Lake Ülemiste

Lake Ülemiste Ülemiste järv
Location	Kesklinn, Tallinn
Coordinates	59°24′N 24°46′E
Lake type	Eutrophic
Primary inflows	Vaskjala-Ülemiste canal (from Pirita River), Kurna stream, Ruunaoja stream
Primary outflows	Tallinn water system; historically Härjapea River
Catchment area	99.24 km2 (38.32 sq mi)
Basin countries	Estonia
Max. length	4.1 km (2.5 mi)
Max. width	3.2 km (2.0 mi)
Surface area	9.436 km2 (3.643 sq mi)
Average depth	2.5 m (8.2 ft)
Max. depth	4.2 m (14 ft)
Shore length1	15.219 km (9.5 mi)
Surface elevation	35.7 m (117 ft)
Settlements	Tallinn
References
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Ülemiste (Estonian: Ülemiste järv) is the largest of the lakes surrounding Tallinn, Estonia. Ülemiste is where most of the city gets its drinking water from. The lake is fed mostly by Kurna stream and Pirita River (through Vaskjala-Ülemiste canal).

Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport is located on the eastern shore of the lake and aircraft regularly take off and land over the lake. The airport maintains the necessary equipment ready to tow out in a short time any aircraft that crashes into the lake, as required by ICAO regulations.

The Tallinn Water Company, AS Tallinna Vesi, has a treatment plant on the North shore of the lake which supplies 90% of the water to the city. The remaining 10% comes from ground water wells which, whilst are not necessary as the lake can supply the entire city, are nevertheless maintained as a backup in case the lake ever became contaminated. Such a risk is not trivial considering the proximity of Tallinn Airport to the lake.

On 18 March 2010 a DHL Antonov An-26 aircraft made an emergency landing on the ice of Lake Ülemiste and 1,5 tons of fuel leaked into the water. Fortunately all of the pollution was eventually removed, and none of the 6 crew members were injured.

Mythology and fiction

In the lake there is boulder called Lindakivi ("Linda's rock"). In Estonian mythology, it is believed to be one of the boulders Linda was supposed to carry to Kalev's grave at Toompea, but which fell off her apron. She sat on the boulder and cried, thus creating the lake.

The legendary-mythological "Ülemiste Elder" (Estonian: Ülemiste vanake) is believed to live in the lake. If anyone should meet him, then he is believed to ask: "Is Tallinn ready yet?". If then the other person answered "yes", then he would flood the city. Thus, the correct answer would be: "No, there is much to be done yet".

This tale is sometimes viewed as an explanation why Tallinn is building/growing all the time. Because otherwise the city will get flooded. It is said that the top of the SEB Pank building in the city appears as it does in honour of this legend, so that when the Ülemiste Elder looks at Tallinn from the lake, he will believe that the city is still under construction.

Gallery

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  Aerial view

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  Lindakivi in front of the water treatment plant.

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  Antonov An-26 on the ice of Lake Ülemiste, 18 March 2010

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External links

• Official Website of Tallinna Vesi