Kalamaja

{{Short description|Subdistrict of Tallinn, Estonia}}

{{Expand Estonian|Kalamaja|topic=geo|date=July 2010}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Kalamaja

| settlement_type = Subdistrict of Tallinn

| image_skyline = Salme_Street,_Tallinn_(2020-05-22).jpg

| imagesize =

| image_caption = Typical wooden apartment buildings in Kalamaja.

| image_map = Tallinn kalamaja asum.png

| map_caption = Kalamaja within Põhja-Tallinn.

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Estonia}}

| subdivision_type1 = County

| subdivision_name1 = 24px Harju County

| subdivision_type2 = City

| subdivision_name2 = 24px Tallinn

| subdivision_type3 = District

| subdivision_name3 = 24px Põhja-Tallinn

| area_total_km2 =

| population_total = 9820

| population_as_of = 01.01.2015

| population_density_km2 =

| postal_code =

| website =

}}

Kalamaja (Estonian for Fish House; {{langx|de|Fischermay}}) is a subdistrict of the district of Põhja-Tallinn (Northern Tallinn) in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It is located just northwest of the historical town centre, on the coast of the Tallinn Bay. Kalamaja has a population of 9,820 ({{as of|2015|01|01}}).{{cite web|title=Statistical Yearbook of Tallinn 2015|url=http://www.tallinn.ee/est/Tallinn-arvudes-2015-2|publisher=Tallinn City Government|access-date=25 October 2015|page=38|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119212926/http://www.tallinn.ee/est/Tallinn-arvudes-2015-2|archive-date=19 November 2015|url-status=dead}}

Kalamaja is one of the best preserved wooden architecture areas in Tallinn and Estonia. The quiet neighbourhood has long been known for its colourful hodgepodge of old fashioned, working class houses.

Throughout most of Tallinn's history Kalamaja served as the city's main fishing harbour. Starting from the 14th century the area was traditionally dominated by fishermen, fishmongers and boat wrights. A new era began in 1870, when Tallinn was connected to Saint Petersburg by railroad. The Tallinn railway station (Balti jaam), was built between Kalamaja and the city centre. Suddenly enormous factories started to sprout up in this part of town, and they brought with them an influx of thousands of new workers. The wooden houses, which have become Kalamaja's architectural legacy, were built to accommodate these workers.{{cite web|title=Wooden houses & Bohemian charm|url=http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/fpage/explore/attractions/kalamaja|publisher=Tallinn City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau|access-date=9 June 2013}}

Most of the Kalamaja's main sightseeings are located on the coast of Kalamaja. In 2011 a former railway embankment was converted into a walking trail called "Culture Kilometre" (Kultuurikilomeeter). The walk-way starts next to the Tallinn harbour passes the Creative Hub (Kultuurikatel), continues past the historic Patarei Prison and Sea Fortress, the region's biggest sea centre Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam) and ends at the end of Kalamaja park on Tööstuse street.{{cite web|title=Kultuurikilomeeter (Culture Kilometre)|url=http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/fpage/explore/attractions/kalamaja#!p_177341|publisher=Tallinn City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau|access-date=9 June 2013}} In 2015, the former Kultuurikilomeeter was converted into a street, which quickly became one of the defining streets of the neighbourhood.