Exploring an old Soviet submarine demagnetizing base in the Lahemaa national park, Estonia
Image credit: Haus of Hiatus
Located around 65 kilometres East of Tallinn, this former highly secretive demagnetizing base for Soviet submarines during the cold war is an enthralling part of the Lahemaa national park (aka Lahemaa Rahvuspark),
I stumbled upon this intriguing venue when cycling the Eurovelo 11 route from Tallinn to Valga, and couldn’t believe how interesting it was to see such a well preserved piece of history that you can really interact with and that’s been enhanced with historical records and photographs to really bring it to life. It also has a great restaurant, beautiful glamping cabins, and some great hikes starting just a few hundred metres from it.
Hara Sadam’s fascinating history
Wanting to find out more about the place, my research tells me it was built by the Soviet Navy during World War II as a strategic military installation in the early 1960s.
The purpose of the Hara Submarine Base was to provide the Soviet Union with a secure location from which it could launch submarine operations in the Baltic Sea and demagnetise ships and submarines so that their hulls were less susceptible to naval mines (watch The Cockleshell Heroes for more on this!).
During the Soviet era, the base was a heavily guarded military installation and access to it was strictly controlled. The base was staffed by thousands of Soviet naval personnel, who lived and worked in the underground facilities of the base, which made it into a barracks for them.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the base was abandoned in 1991 and remained unused for a long time, with many of the buildings falling into disrepair, however it’s understood that much of the underground infrastructure, including tunnels, storage facilities, and barracks, remains intact (this wasn’t accessible when I stumbled upon it).
Open from June until November it costs just €6 to see it up close, however, best to check the website in case these change.
Please do be aware that due to the dangers associated with exploring these abandoned structures, you’re advised to take necessary precautions before attempting to explore the jetty!