2016City of Otepää, 900th Anniversary - First Day Cover

The Otepää municipality is in the Valga County, 1180 km2, lies on in the Otepää heights. The population of the municipality is 3962 (01.01.16s) and the general territory is 217 km2. Characteristic to Otepää is a rolling morain landscape with numerous lakes (ca 55). The biggest lake is Lake Pühajärv, the highest peaks are Kuutsemägi (217 m) and Harimägi (212m). Otepää lies the highest among Estonian cities, up to 152 meters above sea level. The 22 430 hectare Otepää Nature Park established for the protection of the peculiar and valuable landscane, which encompasses most of the territory of the municipality. The arms of Otepää carry bear's head (oti pea) which has come from the bear head stronghold hill. Otepää is known throughout Estonia as its winter capital. It is possible here to go in for winter sports -- there are skiing and hiking tracks, Munamägi and Kuutsemägi, Otepää Winterplace, Tehvandi and Kääriku sports centers and many more exciting things. Otepää's history is rich in numerous events. Quite a few well-known public figures have been born here. Otepää was first mentioned in 1116 in Novgorod Chronicles when the Novogord prince Mstislav came to a war path into these areas. On June 1884 the first Estonian blue, black and white flag was consecrated at Otepää and thus Otepää could be counted to be the cradle of the Estonian flag. But on April 1 1936 Otepää was granted city rights. In 2016 Otepää will mark with honor the 80th anniversary of granting town rights to Otepää and the 900th anniversary first mention of the first mention of the place.