Ruukel moved to Soomaa with his family as a fifth-grader and enjoyed an adventurous childhood of canoeing, hunting and exploring wildlife. He learned to build the logboats from the last old masters in the 1990s. By then, locals had stopped using the logboats for daily life and the craft of boatbuilding was disappearing. Ruukel says that he very narrowly caught the last moment to pick up the traditional skill:

“Both Jaan Rahumaa and Jüri Lükk, the last boat masters, died within a few years. I and a few friends have carried on the tradition of wearing a shirt and a suit jacket when working on the boat in their memory.”

Ruukel thinks the “haabjas” dates back to the bronze age and has Finno-Ugric roots: “Many Finno-Ugric peoples have built similar logboats with a similar technique. I’ve seen them built by the Vepsa and Mari people.”

All you need is an axe

Ruukel has built 15 logboats now, almost one for every year: “For a typical Soomaa logboat, you need an aspen stem of 50 cm diameter and 5-6 meters of length. The first step is to peel the log to see which way to position it. 

The outer shape is most important and this needs to be carefully measured and positioned. Then, I cut off a few cm from the bottom, after that the longest part of the work can begin – to empty the inside of the wood so that the shell will be just 2 cm thick. This is being done by the ancient method with an axe.” 

Ruukel says the method is not set in stone: “As the tools and skills have developed over centuries, it would be strange to stick to the building method of one certain era. The old men I learned it from already used small motor saws, so it’s ok to adjust to the new tools and to use them.” 

Expanding the sides of the haabjas however is a ritual of its own that sticks to the tradition. The hollow stem will be filled with water and placed on a bonfire. When the water starts heating the wood inside the boat, the inner fibres expand while the outside fibres shrink because of the dry heat of the bonfire. This leads to a natural expansion. 

Then the sides will be pulled apart and bent with sticks until the boat is about one metre wide. To support the shape, bows will be attached inside – selected from naturally bent tree branches and fir roots. To finish off, the logboat has to be treated with tar.

The logboat of Soomaa is almost always made from aspen, thus even the name “haabjas” haab stands for aspen in Estonian. Aspen is flexible enough not to crack under pressure. It has also adapted to grow in wet areas. Apart from being suitable for logboats, aspen are also a favourite home for the rare, flying squirrels in Estonia. The oldest trees and even dead aspen stems boast a wealth of biodiversity: more than 2000 species inhabit it.

From the local obscurity to UNESCO world heritage

The historical records of the daily use of logboats are, of course, rare. For the last century and a half, their usefulness and necessity are well-documented. For Soomaa households, the logboat was the basic means of transport during most of the year, except for winter. 

It was used not just during the flooding season but also in summer and autumn to transport people and goods along the rivers, such as pots of milks or stacks of hay. Two or more logboats were tied next to each other for larger loads. Steering with one oar, standing in the boat like a gondolier in Venice, the elegant ride is a skilful balancing act. A seated rowing position is recommended for greater stability.

The idea to apply for the UNESCO title came about from international cooperation of logboat enthusiasts. Ruukel started the application process in 2018 with the aim of promoting and preserving the heritage, but also to promote the region and enhance its identity through a unique local symbol. 

The listing is also helpful in attracting more people to try building logboats themselves. Ruukel and other Soomaa enthusiasts organise camps and workshops to attract the next generation. Building a logboat can be a great school project for the surrounding region that teaches practical skills as well as traditions and history. 

There is also special value in creating something tangible with one’s own hands. As in the old times, a boat master is a respected person in the community.

Today, preserving the tradition and promoting the skill is the main role of the Soomaa logboat builders. The stories, legends and rituals that surround the haabjas are more valuable than their practical use in daily life. 

While in history, haabjas was the only means to get around for daily chores during the flooding season, today it is an attraction for tourists. Plastic canoes have replaced haabjas as the most popular water vehicle for exploring the rivers and forests of Soomaa. Ruukel’s phone keeps ringing with people asking his prediction for the arrival of the floods. Nature is still unpredictable and the visitors have to wait for the news patiently.

Estonia is also the land of ancient wetlands, dense northern forests and ice roads over frozen seas. Estonia is a meeting place of Baltic, Nordic, Scandi and Soviet cultural relics, white sandy beaches, long-distance hiking trails, and sailing routes between the numerous islands. In this tiny northern country, wilderness is never far from your doorstep and epic adventures are often just an hour away.

From its long summer nights to long, dark winters, Estonia remains a mystery to many. As more than 50% of this tiny nation’s land area is covered in forests, every outing can feel like an invitation to fully immerse yourself in the experience of the wild.

Epic kayak or bicycle trips, cross country wilderness hikes in huge forests, foraging trips under pine trees and in the romantic wetlands: in Estonia, each season connects you to the landscape and wildlife in its own magical way. And guess what? There are more than four seasons to take it all in.

Summer: no need to turn on the lights

As a northern country, Estonia is famous for its white nights. Summer sunsets last forever and, if you take a book with you, you can still read it on the seashore at 10 pm without any need for extra light.

Long days and summer breeze mean one thing: a perfect chance to explore the 2222 islands off the coast. Most Estonian islands are tiny and uninhabited, giving lovers of kayaking, canoeing, sailing, birdwatching and fishing a perfect chance for a really remote and wild getaway. Of course, it is also worth visiting the inhabited islands for their rural charm and traditional lifestyle.

When you have had your share of seawater, it is time to turn towards deep forests either for a day walk or for hiking in the wilderness for weeks. Six diverse national parks and protected areas take up almost one-fifth of Estonia’s territory. Here, hiking trails guide you into versatile landscapes, inviting you to swim in bog lakes or wild camp on your way.

Winter: journeys into winter silence

Snowshoes are an old invention. About 4000-6000 years old, to be exact. Wearing modern versions with winter boots gives you deeper access to the landscape, making it one of the best ways to explore Estonia in winter. You can venture out on your own or join a winter bog shoe tour to tread lightly through the forests and floodplains of this snow-covered country. In the depths of winter silence, the landscape truly feels timeless.

It is also possible to hike the biggest Estonian bog on snowshoes in Soomaa National Park. And the bravest winter hikers can enjoy winter swimming in bog lakes. And if you love keeping your winter coat on, you can revel in the knowledge that you are breathing in some of the cleanest air in the world.

If you want to leave the vast wetlands behind and travel further – to an island, perhaps – you can often take the most direct route. In winter, ice roads can be opened between mainland Estonia and some of the islands, so you can drive on the frozen sea ice to the next destination you wish to explore.

Autumn: connecting to ancient landscapes

Although many people associate wild camping with peak summer months, there is nothing more romantic than waking up to the symphony of nature also in the early part of autumn. Virgin forests seem to acquire their own way of breathing then and the colours across landscapes start changing, following their annual pace.

Then there are wetlands – ideal places to get deeper into nature. If you don’t want to wild camp there, you can come to the bogs in the early morning and step into a forgotten landscape from a lost age, just like that.

Greeting a new day and watching the sun rise over a misty bog is a unique way to spend time alone with your thoughts. This is the time to breathe in the fresh air and smell the unique marsh plants. And feel the world become more relaxed around you. A foggy sunrise comes with an extra bit of charm – there is no better time for a refreshing dip in a bog lake!

Bogs are the oldest organic landscapes of Estonia, with some of them reaching up to 10,000 years of age. The first bogs started emerging after the last Ice Age. As the ice sheet was melting, the leftover meltwater got collected in depressions created by the glacier ice. Over thousands of years, plants lived and died in these shallow, oxygen-deprived meltwater lakes, and never fully decomposed. This is how peat got created, and still does to this day.

Spring: rejoice in the return of the birds

Estonia is among the top three European bird watching destinations for the number of species spotted. Six eagle species can be spotted here as well as eight of nine European woodpeckers.

You don’t have to be a professional bird watcher to enjoy spotting hundreds of species while millions of birds fill the skies of Estonia. Of course, the migration does not happen in one day, so you can move between the numerous islands, forests, bogs and coastline locations to find your perfect spot for catching a glimpse of different species.

The bird-watching season can begin already in March, usually culminating with a spring migration in mid-May, and winding down by mid-June. With birds returning from the south, life returns in many other shapes and forms after a long winter. Estonian nature springs to life after the dark winter months, with vitamin-rich fresh wild garlic, dandelions, nettles and spruce shoots all waiting to be foraged and eaten. That is just an extra reason to return to the forest again!

The fifth season: gateway to another world

They say that there is so much to see in Estonia that there is an extra season to see it all. And there really is. Soomaa National Park is home to massive bogs, and it is the only place in Northern Europe with a unique fifth season.

Every year, the early spring floods arrive in Soomaa, rendering up to 17,500 hectares of roads, lower forests, and meadows only navigable by water.

The spring floods create an almost other-worldly canoeing experience and offer a truly special way to immerse yourself in the landscape. On top of that, Soomaa National Park is also home to the only flying squirrel species in Europe. It is a truly magical place. Just like the rest of this peaceful northern land.

Estonia is the first country to implement smart parking, to legalise ride sharing and delivery bots, or to offer e-Residency. A company can also be established fully online in just a few hours and from almost anywhere in the world.

Economic freedom and transparency have made e-Estonia one of the most advanced e-societies in the world. Through continuous experimentation, learning and iteration, Estonia considers the natural next step in the evolution of the e-state will involve moving basic services into a fully digital mode. This means that citizens and companies can be served in efficient, rapid and automated ways, with many basic functions occurring seamlessly in the background.

Taxes can be filed online and 98% of all tax declarations in Estonia are filed electronically, including forms for income tax, social tax, unemployment insurance and contributions to the mandatory pension fund, requests for excise duty returns and customs declarations.

Estonia’s solution for maintaining a modern state is X-Road (X-tee), which saves Estonians 844 years of working time every year. The backbone of e-Estonia, X-Road is a software-based programme allowing the nation’s various public and private sector e-service information systems to link up and function in harmony.

As it is designed with growth in mind, it can be scaled up as new e-services and new platforms come online. It can also be exported and today is used in Finland, Kyrgyzstan, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Japan and other countries.

Nothing happens without reason

But nothing happens without people who make the decisions and always want to move forward. Estonia has a highly skilled workforce, and 86% of adults speak at least one foreign language! Building a company here is made easy with simple and straightforward labour legislation, easy hiring processes and low unionisation. IT skills are taught extensively in primary school and our students rank in the top 10 globally in science, mathematics and reading at the secondary school level.
A glimpse of history – Estonia had the “late-comer advantage” in the 1990’s, which meant that Estonians could employ the latest systems and solutions necessary for addressing the challenges facing Estonian society without having to replace legacy systems.

In the years since, the public sector has been outstanding in the role of initiator and promoter for a variety of e-services initiatives. Estonia’s central government is positioned to continue in this role.

Doing business and living our daily lives both in the physical and virtual world is normal in Estonia. But it is the result of years of work. Information and communications technology (ICT) has taken centre stage in reshaping the global socio-economic order during the past couple of decades. But the spread of ICT technologies in Estonia has been rapid.

The Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITL) has been representing the people in the ICT sector to make it easier for ICT companies to operate. “We are a cooperation network in the field of ICT which speaks for the innovation of digital society – our vision is a smart Estonia. We are improving cooperation between the private and public sectors,” says Doris Põld, the ICT Cluster Manager. 

“The Estonian ICT sector is quite significant for Estonia – we have more than 4800 ICT companies, those companies are generating more than 4 billion euros in annual revenue. Estonian companies’ solutions can be found in more than 140 countries all over the world. 

Estonian ICT cluster partners are key players behind most of the Estonian e-governance solutions. Estonian IT companies operate on a one-stop shop logic, offering strategy consulting, change management, and IT development for creating working e-solutions. Seamlessly working digital services increase the potential for economic growth and a higher quality of life.”

Põld promises that all the “big players“ are represented at EXPO, because Estonia’s main storyline in the World Exhibition is the story of digital society.

Pandemic called for digital skills

The past year clearly demonstrated the significance of the digital skills of businesses and organisations. Fortunately, Estonian government was ready to provide its services in a digital way with only some adaptation needed. 

Many new solutions were created as a response to the crisis almost overnight as a result of several hackathons which were held in cooperation of the Estonian private and public sector players or just by enthusiastic IT companies.

“Our experience and our learning points from our digital path are worth sharing because we all see that ICT helps to cope in the crisis.” Doris Põld is especially proud of the fact that during the crisis, public private partnership remained strong.

“Estonia gained a lot from this, as did several other countries: new solutions, such as registering your sick leave online, were created within 48 hours. Also, at the same time when a lot of major events around the world were cancelled in 2020, it was possible to hold the WRC Rally Estonia thanks to the creation of a data warehouse solution, which shared critical data between different parties during the event and also checked the participants’ virus tests.”

Big names in creating e-Estonia

But let’s also take a closer look at the track records of some of the big IT-companies. One of the most important names in the field of creating public e-solutions is Nortal. Approximately 30-40% of the Estonian e-state has been built with their participation.

“In the last fifteen years, we have exported the accumulated experience of the Estonian e-state and e-health services to Germany, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Finland and many other countries. Today over 80% of Nortal’s turnover is foreign markets and over 150 million end users regularly use solutions created by Nortal,” says Marek Helm, Head to Nortal’s operations in the Middle East. He hastens to add that the development of e-services in Estonia is ongoing.

Just recently, Nortal launched a proactive service for the customers of the Social Insurance Board – a unique innovation not only in Estonia but worldwide. This means that parents of a newborn no longer need to apply for benefits, but receive a proactive proposal from the government for the benefits they are entitled to, which they simply have to confirm.

During Covid lockdowns, Nortal swiftly helped to rearrange the daily work of large hospitals via their IT systems, with the aim to direct all possible resources to dealing with the pandemic. In 2021, the company helped to develop Estonia’s first vaccine passport as well as a digital Estonian certificate which complies with European standards and can be used all over Europe starting from 1 July.

“As an example of Estonian e-state export, we helped to create a VAT administration solution in Oman, which brought a new tax and reshaped the country’s existing fiscal policy. Hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs in Oman use the Invest Easy entrepreneur portal created by us.” 

Marek Helm says that in exporting e-state digital solutions it is important to take into account that every country is different with its challenges, existing infrastructure, background and customs. It is not possible to transfer a solution one-to-one, but the digitalisation journey in each country involves similar steps and it is possible to take advantage of existing experiences and know-how in order to create a specific solution for each country.

“There are some common denominators, similar to what we have seen in Estonia – you need to have the political will, the champions that are able to make decisions, the legal setup, the infrastructure, the IT literacy and incentives for people to move forward. There are many building blocks that are the same in each major digital transformation case, but the Lego that is built – the end result – looks different every time.”

Another IT-company, Net Group, has been a key player in empowering the Estonian digital transformation. Active since 1999, the company develops back-office solutions for investment banks and works on e-governance technologies in order to take public services closer to citizens via machine learning and artificial intelligence [the so-called government-in-your-pocket solution]. For example, just recently Net Group developed the cornerstone for the Estonian governmental chatbot network.

For Tallinn Tallinn, the largest city and capital of Estonia (population 440 000). City government they created an automated system called Teele [based on Effocracy – a digital tool for drafting legislation]. Legislation moves faster in the system, and the whole process is more transparent. In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they also integrated the voting system to Teele. Now the system is even more convenient and user-friendly and, if necessary, city council meetings can be held remotely in the future as well.

As mentioned above, the possibility for holding a big sporting event like Rally Estonia (which reached over 100 million TV viewers!) during the pandemic, became a reality thanks to the cooperation between Synlab and Net Group and their innovative data warehouse platform which helped to move critical data in real time between separate units and enabled fast notification of the stakeholders.

Priit Kongo, CEO of Net Group, says that their value proposition – now also at EXPO – always includes two components. “There is the consultation and sharing of experience. In other words, we explain how to digitalise services and, secondly, there are the solutions themselves the databases, registers and applications. It is our unique strength that we offer the so-called ‘key in hand’ solution – the consultation together with the technical solution and implementation.”

No 1 in developing GreenTech “In the transition to a green economy, we have two choices whether to buy and use technologies that are developed by others, or to be front-runners who develop and introduce innovative technologies and services to other countries. Our government has chosen the second option.” 

This is how strongly the Estonian government led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas Estonian politician. feels about greentech and, yet again, sets an example to the rest of the world by being one the first to set a goal to achieve a green economy. Green Tiger (Rohetiiger in Estonian) is a collaboration platform that is designed to boost environmental awareness and create a basis for a green economy in Estonia.