Kõõru: Boulder, Karst and Local History

For trip planning, Kõõru can be understood through its distinct nature and history. The protected erratic boulder Suure Tõllu kerisekivi, also known as Raka kivi, stands in the village. Marete auk and Mareteaukemägi represent different landscape features; there are also historical connections to the farms and to a building. The topics range from a single boulder to a karst feature, a sandy area and local history.

Natural features with distinct characteristics

The protected erratic boulder in the village of Kõõru is called Suure Tõllu kerisekivi and is also known as Raka kivi. Its three dimensions are 6.4 × 3.3 × 4.5 metres; these measurements date from a survey conducted in 1986. Its circumference is given as 19 metres. The three measurements describe its dimensions, while the circumference provides an additional measurement around the stone. This gives you specific size information about a single natural monument.

A hiking guide from 2026 describes Marete auk as a karst pool, or sinkhole. Water is present in the sinkhole year-round. The defining features of this natural site are therefore its landform and water. Unlike the boulder, whose details can be understood through its name and measurements, the focus here is on a karst feature with standing water throughout the year.

A hiking guide from 2026 describes Mareteaukemägi as the highest and most representative sandy area in the hiking region between the villages of Odalätsi, Kuremetsa and Kõõru. The sandy area is thus situated within a clearly defined hiking region. Its focus differs from that of Marete auk: Mareteaukemägi is notable for its sandy terrain and place within the region, while Marete auk is distinguished by its sinkhole and water.

The geographical scale of these natural features also differs: the boulder is explicitly located in the village of Kõõru, whereas Mareteaukemägi is associated with the hiking region between three villages. This distinction can help you tell apart village-specific features and those associated with a wider area when planning your trip. It shows whether a feature is explicitly linked to the village or to a broader hiking region.

Farm history and construction date

In the 18th century, the farms of Kõõru also belonged to the Paju Manor estate. This historical connection concerns the village farms and their relationship with the estate at the time. The history of the farms thus adds a temporal and local context to the natural features.

A barn was built in the early 19th century on the Mardi farm in the village of Kõõru, in Mustjala parish. The construction date adds a specifically named building to the history of the farms. Chronologically, the farms' association with the Paju Manor estate in the 18th century came before the construction of the barn in the early 19th century. This lets you distinguish the history of several farms from the construction history of a single building.

Discover more destinations: Kuressaare, Nässuma, Siiksaare, Koguva, Metsaääre, Haeska, Muratsi, Haapsu.

For the broader travel overview: Saaremaa.