in Sweden and others headed to Canada and the United States. In 1945, after World War II had ended, the Soviet Union designated all of the islands around Vilsandi a restricted area closed to the public for national security reasons. Today Vilsandi became part of an Estonian national park in the early 1990s and today only a few people live there year-round. Many tourists visit in the summer months, some of which explore, by kayak, the approximately 100 small islands comprising the park. Tens of thousands of waterfowl migrate through or nest in the national park as do most of the Baltic grey seals. Climate Vilsandi has one of the most maritime climates (Cfb) in Estonia and thus it experiences generally cooler summers and milder winters than other parts of Estonia with smaller annual temperature range. Vilsandi is as well is usually the part of Estonia which receives the most hours of sunlight during a year with its weather station statistically the location with the most sunshine in Estonia. Gallery See also List of islands of Estonia References External links Vilsandi – discussion forum for locals and visitors http://vana.www.sakala.ajaleht.ee/index.html?op=lugu&rubriik=85&id=6203&number=344 Estonian islands in the Baltic Villages in Saare County