[EST]
Kaunissaaret on piiskopimõisana esmamainitud 1326. aastal (Kaunizaar). Tõenäoliselt tekkis mõis sinna varasemalt rajatud veskikohta, kuna sealne kärestikuline, kiire vooluga ning arvukate käärude ja soppidega jõgi oli selleks sobiv. Mõis ning vesiveski säilisid seal veel sajandeid, kuni 19. sajandil ehitati Kaunissaare veski ümber puupapivabrikuks ning seejärel 1950. aastal elektrijaamaks, mis omakorda 1970. aastal jäi seisma ning nüüdseks on rekonstrueeritud eramuks.
1980\. aastate algul rajati sinna Kaunissaare veehoidla, mille eesmärk oli suunata Soodla ja Jägala jõe vett Pirita jõkke ja sealt edasi Ülemiste järve, varustamaks Tallinna joogiveega. Veehoidla ehitamisega kadus senine kääruline jõgi ja saared, mis nüüdseks on tasandatud ja üle ujutatud. Uus sild rajati ca kilomeeter allavoolu veehoidla suudme (tammi) juurde.
Veehoidla pindala kokku on 30.4 ha, millest 0.5 ha kuulub kahele saarele. Ühele neist on keegi paigutanud ka bussipeatuse, mille külastamise saab nüüdsest siduda geopeitusega.
Aardeni pääseb ujudes, mõnda vee peal liikumiseks mõeldud vahendit kasutades ning korraliku talve korral ka üle jää tulles. Tegemist on küll mitteavaliku veekoguga, kuid lähenemist veele pole tõkestatud ning sanitaarkaitseala kaarti jälgides saab saarele ilusti läheneda. Maanteeäärses osas on ka ettenähtud ujumiskoht.
[ENG]
Kaunissaare was first mentioned as a bishop's manor in 1326 (Kaunizaar). It’s probable that the manor was built on the site of a mill built there earlier, because the rapid, fast-flowing river with numerous bends and mudflats was suitable for that purpose. The manor and the watermill remained there for centuries, until in the 19th century the Kaunissaare mill was rebuilt into a wood cardboard factory and then in 1950 into a power plant, which in turn was stopped in 1970 and has now been reconstructed as a private house.
In the beginning of 1980’s the Kaunissaare reservoir was built there, the aim of which was to divert the water of the Soodla and Jägala rivers to the Pirita river and from there to Lake Ülemiste to supply Tallinn with drinking water. With the construction of the reservoir, the former winding river and islands disappeared, which have now been leveled and flooded. A new bridge was built about a kilometer downstream at the mouth of the reservoir (dam).
The total area of the reservoir is 30.4 ha, of which 0.5 ha belongs to two islands. Someone has placed a bus stop on one of them, the visit of which can now be associated with geocaching.
The cache can be reached by swimming, using some means of moving on the water, and in case of a proper winter by going over the ice. It’s a non-public water body, but access to the water has not been blocked, and by following the map of the sanitary protection area, you can approach the island nicely. There is also a swimming area on the roadside.
