The City of Paldiski

Position: 52 km west from Tallinn
59º16`01" northern latitude
23º 43`50" eastern longitude
Paldiski is part of the Harju Province
Neighbours: Keila County, Padise County, Vasalemma County
Area 101,8 km²,
of that 33,9 km² on the continent,
12.87 km² Väike-Pakri island,
11,6 km² Suur -Pakri island.
Density of population: 126,0 per/km²

 

History of Paldiski

The first traces of human habitation go back as far as to the Iron Age. In the XIII century the Swedes founded a village here and in the XVII century they started building a port.

The city of Paldiski was founded by Peter I in 1718 as a war harbour called Rogerwiek. In 1760 it was completed as a trade port and Catherine II named it Baltijski Port (The Baltic Port). The Estonian version Paldiski became official in 1933.

In 1939, Paldiski was given to the USSR navy, the locals were deported. In the city of Paldiski and on the Pakri peninsula, there were 9 different USSR military bases, including nuclear missiles and submarines. Up to 16 000 soldiers were stationed here. In 1968, Paldiski was closed for civilians (because of a new training facility for the nuclear submarine crews) and surrounded with barbwire.

The last of the Russian warships left in the 30^th of August in 1994.

The population of Paldiski consists of 1030 Estonians and 2800 Russians. Altogether there are 31 different nations represented in Paldiski. Some of the most important enterprises are the Southern Port (ferries to Sweden, Finland and Germany; scrap metal and timber transit), the Northern Port and other organisations connected with them.

There are two high schools – Estonian (280 students) and Russian (400 students) and two kindergartens (80 children each).

 

[Sources: www.paldiski.ee; “Eesti Loodus”, 8/1999]