ostujõuga

Ostujõuga was a significant lake in what is now Estonia. It was separated from the Gulf of Finland by the Muhu Peninsula and was drained in the late 1920s. The lake covered an area of approximately 1,176 square kilometers and had a greatest depth of about nine meters. Its catchment area included much of west-central Estonia, with the lake being the outflow of several smaller lakes and rivers. Water from Ostujõuga flowed eastward into Lake Peipus, which is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe.

In pre-industrial times, Ostujõuga played a crucial role in the local ecological system. The lake supported a diverse range of aquatic life, including fish such as bream, pike, and eel. However, due to a combination of factors including low precipitation and high evaporation rates, the lake's water level began to decline in the early 20th century. This decline led to increased salinity, making the lake's water no longer suitable for certain species of fish and other aquatic life. By the 1920s, the lake had largely evaporated, with remaining patches of water being drained in the late 1920s. The area is now mostly agricultural land and woodland.