LääneSaare

Lääne-Saare was a rural municipality in Estonia, located in the western part of Saaremaa island in Saare County. It was established in 2014 through the merger of three former municipalities: Kärla, Lümanda, and Mustjala. The administrative center of Lääne-Saare was the town of Kuressaare, although Kuressaare itself was a separate urban municipality and not part of Lääne-Saare. The municipality covered a significant portion of western Saaremaa, encompassing diverse landscapes including coastal areas, forests, and agricultural land. Its population was primarily engaged in agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Lääne-Saare was known for its natural beauty, including the Vilsandi National Park, which protected a rich array of birdlife and marine ecosystems. The municipality also boasted historical sites such as medieval churches and traditional windmills. In 2017, Lääne-Saare municipality was dissolved and its territory was merged with other local governments to form a new, larger municipality called Saaremaa Parish.