Estonia's landscape is level and marshy. In northern Estonia, the predominant surface feature is plains, while southern Estonia is a little more rolling, including Estonia’s highest point – Suur-Munamägi (Big Egg Hill, 318 m). Compared to the rest of Europe, Estonia has more old-growth forests, and wildlife is still plentiful and roams freely – for the most part nature is fairly untouched.
Five national parks have been established to protect the landscapes, flora and fauna, as well as endangered species: Lahemaa, Karula, Matsalu, Soomaa and Vilsandi. Lakes are plentiful. The largest are Peipsi (3555 km², the fourth-largest in Europe) and Võrtsjärv. Rõuge Suurjärv is the deepest, however (38 m). There are also many rivers, of which the longest one is the 162 km long Võhandu. The waterfall with the greatest flow rate is the seven-metre-high Jägala juga. Even though Estonia is generally fairly marshy and level, nature is fairly diverse here. Northern Estonia is unique for its coast, gentle in some places, rising straight from the sea in others in cliffs 30 or 40 metres high. The highest is the 56-metre high Ontika bank.
Western Estonia is especially low-lying and marshy. The islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa are here, known for their juniper-covered landscapes among many other qualities not found elsewhere in Estonia. Estonia’s climate is mild and maritime, influenced by the Baltic Sea. The weather is often damp, windy and cool. Precipitation is highest in August, but the autumns can be rainy, too. The summers are warm and temperatures are often above freezing in winter. The days are long in summer (up to 18 hours of light) but short in the winter – with just six hours of daylight. Estonia has four clearly distinguishable seasons. The summer months are June, July and August. Autumn quickly follows with the falling of the leaves, and smoothly turns to winter in November. The first snow usually falls a bit earlier than this and generally melts away. March marks the return of spring.
