[2] It is located about 14 km (9 mi) northeast of the centre of Tallinn, situated on the northern end of the Viimsi Peninsula.

The island of Aegna, which administratively belongs to Tallinn, is located about 1.5 km northwest of Rohuneeme.

It has been known as a point for pirates to ambush the Novgorodian merchant ships which brought valuable goods to Tallinn.

According to one hypothesis, the strait could have been the location of the battle at Iron Gate in 1032, mentioned in Russian chronicles.

In battle, which though is usually located to northern Russia, Novgorodians led by Ulf Ragvaldsson suffered heavy loss.