lähikohad

Lähikohad is an Estonian term that translates to “nearby places” and is used to describe places within the immediate vicinity of a person, a building, or a point of reference. The word combines lähis- (“near”) with koht (“place”) and is used in both everyday language and official contexts to refer to local amenities, services, and points of interest located close to a given location.

In urban planning and statistics, lähikohad function as a practical concept rather than an official administrative unit. They help planners identify what is accessible to residents within reasonable travel distance and are used to assess the availability of essential services such as shops, schools, healthcare facilities, and public transport. The exact scope of a lähikohad can vary between municipalities and datasets, depending on factors like population density, road networks, and walking or driving times.

In digital maps and location-based services, lähikohad appears as a category or label for a set of nearby places. Users can search for lähikohad around a specified point to find facilities or points of interest sorted by distance or estimated travel time. This usage reflects a broader trend of framing local geography by proximity rather than fixed borders.

See also: locality, neighborhood, district, proximity.