Lahemaa National Park in Estonia won 3rd place in the Culture & Tradition category at the Green Destinations Top 100 Story Awards 2026 for transforming abandoned Soviet-era military sites, including the Hara submarine base, into a heritage tourism attraction. Working with a private investor and heritage authorities, the park cleared hazardous waste, stabilised structures, and added guided tours while training former residents as local storytellers, and the site now draws nearly 15,000 visitors a year and supports 35 seasonal jobs.

Beyond the tourism numbers, the initiative has helped extend the season into spring and autumn and eased pressure on the park's most crowded hiking trails by rerouting some routes to connect with the new heritage sites. The park has since earned the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas certificate and reached platinum level under the Green Destinations criteria.

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