Raunverkun

Raunverkun is a small village located in the northern part of Estonia, within Harju County. The settlement lies approximately 12 kilometres south of the town of Kuusalu and is surrounded by mixed pine and oak forests that characterize the Estonian wilderness. According to the most recent census data, the population of Raunverkun is around 120 residents, with a demographic composition that is predominantly ethnic Estonian, supplemented by a small number of Russian-speaking inhabitants.

The origins of Raunverkun date back to the early 16th century, when it was first mentioned in the annals of the Livonian Order. Throughout its history, the village has remained largely agrarian, with residents engaged in small-scale farming, forestry, and in more recent decades, tourism related to outdoor recreation. The surrounding forest has been a source of resin and timber, while the nearby pine stands have supported a modest logging industry. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a wooden sawmill operated on the banks of the small river flowing through the village, which provided employment for many locals.

Cultural life in Raunverkun centres on traditional Estonian customs, such as folk music and dance performed during seasonal festivals. The village hosts an annual harvest celebration that attracts visitors from neighbouring areas. A small community centre, built in the 1970s, serves as a gathering place for events and offers basic services to residents. Despite its rural character, Raunverkun benefits from modern infrastructure, including roads that connect it to larger towns and a reliable electricity grid, and has been developing modest eco-tourism initiatives to promote sustainable use of its surrounding natural resources.