100 stories from the hiking route

1997 – beginning of the establishment of Valgehobusemägi ski and leisure centre

Information

Topic

Hiking and hiking trails

Coordinates

Long-Lat WGS 84

Latitude: 59.22145833

Longitude: 25.56556389

L-EST 97

x: 6565827.7
y: 589392.8

Location

Ähijärve-Aegviidu Hiking route

Valgehobusemägi (White Horse Mountain), the highest peak of Kõrvemaa, is situated in the Mägede kame field. The hill stands 106.9 metres above sea level. The observation tower on the hill offers a view of the extensive forests and wetlands of the landscape.
Reportedly, there was a tower on the hill as early as in 1897. Although, at the time it was not an observation tower but a triangulation tower for land surveys.
According to folklore, the name of the hill comes from the death of a farmer’s white horse who perished when going up the hill with a load of logs meant for the construction of the tower. However, the origin of the name is also associated with the Kalevipoeg legends:
“Once upon a time, Kalevipoeg was ploughing with his horse by the Mägede village. He left the horse to eat and laid down to rest. Wolves came from Röövlioru valley and Hundiaugud pitfalls and killed Kalevipoeg’s white horse. The animal’s body turned into a mountain that is now known as Valgehobusemägi. Ridges that look like the legs of a horse lead down from the hill. A little further in the forest, there are furrows ploughed by Kalevipoeg.”
In 1997, Albu rural municipality government began to build the Valgehobusemägi ski and leisure centre with a goal to establish a year-round recreational sports centre for everyone interested.