Why Are There Megaphones in This Estonian Forest? | Atlas Obscura

Deep in a forest that’s three hours from Estonia’s capital, is a hidden acoustic wonder: three megaphones clustered together in an art installation known as RUUP. The megaphones act as amplifiers to enhance the sounds of the waving trees and birds singing, and listeners are invited to come to the center of the clearing to experience a unique surround sound effect reflecting the sounds of Estonia’s Võru County forest.
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[@Gaming4Justice]

Just over three hours from capital? I don't know why that remark was important cause that's like on the other side of the country lmao.

[@siimtulev1759]

Estonia is small country

[@LordArioh]

'just over 3 hours from Estonia's capital..' yeap, that's pretty much the farthest you can get within the country without crossing any border.

[@alexsyld5410]

Haha sama, võinud kohe õelda et Läti piiri lähedal

[@AstronauticaX]

😂

[@GilbertFeathers]

They should have just said south Estonia, everyone calls it South Estonia

[@switch9561]

Bruh that's right actually more like 7 hours. I know its a small country and I live in it!

[@GilbertFeathers]

@@switch9561 7 hours? I've been from Tallinn to Võru with like 5 hours - qwq

[@jwbarnhartmusic]

Sleeping in a megaphone? Last thing we need is my snoring amplified.

[@jevgeniardassov]

😂

[@Nathan-qx8mb]

💀😂😂

[@KristjanKo]

eesti jõuk where u at?

[@Martwall69]

Seisan sinuga ühes 😁

[@guul66]

koguneme hiiel

[@karlgerhardkevvai9042]

@@guul66 millisel?

[@ergoaia.nolifeprod.2830]

Ise ei teadnudki et sääne koht olemas

[@guul66]

@@karlgerhardkevvai9042iga üks oma esivanemate hiiel

[@skarrambo1]

I love Bridget's presenting - it's the perfect balance of BBC journalism and KZbin vlogging

[@pepevonkek7803]

BBC- what do you mean? Hint of pedophilia?

[@bethroesch2156]

This makes me want to go for a walk in the Estonian forest.

[@atlasobscura]

Same, honestly.

[@bun04y]

it is really beautiful there. I did not see these when I was there last summer...guess that I'll have to go back.

[@Rihodejaneiro]

You're welcomed here :)

[@a47_erik17]

I live In Estonia and behind my house is forest I can go there every day.

[@swagstar332]

You should definetly come!

[@philc494]

Extremely well-produced, edited, and interesting video. Would love to see more of this host (Bridget)!

[@Croidy]

I live in Estonia. This is the first time I've ever heard about it. I should go there.

[@Bruh-jr2ep]

@Chertofer Aulik Miks sä päriset?

[@kristjantagel3177]

Google has picked up that I live in Estonia

[@etta5487]

I just got back from Estonia two days ago. KZbin knows all.

[@Phantogram2]

I only drove thru Estonia and this got recommended.. Damn you google, stop spying on me.

[@xColdshek]

apparently I live in Estonia too and didnt know

[@igug124]

Google has picked up that Iive in Estonia and that I am camping...

[@jumalAnni]

I just realised that ruup backwards is puur aka ‘cage’ (also ‘drill’). (But ruup comes from ruupor aka ‘megaphone’, of course. Etymologically from Dutch through Russian.)

[@melchizedekpsj]

A hike or even a walk with nature always does wonders.

[@Phantogram2]

Everyone: Destroys forests Estonia: Builds huge megaphones to listen to forests.

[@saintkamikaze]

There's actually a remarkable deforestation happening here too in recent years.

[@ectokidplayz9184]

lol that's good xD

[@ajgesualdo]

Beautiful footage. Makes me want to visit! The host is really engaging/fun (I loved the singing.)

[@ikaufma1]

Would love if she brought an Estonian person to come along and show her around, even one of the students who produced those megaphones. Who better to know about this stuff than the locals!

[@pepevonkek7803]

Locals were busy sacrificing animals for Satan in this pagan forest.

[@sandra-merystasa1241]

Lol isegi mina ei teadnud, et meie VÄGA LAHEDAS Eestis on mingi megaphoned lambi metsas...

[@GilbertFeathers]

Ma ka ei teadnud seda XD

[@kohuke5590]

Sama

[@juri9276]

99% ei tea... Need suht mõtetud asjad ju.

[@GilbertFeathers]

@@juri9276 Suured pikad majad on ka mõtetud. Kunagi suudeti autoteta elada. Püramiidid on mõtetud. On palju asju mis on tegelikult "mõtetu" ja milleta saaks elada, aga see teeb elu kergemaks või lihtsalt ilusamaks. Las nad olla, mõni oleks huvitatud, need ei tee kellelegile haiget. Kunagi saavad arheoloogi neid näha, kunagi on see ajalooline asi.

[@Bruh-jr2ep]

@@GilbertFeathers Sinäkään et tajunnut sitä?

[@raeperonneau4941]

The sounds of nature are amazingly soothing to the soul. If these help...why not.

[@marcev4126]

Keep the trees and forest forever dear Estonia!

[@wagemannpappe9255]

This is spooky and gorgeous. Love the new presenter!

[@josephmath6190]

Nice to hear you visited there thank you 〽😎

[@Kimmaline]

Well, this just hit my bucket list. Wow! I have recently lost most of the hearing in my left ear because of a brain condition I have, and so now I am really curious how this would work differently for me, since I don't benefit from stereophonic hearing. I also wanted to mention that I simply love the subtle differences in editing on this one from past videos. Just brilliant. It worked so well to have a slightly more playful transition between each shot in a set of images, when talking about something so peaceful and steeped in nature. Brava!

[@atlasobscura]

We'll pass the compliments on to the team-thank you! :) And let us know if you do visit-we'd love to hear from you.

[@Kimmaline]

@@atlasobscura My 6yo swears that we are going to start our own KZbin channel when she is bigger; she wants the world to know that even disabled people like her Momma like to travel places all over the world and have what she calls our "grand adventures". She swears that we will be professional explorers and get to show people lots of cool places. (This is what happens when you strap a kiddo to your chest and travel all over from the time they are tiny, I guess?) I couldn't have less interest in making/editing videos, so if she shows a knack for it, I'll be sure to let you know. 😘

[@atlasobscura]

@@Kimmaline Oh, we LOVE this! Wow. Love the energy and vibes from your young explorer :)

[@pepevonkek7803]

Chillax

[@NicholasTack]

This is so cool! Awesome sound design. Thanks!

[@dxddee1112]

Thank's for the video, we love it when foreign channels and media cover Estonia once in a while.

[@anettelismannil3473]

Fr half of the ppl who watch this are probably estonians being exited abt the fact sb made a video that involves our country

[@zinc_ave]

I love estonian and this is one of the reasons why

[@_gettry_]

Welcome to Estonia! ♥️🇪🇪

[@Bruh-jr2ep]

Kiitos❤

[@_gettry_]

❤

[@KaylamalonegarzaBlountCoTN]

Okay so I’m thinking a shroom trip to here would CLEANSE MY WHOLE SOUL ❤😊

[@antonenero]

Thats beauteful place wow

[@PersonManManManMan]

This makes me wanna visit Estonia again. Hello from Latvia 🇱🇻🤚

[@kulnokaiklem]

JuliusRou канал хорошии из Эстонии. Хийумаа, Кяру WKAD канал из Эстонии был в Латвии.

[@milescallan9349]

DO you have a playlist for the lovely music you used in this video? Thanks.

[@alina4727]

your voice this is amazing 😍

[@stuckntrfk]

The singing, leaves much to be desired. Go cook something.

[@detkr420]

Bright side tegi ka eestist video estonia is Small BUT WHY SO POPULAR

[@harrissilver9491]

Sest et science

[@jeffj1120]

I had no idea I wanted to visit Estonia until now :-)

[@juliamagi5340]

Ugh this is why I love my home country

[@martiziukman8640]

Kes on eestlane vajutagu 👍 nuppu!!!

[@pepevonkek7803]

Ma ei saa- ma Olen elevanditorus

[@Panda21F9N8VUSUCKACUCK09G0]

Mine vittu, ei vajuta ma mingit nuppu

[@pepevonkek7803]

@@Panda21F9N8VUSUCKACUCK09G0 tubli poiss! Anna jõuga lõuga kui veel käsutama kipub.

[@samuel-larcher]

i need to go to estonia now :P

[@phjeeteri]

I know I'm young but I own a forest that's 6 hectares. and yes, in võru.

[@alexsyld5410]

Or your parent do?

[@bloggerpillai]

I would rather listen in at the smaller side of the megaphone. In fact redesign the concept that way, as someone else mentioned below.

[@jamesodin8751]

They need to put all the small ends towards the center ,yes I agree with you!!

[@and3987]

I live in Estonia🇪🇪

[@ojagetabelifestyle4010]

It's beautiful.

[@gregleonard1562]

To listen for wolves. Or Van Morrison singing "listen to the lion" or Russian bears growling over the border, or the ghosts of those Estonians banished to the gulag.

[@AHHEUS]

xD they noticed us

[@kiluvoileib7756]

Haahahahah ur literally everywhere

[@AHHEUS]

@@kiluvoileib7756???

[@kiluvoileib7756]

@@AHHEUS i see u in every estonian video

[@AHHEUS]

@@kiluvoileib7756 u see this peofile pick i think

[@kiluvoileib7756]

@@AHHEUS with the same name?

[@bishnudas394]

Beautiful video🙂

[@QkyGaming]

wait wtf im from estonia and i know nothing about it

[@harrissilver9491]

Qky suht sama

[@Priidik1524]

I LIVE IN ESTONIA

[@clownman2594]

Aleksander Kärg ok

[@juri9276]

k

[@Helisepp]

Wow

[@kristotikerpuu4598]

Thank you

[@pepe0999]

Epicc i live here and i didnt know

[@shortsman7791]

i am form india ,and i love her face

[@porgandipuree]

I live in estonia but i didn't know about these meghaphones...😶

[@alvinlepik5265]

well, I didn't know we had these things :D

[@drifzyy67]

Eestis on imelikud asjad. Tartus on maja mis on valedpidi. Estonia had wierd stuff. In Tartu there is a house that's upside down.

[@ectokidplayz9184]

wait really, I never noticed xD

[@prestongarvey1857]

I figured the answer was just "Because it's Estonia." That nation has a very.... interesting population of people living there I don't know if the water has drugs in it or what.

[@lauraliis06]

Nope its just very small

[@b4tm4n4we3om3]

I found out AO from Vox and damn how come KZbin never recommended this channel to me

[@atlasobscura]

Either way, we're glad you're here with us! :)

[@switch9561]

Finally, keegi did a video Eestist!

Finally, someone did a video about Estonia Ehk Robloxi asemel õpiksid inglise keelt?

[@tangerinelover69]

"The cellphone reception is spotty at best", but I thought Estonian forests had WIFI?!

[@pinkyrng7104]

That area is almost at latvian border, we wouldn't want them to use our free wifi

[@tangerinelover69]

@@pinkyrng7104 yes obviously we wouldn't want to share our free WiFi which we totally got with the six toed potato people.

[@ectokidplayz9184]

the Estonian joke ayyyyyyyyyyyy (lisa varvas aka extra toe)

[@gregv2821]

If the objective for the placement of those things is to amplify sound while you're standing in the middle of them, whoever the genius is that placed them like that needs to go back to school -- elementary school. A 6-year old knows that the large opening of a megaphone-shaped object is going to catch the sound and funnel it to the small tapered end. The three objects should be placed very closely together with all of the small, tapered ends a few feet apart. It's sad that this fact seems to have been lost on so many people watching this as well as the people who produced this video.

[@cailinsypher4999]

Run if you hear footsteps and one of the megaphone are gone

[@IrishWannabe]

1:26 mis kuradi pähni ? Kus see veel on?

[@TimpBizkit]

Mount some subwoofers in them and have the ultimate free party

[@pekesrepose7363]

they're all backwards. turn them 180 degrees and move them all within 10' and you'll hear. if consult the project manager on this one. lol

[@jbrooksci]

Thank you. I was thinking the whole time I was watching it they are facing the wrong way. The small ends need to be facing the central point and that's where the noise should be amplified. How could a whole class/country/village not be aware of that.

[@blameese]

Peke's Repose it’s specifically to amplify/echo the sound to the middle of the three structures. The sound isn’t coming through the smaller holes, rather bouncing into the larger hole and back out into the center.

[@jbrooksci]

@@blameese All righty.. I was thinking about the acoustics relating to an ear trumphet as opposed to megaphone acoustics.. my bad.

[@pekesrepose7363]

will someone just marry me already lol

[@blameese]

julie b I really want to see if that would work. I bet it can also work that way too especially because the sound is still directed toward the small hole. You could probably just stick your head in and it would be loud.

[@kertsiispool5099]

I live in estonia

[@egonkukk5863]

Koik ma lahen minema

[@dipankarmallick5543]

well...can I get the fine internet signal there...if I be there not without my smartphone.

[@erikg007]

Why isn't she listening behind the cone?

[@magianegra2765]

Can you visit Estonias city Tapa

[@SirLobsterPie]

Jah palju õhgu im from esonia

[@MichaelChiklisCares]

Im another mother from another brother , from estonia.

[@udopleis]

👍🏼👍🏿👍🏾

[@janarlukats]

weird to get to know your country from a random youtube video

[@TheCodeConnoisseur]

It's the mother from how I met your mother

[@ingeland8928]

Jah nii teree lol i live in Estonia hahah

[@juri9276]

Kedagi ei huvita

[@austinwattanaskolpant1401]

Bart's cult

[@MateoQuixote]

Lmao 3:15 it won't do anything if you speak from literally inside

[@martparnaste6482]

mida vitu

[@reinjaagup733]

Kas sa oled asperger

[@yoozoh]

võru maa eesti maa

[@JJONNYREPP]

Why Are There Megaphones in This Estonian Forest? | Atlas Obscura 2048pm 18.4.23 usually when im swathed in melancholic pathos do i stick these skits on you tube and watch...... actually i aint seen atlas obscura skits for a while. i used to read the newsletter but... i dunno. i think atlas obscura could easily challenge vice re: weird and wonderful... and the downright obscure...

[@MrMaff12345]

Eestlane subib mind ja ma vastu

[@siretkakko7976]

Lol ma elan eestis ja siis lampi näen neid asju ühes suvalises eesti metsas🤣🤣

[@vpodobaev]

I like you, Bridget! 😊 It seems your english got some slight russian accent. Can't get rid of this feeling. Maybe genetics influence an accent? 😊

[@vpodobaev]

@@gregleonard1562 Yes, you're right. She's from NY. But her DNA is half-russian. And she knows russian not bad! She has learned it! Russian is a hard language. So I admire her very much! 😊

[@juri9276]

Where tf do you hear the Russian accent?

[@vpodobaev]

@@juri9276 That was a joke. Take it easy.

[@Priidik1524]

MA ELAN EEISTIS SEE ON ILUS KOHT

[@headcord1294]

Tead, toppi mingi valju 300-400 wattine speaker selle megaphonist sisse, ning ühenda bluetoothiga ära ning pangu mingi kõva eest räppi.

[@clownman2594]

Vabanda mind, aga see on kõige sittem idee mis ma olen näinud siin kommentaarides.

[@Lozzaaa]

I have been there cuz i had a school trip we even drank CRYSTAL clear water aka the clearest water in estonia btw i live in estonia

[@reinjaagup733]

Vot see juba läheb

[@johannaparnpuu7108]

Miks te võrus käisite.

[@Zwedgy]

@@herman8256 see ei ole mikrofon lol

Miks mitte

[@tomsaunins1]

Its full of mosquitos, you don’t really hear any amplification, good idea

[@karlpoder8830]

Oot on v?

[@agility7324]

Karu gäng

[@clownman2594]

ei

[@Lilliz91]

Estonia is hugely very similar to Finland.

[@lauraliis06]

Not that much tbh i used to live in estonia but i moved to finland and everything is VERY different

[@clownman2594]

You gotta admit that the language’s are a bit similar though, Laura.

[@juri9276]

You got the wrong order... Finand is similar to Estonia*

[@lauraliis06]

@@clownman2594 just a tiny bit yea

[@Ронд-ц7х]

Бриджит ! Ты прексный ведущий.))

[@whiterose7926]

tere

[@akarpowicz]

Would like less footage of the reporter and more footage of the area.

[@TimmmTim]

pretentious

[@n_y_0_n38]

You call this a forest? 😂😂

[@davideastburn2783]

I wish she wouldn't talk as much so we could listen to the ambient sounds of nature

[@keith2957]

This is such a millennial video 🤣

[@michaelsolis1390]

Boring really

[@IvanusPrime]

put this girl on your thumbnail and boost your view/like/sub count you're welcome

[@Ben-vt8ne]

Wow, how...unnecessary. Just can't leave nature as it is. They honestly HAD to make the woods LOUDER? Stupid.

[@johannasaska8492]

Well some animals could use it as a shelter

[@clownman2594]

Ben, it’s called art.

[@sharong8511]

Just found your channel yesterday though I’ve been reading your posts on Facebook for a couple of years. Liked, subscribed, and commented. 👍👍