In the Soomaa region, the Estonian expanded dugout boat is a canoe-like boat that is hollowed out from a single tree. The boats are built out of an aspen tree and have expanded sides and a shallow base. The process of building a dugout boat is complex, starting with finding a suitable tree and culminating with the actual launch of the boat.
Estonia's Soomaa National Park encompasses an area twice the size of Tallinn, a wetland area in Pärnu and Viljandi counties. During the fifth season, melted snow from the mountains or heavy rains in the region flood the lower forest flats, roads, and yards of Estonia.
Traditionally, boats were the only means of getting around in the area during this period. Dugout boats have been extremely important in the community as an integral part of everyday life. Until the 1960s, dugouts were used for transport across rivers and fishing.
Dugout boatbuilding is a social activity that involves masters, apprentices, and other members of the community. There is a complex process in building dugout boats that begins with the identification of a suitable tree and concludes with its launch.
One of the most distinctive features of dugout boatbuilding is the expansion of the sides. As a result of the interaction between heat and moisture, including a fire and water, the sides of the board are dramatically expanded, which increases the volume, maneuverability, and carrying capacity of the boat.
Besides apprenticeships and formal studies, the practice is accompanied by tales about legendary masters and their boats. Though dugout boats continue to have cultural significance and are still used for recreational purposes (nature trips and fishing in water), the element is also threatened due to factors such as a lack of knowledge transfer between masters and apprentices.
Due to the advent of cheap and modern boats and extensive roads, dugout boats are no longer used for daily transport or fishing. There is also low demand for boatbuilding and use, limited raw materials availability, and declining populations in the Soomaa region. Consequently, only five master practitioners remain, and only one or two boats have been built in the past two decades.
Today, the role of the dugout boat has changed and it is less indispensable. However, its cultural significance and recreational uses have survived - dugout boats occupy an essential place in Soomaa identity.
The expanded dugout boat from the Soomaa region is an Estonian canoe-like vessel hollowed out of a single aspen tree with expanded sides and a shallow base.
In the Soomaa region, dugout boats have been extremely important, as they have been an integral part of everyday life. Until the 1960s, dugouts were used for transport across rivers and fishing.
Estonia's Soomaa National Park encompasses an area twice the size of Tallinn, a wetland area in Pärnu and Viljandi counties. During the fifth season, melted snow from the mountains or heavy rains in the region flood the lower forest flats, roads, and yards of Estonia. Traditionally, boats were the only means of getting around in the area during this period.
There is a complex process in building dugout boats that begins with the identification of a suitable tree and concludes with its launch. Dugout boatbuilding is a social activity that involves masters, apprentices, and other members of the community.
One of the most distinctive features of dugout boatbuilding is the expansion of the sides. As a result of the interaction between heat and moisture, including a fire and water, the sides of the board are dramatically expanded, which increases the volume, maneuverability, and carrying capacity of the boat.
Besides apprenticeships and formal studies, the practice is accompanied by tales about legendary masters and their boats. Though dugout boats continue to have cultural significance and are still used for recreational purposes (nature trips and fishing in water), the element is also threatened due to factors such as a lack of knowledge transfer between masters and apprentices.
Due to the advent of cheap and modern boats and extensive roads, dugout boats are no longer used for daily transport or fishing. There is also weak demand for boatbuilding and use, limited raw materials availability, and declining populations in the Soomaa region. Consequently, only five master practitioners remain, and only one or two boats have been built in the past two decades.
In today's world, dugout boats are no longer indispensable as they used to be. However, their cultural significance and recreational significance have kept them prominent in Soomaa identity. Dugout boats are very important to Soomaa residents as they are an indispensable part of everyday culture. Up until the 1960s, they were used for everyday transportation on rivers and fishing. Today, the role of the dugout boat has changed and it is less indispensable. However, its cultural significance and recreational uses have survived - dugout boats occupy an essential place in Soomaa identity.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/building-and-use-of-expanded-dugout-boats-in-the-soomaa-region-01680) (https://wilderness-society.org/dugout-boat-culture-of-estonias-soomaa-region-inscribed-on-unescos-list-of-intangible-cultural-heritage/) (https://estonianworld.com/culture/dugout-boat-culture-of-estonias-soomaa-region-added-to-unescos-intangible-cultural-heritage-list/) |Subject=Craftsmanship and Practices |Country=Estonia |SDG=(08) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (09) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities }}