Blog of Raivo Laanemets

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Abandoned and Burned

On 2023-03-11

I found an abandoned home while exploring the nearby places. It's about 5 kilometers from my hometown Elva, between small patches of forests and fields. I was on my usual weekend hike and was visiting this area for the first time.

Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned

A tall spruce tree was standing out from the rest of the trees. There was a faint trail leading to it and I followed. The trail led away from the main road.

Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned

The path was accompanied by electrical posts. The wires were cut. This was probably done by copper thieves, a crime which was common in Estonia in the nineties.

Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned

At the end of the path was a sad view: a half-burned building was standing in the middle of snow-covered piles of rubble.

I have no exact idea when people still lived here. The fire was likely 4 to 8 years ago, judging by the growing willow around the burned building.

Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned

I saw a weird formation of trees, possibly from fire damage. There were traces of more buildings. I think it used to be a larger household.

People probably left the place around 25 years ago. It was a time when living in the countryside was increasingly more difficult compared to cities and towns.

I explored for a while and took photos of what I saw: a small pond, the tall spruce, a pile of field rocks, some plants, and then headed back to the town.

Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned
Abandoned and Burned

Approximate location: 58.210226, 26.381542