of fishing, and gain knowledge about fishing regulations, among other things.

If you haven't had enough of the lake just yet, the museum also offers sauna raft rental for a sauna session or a pleasurable cruise. You can also use a seminar room with a million dollar view and visit 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.