Gogland

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Gogland, also known as Hogland, is a Russian island in the Gulf of Finland in the eastern Baltic Sea. It lies about 180 kilometers (110 miles) west of Saint Petersburg and about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the coast of Finland near Kotka.

Geography and administration
- Size: about 11 km long and 1.5–3 km wide, area ~21 square kilometers
- Highest point: 173 meters
- Location: Kingiseppsky District, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; time zone Moscow Time (UTC+3)
- Landscape: mostly forested with five lakes

Names
- Swedish: Högland, meaning “Highland”
- Finnish/Estonian: Suursaari / Suursaar, meaning “large island”
- Russian: Gogland, derived from the Swedish name

Population and access
- Today the population is very small, mainly serving military posts, a weather station, and two lighthouses
- Since 2006, Gogland has been a border area, so foreign visitors need special permits

History at a glance
- Inhabited by Finns for centuries and long part of Sweden; later claimed by the Russian Empire after the Great Northern War
- A lighthouse was built in 1723
- Site of the 1788 Battle of Hogland off its coast
- In the 19th–20th centuries it played roles in wars and naval action
- World War II saw heavy fortifications and shifting control; after the war it became Soviet
- Much of the island was abandoned after WWII, leaving forests and few settlements

Wildlife and environment
- Notable species include the European mink (critically endangered), velvet scoter (globally vulnerable), and several near-threatened birds such as the pond bat, Eurasian oystercatcher, and northern lapwing

Landmarks and features
- Two lighthouses and some military facilities
- The hill Mäkiinpäällys is part of the Struve Geodetic Arc since 1826
- The scenery is rugged with several lakes, but biodiversity is limited

Climate
- Humid continental climate with maritime influence from the Gulf of Finland

Gogland remains a sparsely populated, historically rich island with fortifications from past wars and limited access for visitors due to its border-area status.