The Republic is a state in the north-west of Eastern Europe. In the north it is washed by the Gulf of Finland, in the west by the Baltic Sea. In the east the country borders with Russia, including Lake Peipsi, and in the south with Latvia. Estonia owns more than 1,500 islands, the largest of which are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.

The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the people - Estonians.

Official name: Republic of Estonia

Capital:

Territory area: 45,226 sq. km

Total Population: 1.3 ml. people

Administrative division: Estonia is divided into 15 maakunds (counties) and 6 centrally subordinate cities.

Form of government: Parliamentary republic.

Head of State: President, elected by parliament for a 5-year term.

Population composition: 65% are Estonians, 28.1% are Russians, 2.5% are Ukrainians, 1.5% are Belarusians, 1% are Finns, 1.6% are others.

Official language: Estonian. The language of communication of most non-Estonians is Russian.

Religion: 80% are Lutherans, 18% are Orthodox.

Internet domain: .ee

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +372

Country barcode: 474

Climate

Moderate, transitional from sea to continental: along the Baltic coast - sea, far from the sea - closer to temperate continental. The average air temperature in January is -4-7 C, in July +15-17 C. Precipitation falls up to 700 mm. per year, mainly in the autumn-winter period (late summer is also often rainy). Due to the influence of sea air masses, the weather is quite changeable and can often change several times a day, especially in spring and autumn.

Thanks to the shallow water, the water in the sea and lakes quickly warms up and in July reaches +20-24 C; the beach season lasts from the beginning of June to the end of August. The best time to visit the country is from early May to mid-September.

Geography

A state in the northeastern part of Europe, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. It borders with Latvia in the south and Russia in the east. In the north it is washed by the Gulf of Finland, in the west by the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea.

The country's territory includes more than 1,500 islands (10% of Estonia's territory), the largest of which are Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormen, Naisaar, Aegna, Prangli, Kihnu, Ruhnu, Abruka and Vilsandi.

The relief is predominantly flat. Most of the country is a flat moraine plain covered with forests (almost 50% of the territory), swamps and peatlands (almost 25% of the territory). Only in the north and in the central part of the country does the Pandivere hill stretch (up to 166 m on the town of Emumägi), and in the south-eastern part of the country there is a narrow strip of hilly hills (up to 318 m on the town of Suur-Munamägi). The lake network is also extensive - more than 1 thousand moraine lakes. The total area of ​​the country is about 45.2 thousand square meters. km. is the northernmost and smallest of the Baltic states.

Flora and fauna

Flora

Estonia is located in a zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. Few indigenous forests remain. The most fertile soddy-carbonate soils, on which broad-leaved forests once grew, are now occupied by arable land. In total, about 48% of the country's area is under forests. The most typical forest-forming species are Scots pine, Norway spruce, warty and downy birch, aspen, as well as oak, maple, ash, elm, and linden. The undergrowth includes mountain ash, bird cherry, and willow. Less commonly, mainly in the west, yew berry, wild apple tree, Scandinavian rowan and aria, blackthorn, and hawthorn are found in the undergrowth.

Forests are most widespread in the east of the country - in central and southern Estonia, where they are represented by spruce forests and mixed spruce-broadleaf forests. Pine forests grow on sandy soils in the southeast of the country. In western Estonia, large areas are occupied by distinctive landscapes - a combination of dry meadows with areas of sparse forests. Meadow vegetation is widespread in the north-west and north of the country. The low-lying, periodically flooded coastal strip is occupied by coastal meadows. Specific flora that tolerate soil salinity are widespread here.

The territory of Estonia is very swampy. Swamps (mostly lowland) are common in the valleys of the Pärnu, Emajõgi, Põltsamaa, Pedya rivers, along the shores of lakes Peipus and Pskov. Raised bogs are confined to the main watershed of Estonia. To the north of Lake Peipsi, swampy forests are widespread.

The flora of Estonia includes 1,560 species of flowering plants, gymnosperms and ferns. Of these, approximately three quarters of the species are concentrated in the western coastal regions and islands. The flora of mosses (507 species), lichens (786 species), mushrooms (about 2500 species), and algae (more than 1700 species) is distinguished by a great diversity of species.

Animal world

The species diversity of wild fauna is low - approx. 60 species of mammals. The most numerous species are moose (about 7,000 individuals), roe deer (43,000), hares, and wild boars (11,000). In the 1950s–1960s, the deer, red deer, and raccoon dog were introduced. The largest forest areas in many parts of Estonia are home to brown bear (approx. 800 individuals) and lynx (approx. 1000 individuals). The forests are also home to foxes, pine martens, badgers, and squirrels. Wood ferret, ermine, weasel are common, and European mink and otter are found along the banks of reservoirs. The hedgehog, shrew, and mole are very common.

Coastal waters abound with game animals such as the ringed seal (in the Gulf of Riga and the West Estonian archipelago) and the long-snout seal (in the Gulf of Finland).

The most diverse avifauna. It numbers 331 species, of which 207 species breed permanently in Estonia (about 60 live all year round). The most numerous are capercaillie and hazel grouse (in coniferous forests), woodcock (in swamps), black grouse (in forest clearings), coot, bittern, rail, warblers, mallards and other ducks (on lakes and the sea coast), as well as tawny owl, woodpeckers, larks, kestrel.

Rare bird species such as the white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, short-eared snake eagle, greater and lesser spotted eagle, osprey, white and black stork, and gray crane are protected. The common eider, tufted duck, shoveler, merganser, scoter, gray goose, and gulls nest on the islands of the western archipelago. Birds are especially numerous during spring and autumn mass flights to summer nesting sites or wintering in tropical countries.

There are 3 species of lizards and 2 species of snakes, including the common viper.

More than 70 species of fish live in fresh reservoirs and coastal waters (carp, salmon, smelt, vendace, whitefish, bream, roach, perch, pike perch, burbot, trout, crucian carp, tench, carp, herring, sprat, cod, flounder, whitefish, eel, etc.). Many of them are of commercial importance.

In general, Estonia is characterized by a careful attitude towards nature. In order to study it, preserve the gene pool and protect landscapes, several national parks and state reserves and sanctuaries have been created. In total, approximately 10% of Estonia's territory is protected. In 1995, parliament adopted a law on the sustainable development of the country, and in 1996 the government approved a strategy for environmental protection.

Attractions

Tourists come to Estonia primarily to get acquainted with the ancient and unique culture of this country, attend the wonderful song performances for which this land is so famous, and also relax at the seaside resorts of the Baltic coast.

Banks and currency

The monetary unit is the euro (coins 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 euro cents, 1 and 2 euros; banknotes 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 euros).

Banks are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00 and on Saturday mornings.

Currency exchange offices are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00, on Saturdays - from 9:00 to 15:00. Some exchange offices are also open on Sunday.

Useful information for tourists

Of interest to tourists are primarily the numerous shops selling folk art, handicrafts, jewelry, leather goods, souvenirs, and antiques. These stores are located mainly in the old parts of cities and are usually open from 9.00 to 18.00. In large cities, department stores and supermarkets are open until 20.00. Many shops are also open on Sundays. Recently, chain stores with 24-hour opening hours have appeared.

In restaurants, hotels and taxis, tips are included in the cost of services. But you have the right to reward the service staff additionally for good service.

The history of Estonia begins with the oldest settlements on its territory, which appeared 10,000 years ago. were found near Pulli near modern Pärnu. Finno-Ugric tribes from the east (most likely from the Urals) came centuries later (probably in 3500 BC), mixed with the local population and settled in what is now Estonia, Finland and Hungary. They liked the new lands and rejected the nomadic life that characterized most other European peoples for the next six millennia.

Early history of Estonia (briefly)

In the 9th and 10th centuries AD, Estonians were well aware of the Vikings, who seemed more interested in trade routes to Kyiv and Constantinople than in conquering the land. The first real threat came from Christian invaders from the west. Fulfilling papal calls for crusades against the northern pagans, Danish troops and German knights invaded Estonia, conquering Otepää Castle in 1208. The local inhabitants put up fierce resistance and it took more than 30 years before the entire territory was conquered. By the mid-13th century, Estonia was divided between Danish in the north and German in the south by the Teutonic Orders. The crusaders, rushing east, were stopped by Alexander Nevsky from Novgorod on the frozen Lake Peipsi.

The conquerors settled in new cities, transferring most of the power to the bishops. By the end of the 13th century, cathedrals had risen above Tallinn and Tartu, and Cistercian and Dominican monasteries had been built to evangelize and baptize the local population. Meanwhile, Estonians continued to rebel.

The most significant uprising began on the night of St. George (April 23), 1343. It was started by Danish-controlled Northern Estonia. The history of the country is marked by the plunder of the Cistercian monastery of Padise by the rebels and the murder of all its monks. They then besieged Tallinn and the bishop's castle in Haapsalu and called on the Swedes for help. Sweden did send naval reinforcements, but they arrived too late and were forced to turn back. Despite the determination of the Estonians, the uprising of 1345 was suppressed. The Danes, however, decided that they had enough and sold Estonia to the Livonian Order.

The first craft guilds and merchant guilds appeared in the 14th century, and many cities, such as Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi and Pärnu, flourished as members of the Hanseatic League. Cathedral of St. John's in Tartu with its terracotta sculptures is evidence of wealth and Western trade connections.

Estonians continued to practice pagan rites at weddings, funerals and nature worship, although by the 15th century these rites became interconnected with Catholicism and they received Christian names. In the 15th century, peasants lost their rights and by the beginning of the 16th they became serfs.

Reformation

The Reformation, which originated in Germany, reached Estonia in the 1520s with the first wave of Lutheran preachers. By the mid-16th century, the church was reorganized, and monasteries and churches came under the auspices of the Lutheran Church. In Tallinn, authorities closed the Dominican monastery (its impressive ruins remain); The Dominican and Cistercian monasteries in Tartu were closed.

Livonian War

In the 16th century, the greatest threat to Livonia (now Northern Latvia and Southern Estonia) came from the east. Ivan the Terrible, who proclaimed himself the first Tsar in 1547, pursued a policy of expansion to the west. Russian troops led by ferocious Tatar cavalry attacked in the Tartu region in 1558. The fighting was very brutal, the invaders left death and destruction in their path. Russia was joined by Poland, Denmark and Sweden, and periodic hostilities were fought throughout the 17th century. A brief overview of the history of Estonia does not allow us to dwell on this period in detail, but as a result, Sweden emerged victorious.

The war placed a heavy burden on the local population. In two generations (from 1552 to 1629), half the rural population died, about three-quarters of all farms were deserted, diseases such as plague, crop failure, and the ensuing famine increased the number of victims. Apart from Tallinn, every castle and fortified center of the country was plundered or destroyed, including Viljandi Castle, which was one of the strongest fortresses in Northern Europe. Some cities were completely destroyed.

Swedish period

After the war, Estonia's history was marked by a period of peace and prosperity under Swedish rule. Cities, thanks to trade, grew and prospered, helping the economy quickly recover from the horrors of war. Under Swedish rule, Estonia was united under a single ruler for the first time in history. By the mid-17th century, however, things began to deteriorate. An outbreak of plague and later the Great Famine (1695-97) killed 80 thousand people - almost 20% of the population. Sweden soon faced a threat from an alliance of Poland, Denmark and Russia, who sought to regain lands lost in the Livonian War. The invasion began in 1700. After some successes, including the defeat of Russian troops near Narva, the Swedes began to retreat. In 1708 Tartu was destroyed, and all survivors were sent to Russia. In 1710 Tallinn capitulated and Sweden was defeated.

Education

The history of Estonia as part of Russia began. This did not bring anything good to the peasants. The war and plague of 1710 claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people. Peter I abolished the Swedish reforms and destroyed any hopes of freedom for the surviving serfs. Attitudes towards them would not change until the Enlightenment at the end of the 18th century. Catherine II limited the privileges of the elite and carried out quasi-democratic reforms. But only in 1816 were the peasants finally freed from serfdom. They also received surnames, greater freedom of movement, and limited access to self-government. By the second half of the 19th century, the rural population began to purchase farmsteads and earn income from crops such as potatoes and flax.

National awakening

The end of the 19th century marked the beginning of a national awakening. Led by the new elite, the country was moving towards statehood. The first Estonian language newspaper, Perno Postimees, appeared in 1857. It was published by Johann Voldemar Jannsen, one of the first to use the term “Estonians” rather than maarahvas (rural population). Another influential thinker was Karl Robert Jacobson, who fought for equal political rights for Estonians. He also founded the first national political newspaper, Sakala.

Insurrection

Late 19th century became a period of industrialization, the emergence of large factories and an extensive network of railways connecting Estonia with Russia. Dire working conditions sparked discontent, and newly formed labor parties led demonstrations and strikes. Events in Estonia mirrored what was happening in Russia, and in January 1905 an armed uprising broke out. Tension grew until the fall of that year, when 20 thousand workers went on strike. The tsarist troops acted brutally, killing and wounding 200 people. Thousands of soldiers arrived from Russia to suppress the uprising. 600 Estonians were executed and hundreds were sent to Siberia. Trade unions and progressive newspapers and organizations were closed, and political leaders fled the country.

More radical plans to populate Estonia with thousands of Russian peasants thanks to the First World War were never realized. The country paid a high price for participating in the war. 100 thousand people were called up, of which 10 thousand died. Many Estonians went to fight because Russia promised to grant the country statehood for the victory over Germany. Of course it was a hoax. But by 1917, this issue was no longer decided by the tsar. Nicholas II was forced to abdicate the throne, and the Bolsheviks seized power. Chaos engulfed Russia, and Estonia, seizing the initiative, declared its independence on February 24, 1918.

Revolutionary War

Estonia faced threats from Russia and Baltic-German reactionaries. War broke out and the Red Army advanced rapidly, capturing half the country by January 1919. Estonia stubbornly defended itself and, with the help of British warships and Finnish, Danish and Swedish troops, defeated its longtime enemy. In December, Russia agreed to a truce, and on February 2, 1920, the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed, according to which it forever renounced claims to the territory of the country. For the first time, fully independent Estonia appeared on the world map.

The history of the state during this period is characterized by rapid economic development. The country used its natural resources and attracted investment from abroad. The University of Tartu became the university of Estonians, and the Estonian language became the language of international communication, creating new opportunities in the professional and academic spheres. A huge book industry emerged - between 1918 and 1940. 25 thousand book titles were published.

However, the political sphere was not so rosy. Fear of communist subversion, such as the failed coup attempt of 1924, led to right-wing leadership. In 1934, the leader of the transitional government, Konstantin Päts, together with the commander-in-chief of the Estonian army, Johan Laidoner, violated the Constitution and seized power under the pretext of protecting democracy from extremist groups.

The fate of the state was sealed when Nazi Germany and the USSR entered into a secret pact in 1939, essentially handing it over to Stalin. Members of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation organized a fictitious uprising and, on behalf of the people, demanded that Estonia be included in the USSR. President Päts, General Laidoner and other leaders were arrested and sent to Soviet camps. A puppet government was created, and on August 6, 1940, it granted Estonia’s “request” to join the USSR.

Deportations and World War II devastated the country. Tens of thousands were conscripted and sent to work and die in labor camps in northern Russia. Thousands of women and children shared their fate.

When Soviet troops fled under enemy pressure, Estonians hailed the Germans as liberators. 55 thousand people joined self-defense units and Wehrmacht battalions. However, Germany had no intention of granting Estonia statehood and viewed it as occupied territory of the Soviet Union. Hopes were dashed after the execution of the collaborators. 75 thousand people were shot (of which 5 thousand were ethnic Estonians). Thousands fled to Finland, and those who remained were drafted into the German army (about 40 thousand people).

At the beginning of 1944, Soviet troops bombed Tartu and other cities. The complete destruction of Narva was an act of revenge against the “Estonian traitors.”

German troops retreated in September 1944. Fearing the advance of the Red Army, many Estonians also fled and about 70 thousand ended up in the West. By the end of the war, every 10th Estonian lived abroad. In total, the country lost more than 280 thousand people: in addition to those who emigrated, 30 thousand were killed in battle, the rest were executed, sent to camps or destroyed in concentration camps.

After the war, the state was immediately annexed by the Soviet Union. Estonia's history is marred by a period of repression, with thousands tortured or sent to prisons and camps. 19,000 Estonians were executed. Farmers were brutally forced into collectivization, and thousands of migrants poured into the country from different regions of the USSR. Between 1939 and 1989 the percentage of native Estonians decreased from 97 to 62%.

In response to repression, a partisan movement was organized in 1944. 14 thousand “forest brothers” armed themselves and went underground, working in small groups throughout the country. Unfortunately, their actions were not successful, and by 1956 the armed resistance was virtually destroyed.

But the dissident movement was gaining strength, and on the day of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Stalin-Hitler Pact, a large rally was held in Tallinn. Over the next few months, protests escalated, with Estonians demanding the restoration of statehood. Song festivals have become powerful means of struggle. The largest of them took place in 1988, when 250 thousand Estonians gathered at the Singing Field in Tallinn. This attracted great international attention to the situation in the Baltic states.

In November 1989, the Supreme Council of Estonia declared the events of 1940 an act of military aggression and declared them illegal. In 1990, the country held free elections. Despite Russia's attempts to prevent this, Estonia regained its independence in 1991.

Modern Estonia: history of the country (briefly)

In 1992, the first general elections were held under the new Constitution, with the participation of new political parties. The Pro Patria Union won by a slight margin. Its leader, 32-year-old historian Mart Laar, became prime minister. The modern history of Estonia as an independent state began. Laar began to transition the state to a free market economy, introduced the Estonian kroon into circulation and began negotiations on the complete withdrawal of Russian troops. The country breathed a sigh of relief when the last garrisons left the republic in 1994, leaving devastated lands in the northeast, contaminated groundwater around air bases and nuclear waste at naval bases.

They will be an excellent opportunity not only to relax in comfort, but also to learn a lot of interesting things about our Baltic neighbor.

Another interesting fact about this is that it is the country with the largest Wi-Fi access in Europe. More than 1,100 access points have been created here, which is simply incredible for a country with such a small area.

Wi-Fi literally covers almost the entire country and you can connect to the network in any locality in almost any cafe or store.

All conditions are created here for an excellent beach holiday, especially for families with children. A lot of playgrounds, clean, well-equipped beaches and wonderful beaches attract a lot of tourists here.

Holidays in Estonian

The best observation deck, from where the views are especially amazing, is located on the bell tower, and the view from there allows you to decorate your travel album with memorable panoramic photos.

St. John is rightfully considered the cultural capital of St. John, where one of the oldest in Europe has been working since the 17th century. Its main building is a historical and architectural landmark that all guests of the city strive to visit. One of the most photographed places is, also with its clay stucco ornaments, and the most visited is where the strong half of the tourist fraternity is ready, without interrupting, to listen to the guide. In total, there are at least twenty museums open in which both children and adults find a lot of interesting things.

Mysterious island

It also has its own islands, rightly called unique natural reserves. The largest is, which is easily accessible by ferry.

Its pristine beauty outshines all creations of human hands. There are bays and rocky beaches where lovers of solitude and lovers of natural masterpieces like to relax. Comfortable hotels and guest houses offer visitors real comfort and the opportunity to unify with nature. Sand dunes, cool sea waves, a tart pine aroma filling the air - it’s not for nothing that it is considered one of the best Baltic resorts.

The sights of the island are worthy of a separate story. The Sõrve lighthouse has been lighting the way for sailors and fishermen for almost four hundred years, and with windmills it tells inquisitive travelers about ancient folk crafts and gives the opportunity to try making a memorable souvenir with their own hands. The capital of the island preserves one of the oldest in Europe, built in the 13th century. Its museum houses many interesting exhibits, including urban legends about the old fortress.

Tasty and healthy

A trip to the region will not take place without visiting its restaurants with national dishes on the traditional menu. The main and most favorite dishes of Estonians can be tasted in any local cafe. On the eve of Christmas, the menu will certainly include jellied meat and blood sausage served with lingonberry sauce, and on Maslenitsa - buns decorated with whipped cream. Pickled herring, roast with sauerkraut and aromatic pates, soft cheeses and rich soups of potatoes, cabbage or peas with smoked meats are always loved here.

Estonians love coffee and know how to prepare and drink it. After many hours of sightseeing, it is so pleasant to go to a cafe in any Estonian city, order a cup of aromatic light Scandinavian roasted drink and, closing your eyes in unearthly bliss, remember the past day and relive its especially bright moments.
And then breathe a sigh of relief, remembering that this evening, fortunately, is not the last...

goBaltia

Republic, state in East Europe, washed by the Gulf of Finland and Riga of the Baltic Sea. Name after the ancient name of the indigenous population of Estia (presumably balt. "living by the water") , which is first mentioned by Tacitus, I V. Already in work IX V. The country of the Aestians is called Estland. Apparently, initially this ethnonym referred to the Prussians, then to others balt. tribes, and later moved to the Baltic states. Finns - Estonians.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001.

Estonia

(Eesti Vabariik), state in the NE. Europe, on the Baltic Sea coast, between Finnish And Gulf of Riga and Lake Peipus Pl. 45.1 thousand km², capital Tallinn ; other major cities: Tartu , Narva , Kohtla-Jarve , Parnu . Population 1.4 million people. (2001): Estonians 64%, Russians 29%, Ukrainians 2.6%, Belarusians 1.6%. The non-Estonian population dominates in the NE. E., in particular in the city of Narva (96%). Official language – Estonian. B.h. believers - Lutherans. By the beginning of the 13th century. On the territory of Estonian there were 8 large lands inhabited by Estonians (in Rus' they were called Chud). In the XIII–XVI centuries. - under German rule (called Livonia ), then Sweden. Since 1721, part of Russia. On February 24 (national holiday), 1918, the independence of Estonia was proclaimed. Since July 1940, it has been part of the USSR as the Estonian SSR. Since 1991 – independent Republic of Estonia . Parliament (Sejm) elects the president.
Moraine plain with isolated hilly hills. (Suur-Munamägi town, 318 m). The banks are heavily indented; zap. - lowland, northern – steep, abruptly drop to the sea, forming a ledge Glint , cut by rivers with waterfalls and rapids. Over 1500 islands (9.2% area); Moonsundsky arch. (the largest islands are Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormsi). The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental. Winters are mild, summers are moderately warm. The main rivers are Pärnu, Emajõgi, Narva . Lakes (mostly glacial) and reservoirs. occupy 4.8% of the area. Unique lake Kaali of meteorite origin on the island. Saaremaa. Swamps – 22% area. Forests (mainly coniferous) - over 1/3 square. Reserves: Viidumäe , Vilsandi, Matsalu, Nigula, Endla; 15 landscape reserves, national park Lohemaa. Historical and architectural monuments in the cities of Tallinn, Valga, Viljandi , Võru, Kohtla-Järve, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Otepää , Paide, Parnu , Rakvere , Suure-Jaani, Tartu , Haapsalu. Academy of Sciences, universities (including universities in Tartu and 2 in Tallinn, a conservatory, a rural economic academy). Annual singing (Singing Field in Tartu) and sports (sailing regatta center in Pirite) festivals. 2.7 million tourists (1997). Resorts: Pärnu, Haapsalu, Narva-Joesuu, Kuressaare (climatic and mud); resort areas and recreation areas: Võru, Värska (Värska mineral water, therapeutic mud), Laulasmaa, Otepää, Kabli, Klooga (sandy beaches, dunes), Aegviidu (skiing). Oil shale mining and processing; machinery (radio and electrical engineering, instruments, ship repair); metal, chemical, timber and wood processing, furniture, cellulose paper, text, food industry; production of building materials. Molly-meat live, bacon pork and poultry (1/3 of products are exported). Grains and fodder crops, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, and berries are grown. Fish (herring, Baltic herring, sprat). Animal husbandry (silver fox, arctic fox, nutria, etc.). Artist crafts: making carpets, knitted items, fabrics, processing wood, leather, metal, glass, ceramics, amber. Dense transport net. Court (on the Emajõgi river). Seaport – Tallinn; ferry connections with Helsinki and Stockholm. Intl. airport. Cash unit – Estonian kroon.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Republic of Estonia, a state in the northwestern part of Europe. Estonia is washed by the Gulf of Finland from the north, the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga from the west, borders Latvia in the south and Russia in the east. The length of the coastline is 3794 km. Estonia includes 1,521 islands in the Baltic Sea with a total area of ​​4.2 thousand square meters. km. The largest of them are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.
NATURE
Terrain. Estonia is located within the East European Plain. The surface height gradually increases from the coasts of the Gulf of Riga and the Gulf of Finland in the eastern and southeastern directions. Average surface heights are 50 m above sea level. Western regions and islands have average altitudes of less than 20 m above sea level. In post-glacial times, there is a stable rise of the surface at a rate of approx. 1.5 m per 100 years, the coastal zone is shallowing, some islands have connected with each other or with the mainland.
In western Estonia, marine, abrasive, moraine and swampy plains are common. The activity of Pleistocene glaciers played a particularly important role in the formation of the relief of Estonia. In the central and southern regions, along with moraine plains, terminal moraine ridges, chains of eskers and drumlin ridges can be traced. In the southeast, outcrops of Devonian sandstones are dominated by hilly-moraine terrain with the Haanja Hills, where the highest point of the country is located - Mount Suur-Munamägi (318 m above sea level). To the south of it, an outwash plain can be traced, formed as a result of the activity of melted glacial waters. In the north, Ordovician and Silurian limestone bedrocks come to the surface, exposed in steep ledges (clints) along the entire coast of the Gulf of Finland.
Climate Estonia is transitional from maritime to continental. Winter is relatively mild, summer is moderately warm. Average July temperature approx. 16° C on the coast and approx. 17°C in the interior of the country; The average temperature in February varies from –4°C on Saaremaa to –8°C in Narva, in the northeast. Annual precipitation varies from 510 mm in the western islands to 740 mm in the most elevated areas of the southeast.
Soils. Thanks to the diversity of parent rocks, hydrological regimes and relief conditions, a variegated soil cover has formed in Estonia. Thus, in the south, sod-podzolic and sod-gley soils predominate, in the northern half - typical sod-carbonate, leached sod-carbonate and podzolized sod-carbonate soils, alternating with areas of podzolic, podzolic-bog and bog soils. In the far north and northeast there are areas of podzolic rocky soils. In general, wetlands occupy more than half of Estonia's area, and true bogs occupy approx. 22%.
Water resources. Estonia has a dense river network. The rivers of northern and western Estonia (Narva, Pirita, Kazari, Pärnu, etc.) flow directly into the bays of the Baltic Sea, and the rivers of eastern Estonia flow into inland reservoirs: Lake Võrtsjärv in the south (Põltsamaa river) and Peipus (Emayõgi river) ) and Pskovskoe in the east. The longest river, Pärnu, is 144 km long and flows into the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. The most abundant rivers are the Narva, through which the flow of Lake Peipus is directed to the Gulf of Finland, and the Emajõgi. Only the Emajõgi river is navigable, and below the city of Tartu. During spring floods, the water level in rivers rises significantly (up to 5 m).
There are more than 1,150 lakes and over 250 artificial ponds in Estonia. The lakes are mainly of glacial origin and occupy approx. 4.8% of the territory. The country's largest lake, Chudskoe (or Peipsi), is located in the east and forms a natural and historical border with Russia. The area of ​​Lake Peipus is 3555 sq. km, of which 1616 sq. km belong to Estonia. The largest inland body of water in Estonia is Lake. Võrtsjärv – has an area of ​​266 sq. km.
Flora world. Estonia is located in a zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. Few indigenous forests remain. The most fertile soddy-carbonate soils, on which broad-leaved forests once grew, are now occupied by arable land. In general, under the forests there is approx. 48% of the country's area. The most typical forest-forming species are Scots pine, Norway spruce, warty and downy birch, aspen, as well as oak, maple, ash, elm, and linden. The undergrowth includes mountain ash, bird cherry, and willow. Less commonly, mainly in the west, yew berry, wild apple tree, Scandinavian rowan and aria, blackthorn, and hawthorn are found in the undergrowth.
Forests are most widespread in the east of the country - in central and southern Estonia, where they are represented by spruce forests and mixed spruce-broadleaf forests. Pine forests grow on sandy soils in the southeast of the country. In western Estonia, large areas are occupied by distinctive landscapes - a combination of dry meadows with areas of sparse forests. Meadow vegetation is widespread in the north-west and north of the country. The low-lying, periodically flooded coastal strip is occupied by coastal meadows. Specific flora that tolerate soil salinity are common here.
The territory of Estonia is very swampy. Swamps (mostly lowland) are common in the valleys of the Pärnu, Emajõgi, Põltsamaa, Pedya rivers, along the shores of lakes Peipus and Pskov. Raised bogs are confined to the main watershed of Estonia. To the north of Lake Peipsi, swampy forests are widespread.
The flora of Estonia includes 1,560 species of flowering plants, gymnosperms and ferns. Of these, approximately three quarters of the species are concentrated in the western coastal regions and islands. The flora of mosses (507 species), lichens (786 species), mushrooms (about 2500 species), and algae (more than 1700 species) is distinguished by a great diversity of species.
Animal world. The species diversity of wild fauna is low - approx. 60 species of mammals. The most numerous species are moose (about 7,000 individuals), roe deer (43,000), hares, and wild boars (11,000). In the 1950s–1960s, the deer, red deer, and raccoon dog were introduced. The largest forests in many parts of Estonia are home to brown bears ( OK. 800 individuals) and lynx (approx. 1000 individuals). The forests are also home to foxes, pine martens, badgers, and squirrels. Wood ferret, ermine, weasel are common, and European mink and otter are common along the banks of reservoirs. The hedgehog, shrew, and mole are very common.
Coastal waters abound with game animals such as the ringed seal (in the Gulf of Riga and the West Estonian archipelago) and the long-snout seal (in the Gulf of Finland).
The most diverse avifauna. It numbers 331 species, of which 207 species breed permanently in Estonia (about 60 live all year round). The most numerous are capercaillie and hazel grouse (in coniferous forests), woodcock (in swamps), black grouse (in forest clearings), coot, bittern, rail, warblers, mallards and other ducks (on lakes and the sea coast), as well as tawny owl, woodpeckers, larks, kestrel. Rare bird species such as the white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, short-eared snake eagle, greater and lesser spotted eagle, osprey, white and black stork, and gray crane are protected. The common eider, tufted duck, shoveler, merganser, scoter, gray goose, and gulls nest on the islands of the western archipelago. Birds are especially numerous during spring and autumn mass flights to summer nesting sites or wintering in tropical countries.
There are 3 species of lizards and 2 species of snakes, including the common viper.
More than 70 species of fish live in fresh reservoirs and coastal waters (carp, salmon, smelt, vendace, whitefish, bream, roach, perch, pike perch, burbot, trout, crucian carp, tench, carp, herring, sprat, cod, flounder, whitefish, eel, etc.). Many of them are of commercial importance.
In some areas of Estonia there is an unfavorable environmental situation. In the northeast of the country, where thermal power plants operating on oil shale operate, the air is polluted with sulfur dioxide. Small bodies of water located in agricultural areas are polluted by animal waste products. Coastal waters are also polluted in many places.
In general, Estonia is characterized by a careful attitude towards nature. In order to study it, preserve the gene pool and protect landscapes, several national parks and state reserves and sanctuaries have been created. In total, approximately 10% of Estonia's territory is protected. In 1995, parliament adopted a law on the sustainable development of the country, and in 1996 the government approved a strategy for environmental protection.
POPULATION
As of July 2003, the population of Estonia was 1408.56 thousand people.
The Second World War and the subsequent decades of Soviet rule had a strong impact on demographic processes. During the war and in the immediate post-war years, Estonia lost a quarter of its population, mainly as a result of deportations to other areas of the Soviet Union and emigration. The main source of population growth in the post-war decades was the mass immigration of non-Estonians, a process encouraged by the centralized system of government and a planned economy with the aim of increasing the labor force and the Sovietization of Estonia. From 1945 to 1970, the birth rate fell steadily, but by July 2003 it had stabilized at 9.24 per 1,000 inhabitants. The death rate was 13.42 per 1000 inhabitants. The infant mortality rate in 2003 was approx. 12.03 per 1000 births. The emigration rate is estimated at - 0.71% per 1000 inhabitants. The average life expectancy for women is 76.57 years, for men - 64.36 years. In 2003, approximately 15.8% of the population was under 15 years of age, 15.4% was over 65 years of age, and 68.8% were in the age group of 15 to 65 years.
The greatest concentration of the population is observed in the urbanized industrial areas of the country, with almost a third of the population living in Tallinn and its environs, 10% in the industrial centers of Narva and Kohtla-Jarve in the north-east of the country. In the southeast is the large university city of Tartu, and in the southwest is the resort town of Pärnu. There is a constant outflow of population from rural areas.
Ethnic composition. In 1945, the share of Estonians in the republic’s population reached 93%; by 1989 it had dropped to 62%. In the last decade, the share of Estonians has been growing (65.3% in 2000), while the share of Russians has been declining (28.1%). Among the national minorities, Ukrainians (2.5%), Belarusians (1.5%), Finns (1%), others (1.6%) stand out. Estonians are evenly distributed throughout the country. Russians and other non-Estonians are concentrated mainly in industrial cities such as Tallinn, Narva, Kohtla-Jarve, Sillamae.
Languages. The official language is Estonian, which belongs to the Baltic-Finnish branch of the Finno-Ugric family of languages. The language of communication of the majority of non-Estonians is Russian.
Religion. In Soviet Estonia, the authorities actively interfered in church affairs, the activities of religious organizations were extremely limited, although services were held in some churches, including Orthodox ones. The Pyukhtitsa Assumption Convent, founded in 1898, operated. From 1946 to 1982, the publication and import of religious literature was strictly prohibited. There are currently no restrictions on religious activities. Among the believers, Lutherans predominate (80–85%), there are also Orthodox (including Estonians), Baptists, Methodists, Seventh-day Adventists, Catholics, and Pentecostals. In 1993, a special law was adopted on the activities of churches and parishes. Currently, 8 churches, 8 parish unions and 66 private parishes are registered in Estonia. In 1993, the activities of the Estonian Orthodox Church were restored, which since 1996 has been subordinate to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Russian Orthodox Church, subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate, also operates. The relationship between the two Orthodox churches is one of the reasons complicating the Estonian-Russian political dialogue.
Cities. In 2000, three cities in Estonia had a population of over 50 thousand people: Tallinn (400.4 thousand), Tartu (101.2), Narva (68.7). Tallinn is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. Tartu is a university center where almost half of Estonia's students study. Narva and Kohtla-Jarve are industrial cities in the northeast, specializing in the extraction and processing of oil shale. In the southwest, on the coast of the Gulf of Riga, is Pärnu, a port and popular resort city. In 1934, only 30% of the population of Estonia lived in cities; by 1953, due to the accelerated pace of industrialization in the USSR, 53% of the population was concentrated in them. Currently, 67.1% of the country's population lives in Estonian cities (2000 data).
STATE STRUCTURE
Public administration. Estonia had its first experience of a parliamentary political system in the 1920s and early 1930s. This was followed by six years of a closed conservative dictatorship (1934–1940) and 50 years of one-party rule within the USSR.
Since June 28, 1992, a new constitution adopted by referendum has been in force in Estonia. Currently, Estonia is a parliamentary republic. Legislative power is vested in a unicameral parliament, the Riigikogu (State Assembly), consisting of 101 deputies who are elected by universal secret ballot for a four-year term. All Estonian citizens who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote. Parliament develops laws, ratifies and denounces international treaties, elects the president of the country, gives the candidate for prime minister the authority to form the government of the country, adopts the state budget, and, on the proposal of the president of the country, appoints such senior officials as the chairman of the State Court and (on the proposal of the latter) members of this court, the Chancellor of Justice, the State Comptroller, the chairman of the board and members of the board of the Bank of Estonia, the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces.
The head of state - the president - is elected by parliament, by a qualified majority (2/3) of votes, for a term of 5 years. If three rounds of voting fail, the president is elected by the Electoral College. According to the constitution, the president represents the state at the international level, proposes a candidacy for the prime minister, can influence the legislative activities of parliament, and proposes candidates for the highest posts of the state apparatus to the parliament.
Executive power belongs to the government, headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president after approval of his candidacy by a majority of members of parliament.
Judicial system. The Constitution provides for an independent judicial system, including three instances: county, city and administrative courts (first instance); district courts (second instance) and the State Court (highest authority). Legal proceedings are carried out in the courts of first instance; County courts act primarily as appellate courts. The State Court is vested with cassation functions and is a court of constitutional review. Direct constitutional supervision is carried out by the Judicial Collegium of Constitutional Supervision of the State Court. The Chancellor of Justice performs the function of general supervision over the compliance of legal acts of legislative and executive authorities, as well as local authorities, with the constitution and other laws of the country.
The Minister of Justice controls the activities of the prosecutor's office, which oversees the legality of registration and preliminary investigation of crimes, the legality of the police in solving crimes, the legality of deprivation of liberty, and the presentation of public prosecution.
Local control. Administratively, the territory of Estonia is divided into 15 counties - maakondas (divided into volosts) and 6 cities of central subordination. Local councils in cities and counties are elected by popular vote for three-year terms. The prerogative of these councils is local administration and tax collection. In October 1993, the first local elections were held after the restoration of independence. Only Estonian citizens had the right to vote. In Tallinn, candidates of two moderate Russian parties received 42% of parliamentary seats, which roughly corresponds to the share of Russians in the city's population.
Political parties and movements. In the 1920s and 1930s, five main political parties were created: the Peasant Party and the Union of Agrarians (these parties were respectively on the right and in the center of the parliamentary spectrum); People's Party and Labor Party (both centrist); Social Democratic Party (left). The initial process of party formation was marred by the failed communist putsch on December 1, 1924. During the conservative dictatorship of Konstantin Päts (1934–1940), all political parties were banned. Under Soviet rule, the only legal political organization became the Estonian Communist Party as part of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU).
In 1987, during the era of perestroika and glasnost, the formation of new parties and political movements began. In 1988–1991, mass political movements began to play a particularly important role in the political process: the Estonian People's Front (a centrist political organization that demanded first autonomy and then independence from the USSR) and the Committee of Estonian Citizens, which organized the election of delegates to the Congress of Non-Communists of Estonia to restore independence in based on the principle of legal continuity of the first republic.
The parliament, elected on September 20, 1992, was represented by nine parties and electoral alliances, including the Fatherland Union (30 of 101 seats), the Safe House (17 seats), the Popular Front (15 seats), the Moderates (Social Democrats and members of the Rural Center Party - 12 seats) and the Independence Party (11 seats). In March 1995, opposition parties won the parliamentary elections: the Coalition Party (41 seats out of 101), the Reform Party (19 seats) and the Estonian Center Party (16 seats). For the first time, the party of the Russian population, Our Home – Estonia, received representation in parliament (6 seats).
In 2000, the following major political parties and associations operated in Estonia: Center Party of Estonia, Reform Party, Fatherland Union, Moderate Party, Coalition Party of Estonia (liquidated in 2001), United People's Party of Estonia, Estonian People's Union. The vast majority of them are represented in the country's parliament. In 2001, a new large party, the Republic, was created.
Police and military forces. Until 1940, Estonia had an effective police system, a small but well-trained army (16 thousand people) and a civil guard of 60 thousand people. All these forces were disbanded after the annexation of the country by the Soviet Union, and their command staff were repressed.
In the fall of 1991, after regaining independence, Estonia began creating an internal security and defense system. The constitution provides for military service, but also includes alternative service for persons who refuse to serve in the army for religious or other reasons. Estonia has created a land army, a naval coast guard, an air defense force, a maritime border service, and a security service (internal and border). Military expenses amount to approx. 2% of the budget. Estonia actively participates in peacekeeping activities of the UN and regional organizations. In 1994, Estonia joined the NATO Partnership for Peace program.
Foreign policy. During the 1920s and 1930s, Estonia was a member of the League of Nations. After regaining independence in September 1991, the country became a member of the UN and OSCE. On May 13, 1993, it was admitted to the Council of Europe, and in June 1995 it signed a preliminary agreement on joining European Union(EU). The government's priority plan for the coming years is Estonia's accession to NATO.
The Republic of Estonia has close ties with the Scandinavian countries, especially Finland, and is a founding member of the Council of the Baltic States, established in 1992.
ECONOMY
By the end of the 1930s, Estonia became an industrial-agrarian country. Subsequently, already in the post-war years, the accelerated industrialization of Estonia was carried out, which was facilitated by its favorable geographical location. In the 1980s, a new large Tallinn seaport, Muuga, was built. Since the early 1990s, Estonia has begun to form a market economy, diversify its economy and revise its foreign trade priorities.
Estonia has the largest deposits of oil shale and phosphorites in Europe (explored reserves are estimated at 3.8 billion tons, predicted - about 6 billion tons), rich forest resources and large reserves of building materials. Shale began to be mined during the First World War. The volume of their production by 1980 increased 9 times compared to 1950 (from 3.5 million tons per year to 31.3 million tons), but by 2001 it decreased to 10 million tons. By the mid-1970s, Estonia became the world's largest shale producer, however, due to the low level of production technology, the development of their deposits was accompanied by severe environmental pollution. In the 1980s, approx. 80% of the extracted shale was used as fuel for thermal power plants and approx. 20% - in the chemical industry.
Industrial enterprises in the country are concentrated in the largest cities. Thus, mechanical engineering, metalworking and instrument making predominate in Tallinn, and light industry is developed. In Narva there is a large cotton mill (Krenholm Manufactory), and in Sillamäe there is a plant for the production of rare metals (Silmet). The main fuel and energy complexes are concentrated in the cities of Kohtla-Jarve, Sillamäe and Narva. Small enterprises in the food and wood processing industries are evenly distributed throughout the country. The least industrialized areas of Estonia are two large islands in the Baltic Sea - Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, where agriculture, dairy farming and fishing predominate.
National income. The growth rate of industry and agriculture in Estonia declined in the 1970s and 1980s, and by 1990 their growth had stopped altogether. In 1990, GDP amounted to 5.5 billion rubles. and continued to decline in the early 1990s. Its growth began in 1994 and reached 5.5% in 1998. The Russian financial crisis of 1998 also affected the Estonian economy. In 1999, she had to make budget cuts and largely redirect foreign trade from the Russian market to EU countries. There was a recession in the economy and a decline in GDP by 1.1% in 1999. In November 1999, Estonia was admitted to the World Trade Organization. Due to the economic recovery in 2000, GDP increased by 6.4%, and the same growth is projected to continue in the coming years. The economic success achieved is partly due to the almost complete privatization of large state-owned companies.
In 2002, Estonia's GDP was estimated at 15.52 billion dollars, or 11 thousand dollars per capita. The share of agriculture in the GDP structure is 5.8%, industry – 28.6%, services – 65.6%.
Currently, employment in different sectors of the economy is distributed as follows: in the manufacturing, gas industry, energy, water supply, construction - 34.7%, in agriculture, hunting, forestry, fisheries - 7%, in the service sector - 58.3 % (including in education - 7.8%, in the government apparatus and defense - 5.6%).
Extractive industry. In addition to oil shale, peat is mined in Estonia, the industrial reserves of which amount to 1.5 billion tons. Peat is used as fuel and fertilizer in agriculture. Limestone, dolomite, sand, gravel and clay are also mined.
Energy. Estonia fully covers its energy needs from its own resources and exports excess electricity. Soviet Estonia sent a significant part of the fuel and electricity produced to Leningrad. The energy complex is based almost entirely on the use of fossil fuels. In 1999, 7782 million kWh of electricity was produced. Part of the generated electricity is exported.
Manufacturing industry. In 1988, light industry accounted for 27% of total gross output, food industry - 24%, mechanical engineering - 15%, logging, timber processing and pulp and paper industries - 9%, chemical industry - 9%, other industries - 16%. In the early 1990s, production volume decreased, but already in the second half of the same decade its growth began, which in 1998–1999 was estimated at 5–7%. The main types of manufacturing products: ships, electric motors, excavators, chemicals, pulp, paper, furniture, building materials, appliances, textiles, clothing, shoes, food.
Agriculture. Historically, the main specialization of Estonian agriculture was meat and dairy farming.
Collectivization carried out in the late 1940s had catastrophic consequences: wealthy peasants were dispossessed and exiled to Siberia, and industry productivity dropped sharply. In the 1950s and 1960s, Estonian agriculture was largely restored. Estonia later became a kind of experimental laboratory for Soviet agriculture, especially in the area of ​​self-government. In 1977, the average size of collective or state farm land was 5178 hectares. In the mid-1970s, two-thirds of agricultural production came from livestock, one-third from grains, vegetables, and hay (with most of the grains being used as livestock feed).
Despite the measures taken, agriculture remains the most backward sector of the economy. Estonia has lost the market for agricultural products in the east, and exports to the west are limited by various quotas. Only a third of livestock and pig products are exported. The slow pace of privatization of agricultural land also had a negative impact on the state of the industry. By 1998, approx. 35 thousand private farms, the average farm size was 23 hectares. In the last decade there has been a reduction in the area of ​​arable land, and currently there is approx. 25%, under pastures – 11% of the country’s territory. The structure of agriculture is dominated by meat and dairy farming and bacon production. In addition, potatoes, vegetables, grains and fruit crops are grown.
Forestry and fishing industry. In Estonia, the area occupied by forests has doubled since 1940 and currently accounts for 47.8% of the territory. In 1998, roundwood, industrial timber and pulp and paper products accounted for 9% of exports.
During Soviet times, when most of the fish caught and processed was sent to the vast domestic market of the USSR, fishing occupied a more important place in the republic's economy. Due to the declining fish resources of the Baltic Sea, international quotas are now strictly observed and the annual fish catch is approx. 130 thousand tons
Transport. A dense network of roads was created in Estonia under Russian rule in the late 19th century, and then expanded in the 20th century. Currently, 29.2 thousand km of roads have a hard surface. The number of cars in personal use is rapidly increasing: if at the beginning of 1994 in Estonia there were 211 passenger cars per 1000 inhabitants, then in 1997 there were 428 cars per 1000 inhabitants.
The broad-gauge railway network has a length of 1018 km (not counting the tracks providing specialized industrial transportation), of which only 132 km of track are electrified. In 2001, Estonian railways were privatized by local and foreign capital.
On the territory of Estonia there is a gas pipeline with a length of more than 400 km, connecting the shale gas production plant in Kohtla-Jarve with Tallinn, Tartu and other cities, as well as with the Russian gas pipeline network.
Estonia has developed year-round maritime traffic. The main ports of the country: 6 ports in Tallinn, including the new cargo port of Tallinn-Muuga, Paldiski, Pärnu, Haapsalu and Kunda. There are regular ferry services from Helsinki and Stockholm. The Estonian merchant fleet consists of 44 vessels with a displacement of more than 1,000 gross register tons each (total displacement of 253,460 gross register tons). In summer, navigation along Lake Peipus and the lower reaches of the Emajõgi River from the mouth to Tartu opens. In 2002, a service was opened on the route Tartu - Pskov.
Both domestic and international air services are developed. Flights to many European capitals and CIS cities operate through Tallinn Airport.
Foreign trade. Estonia's main trading partners in the 1920s and 1930s were Germany and Great Britain. The country exported food, gasoline, wood and lumber, and imported machinery, metals, cotton, cotton fabrics and yarn. In 1990, approximately 96% of exports went to the RSFSR and other republics of the USSR and only 4% to foreign countries. 89% of imports came from Soviet republics, 11% from abroad.
At the end of the 1990s, the structure of foreign trade underwent fundamental changes. In recent years, trade turnover has been rapidly increasing. Thus, in 2000 compared to 1999, exports increased by 52%, imports by 43%. Mainly exported are machinery and equipment (37.4% in the export structure of 2000), wood and woodworking products (13.4%), metals and metalworking industry products (7.1%), textiles and textile goods (11.3% ), agricultural products (7.5%), chemical raw materials and chemical industry products (3.7%), vehicles (2.6%), mineral raw materials (2.5%). In 1999 and 2000, exports by country were distributed as follows: Finland - 23.4 and 32.4%, Sweden - 22.7 and 20.5%, Germany - 8.5 and 8.5%, Latvia - 8.3 and 7.1%, Great Britain – 5.6 and 4.4%, Denmark – 4.7 and 3.4%, Lithuania – 3.4 and 2.8%, Netherlands – 2.6 and 2.5%, Russia – 3.4 and 2.4%, Norway – 2.6 and 2.4%.
They import into Estonia machinery and equipment (38.5% of the import structure in 2000), agricultural products (8.6%), metals and metalworking industry products (8.1%), textiles and textile products (7.5%), means of transport (6.9%), chemical raw materials and chemical industry products (6.6%), mineral raw materials (6.1%), wood and wood processing industry products (1.8%). The share of the main import partners in its structure in 1999 and 2000: Finland - 26.0 and 27.4%, Sweden - 10.7 and 9.9%, Germany - 10.4 and 9.5%, Russia - 8, 0 and 8.5%, Japan – 5.4 and 6.1%, China – 1.3 and 3.6%, Italy – 3.6 and 2.9%, Latvia – 2.4 and 2.6% , Denmark – 2.8 and 2.5%, Great Britain – 2.6 and 2.3%.
Currency and money circulation. In the 1920s and 1930s, the currency of Estonia was the mark, and since 1928 the kroon. The Bank of Estonia, founded in 1919, served as the main state financial institution. In 1940, Estonian banks were nationalized, and the Soviet ruble became the means of payment. In June 1992, Estonia was the first of the former Soviet republics to introduce its own currency, the Estonian kroon.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
A characteristic feature of Estonian society for many centuries was the absence of a national aristocracy. Estonians lived in villages and farmsteads or constituted the lower classes of the urban population. Only at the end of the 19th century. the intelligentsia and middle class emerged. Until 1940, the population in Estonia was dominated by peasants.
Trade unions. The first trade union associations appeared in Estonia in the 1920s and 1930s, but their activities were largely regulated by the state. During the Soviet period, trade unions began to play an important role in the life of the republic, especially in organizing workers' leisure. Trade unions had a developed network of sanatoriums, holiday homes, boarding houses, and tourist centers. In the mid-1990s, the independent Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions was created in Estonia.
Religious life. In the 13th and 14th centuries, during the reign of the Danish kings and the Teutonic crusaders, Estonians were converted to Catholicism. In the 16th century Estonia (Estonia) became a Lutheran country, and the church was headed by Germans until 1918. Since the 18th century, after Estonia was included in Russia, Orthodoxy also became widespread. Since 1925, the church was separated from the state. During World War II, the church suffered large personnel losses: approximately 85% of Lutheran pastors were deported to Siberia. During Soviet times, despite official propaganda of atheism and state control, religious communities managed to survive. In the late 1980s they played a positive role in the revival of Estonian identity.
CULTURE
Estonian culture was formed under strong Scandinavian and German influence. The proximity to St. Petersburg, where many prominent Estonian cultural figures were educated, also had a great influence.
Education system. An important achievement of the first republic was the creation of a national education system, including higher education, with instruction in the Estonian language. During Soviet times, this helped Estonians avoid assimilation into the Russian-speaking population.
In 1997, 224 thousand children and adolescents were studying in primary and secondary schools in Estonia, and 18.6 thousand students were studying in vocational schools. In schools, 67% of students preferred teaching in Estonian, and 33% in Russian.
In 1998, 34.5 thousand students studied at 10 state higher education institutions in Estonia (52% of them were women). The largest and most famous universities in the country are the University of Tartu (founded in 1632 - 7.4 thousand students), Tallinn Technical University (6.8 thousand students), Tallinn Pedagogical Institute (3.1 thousand students), Estonian Agricultural Academy in Tartu (2.8 thousand students), Tallinn University of the Arts (500 thousand students) and the Estonian Academy of Music in Tallinn (500 thousand students). 80% of students studied in Estonian, the rest in Russian. Over the years of independent development, dozens of private educational institutions have appeared in the country.
Literature and art. The origins of Estonian national literature date back to the beginning of the 19th century. A significant event in the development of Estonian literature is considered to be the publication of the national epic in 1857–1861 by F. Kreutzwald Kalevipoeg (Son of Caleb). In the second half of the 19th century. poetry developed. Among the poets, the most famous were L. Koidula (who is also the founder of Estonian drama), A. Reinwald, M. Veske, M. Under and B. Alver. At the beginning of the 20th century. poet G. Suits led the cultural movement “Young Estonia”. During the Soviet period, poetry played a particularly important role (poets P.E. Rummo and J. Kaplinsky), because was less censored. In prose of the 20th century. biggest achievement is Truth and justice A. Tammsaare (written 1926–1933) is a five-volume epic novel about the life of Estonians in the 1870s–1920s. The most famous Estonian writer is J. Cross, whose historical novels reveal the moral problems of Estonian society. During the era of glasnost, much attention began to be paid to the fate of deported Estonians. In the dramaturgy of the 1960s, the theater of the absurd, in particular the play Cinderella game P.E.Rummo.
Folklore plays an important role in the new Estonian culture. Most of the oral folklore was published at the end of the 19th century, and scientific research and analysis began at the beginning of the next century. Folklore themes inspired Estonian writers, artists, sculptors, and musicians.
Among the founders of Estonian national fine art are the artist J. Köhler (since 1861 - a member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts) and the sculptor A. Weizenberg, who received artistic education outside the country. Professional art training in Estonia itself became possible after the founding of the Pallas Art School in Tartu in 1919. In the 1960s, Estonian graphic artists such as T. Vint, V. Tolly and M. Leis gained recognition outside the USSR.
The Estonian tradition of song festivals—regular gatherings of choirs from all over the country to perform in Tartu and Tallinn—had both cultural and political significance. Since 1869, 22 national folk song festivals (the so-called Song Festivals) have been held; in recent decades, the number of performers reached 30 thousand people, and listeners and spectators - 200-300 thousand. Among Estonian composers of the 20th century. the most famous is E. Toobin (1905–1982). In the next generation, A. Pärt (b. 1935) is especially talented. The world-famous conductor N. Järvi (b. 1937), who actively promotes Estonian music abroad, emigrated to the USA in 1980.
Museums, libraries and science. The Estonian National Museum, established in 1909 in Tartu, has a rich collection of ethnographic materials and is the largest among the country's 114 museums. In Estonia there are approx. 600 libraries. The largest of them are the Tartu University Library (5 million volumes), the National Library in Tallinn (4.1 million volumes) and the Estonian Academic Library in Tallinn (3.4 million volumes).
In the 1920s and 1930s, the country's leading scientific center was the University of Tartu, where special attention was paid to research in the fields of Estonian philology and literature, history, ethnography and medicine. During the Soviet years, the main research centers were the institutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR in Tallinn and Tartu. Currently, the Academy of Sciences has been reorganized into a personal academy, and its institutes have been transferred to universities.
Media. In 1930, 276 newspapers and magazines were published in Estonia; by 1980, their number had decreased to 148. In 1990, censorship of printed publications and the media was abolished. In modern Estonia, of the 15 daily newspapers (11 in Estonian), the most popular are Postimees (The Postman, published in Tartu since 1891), Eesti Päävaleht (Estonian Daily Newspaper, published in Tallinn since 1905) and Ykhtulekht (Evening Newspaper, published in Tallinn since 1944).
The National Estonian Radio began broadcasting in 1924, and the Estonian Television in 1955. The Estonian Telegraph Agency has been operating since 1918.
Sport. Estonia has a long-standing sports culture. Already in the 1920s and 1930s, the country took part in the Olympic Games, performing most successfully in wrestling and weightlifting. Thus, Kristjan Palusalu became the winner in freestyle and classical wrestling at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. International grandmaster Paul Keres was a multiple champion of the USSR and winner of chess Olympiads. In 1992, the Estonian team again took part in the Olympic Games for the first time since 1936.
Holidays. National holiday: Independence Day - February 24. In addition, such holidays as New Year, Spring Day - May 1, Victory Day (celebrating the victory in the 1919 War of Independence) - June 23, Midsummer's Day - June 24, as well as religious holidays: Christmas and Easter are widely celebrated.
STORY
Many archaeological sites have been discovered in Estonia. The most ancient settlements belong to the Kunda culture (Pulli site on the bank of the Pärnu River, near the city of Sindi, etc.). Representatives of this culture later mixed with the Finno-Ugric tribes who came here in the 3rd millennium BC. from the south, and then with the Baltic tribes. Subsequently, Scandinavians, Germans, and Slavs took part in the formation of the Estonian nation. Despite numerous invasions from the west, south and east, the Estonian lands (Maakonda) remained independent until the 13th century.
Foreign domination. From the 1220s to 1918, Estonia was under foreign rule. The southern part in 1224 was divided between the Livonian Order, the bishops of Dorpat and Ezel. The northern part belonged to Denmark from 1238 to 1346. The country was dominated by the Teutonic knights, the landowning aristocracy and local bishops of the Catholic Church, who were supported by city merchants. The Estonians, conquered by the Danes and the Teutonic Knights, remained peasants and became increasingly enslaved. The Catholic faith was poorly spread among Estonians, since the church showed no interest in their language and culture. The attitude towards religion among Estonians began to change only in connection with the penetration of the Reformation into Estonia (1521) and the subsequent involvement of the population into the fold of the Lutheran Church.
As a result of the Livonian War (1558–1583), the Livonian Order collapsed: the northern part of Estonia came under the rule of the Swedes, the southern part - under the rule of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The island of Saaremaa remained with Denmark. Since 1645, the entire territory of Estonia became part of Sweden. At the beginning of the 18th century. Russia's interests in the Baltic region collided with the interests of Sweden. The Northern War (1700–1721) between Russia and Sweden, accompanied by a devastating plague epidemic, ended with the victory of Russia and the annexation of Estonia and Latvia.
From the end of the 17th century. School instruction in Estonian became widespread, and in 1739 the Bible was published in Estonian for the first time. By 1790, the population of Estonia numbered approx. 500 thousand people. The abolition of serfdom in 1816–1819 was an important step towards the liberation of Estonian peasants from German dependence, but several more decades passed before they received the right to acquire land as their own.
Estonian national movement. Agrarian reforms and the development of the educational system under Emperor Alexander II (reigned 1855–1881) contributed to the emergence of the Estonian national movement. In the 1880s–1890s, the tsarist government pursued a policy of administrative and cultural Russification in Estonia. Under the influence of the revolutionary movement of 1905 in Russia, a wave of mass worker strikes swept across Estonia. The national bourgeoisie demanded liberal reforms. Organized worker protests resumed in 1912 and especially since 1916.
Under the influence of the events of the February Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd, workers and soldiers in Estonia began to remove tsarist officials from power. In March, Councils of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies were created in Tallinn and other cities. The governor was replaced by a representative of the Provisional Government of Russia, the mayor.
Almost simultaneously with the October Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd, the Soviets of Workers' and Military Deputies came to power in the largest industrial centers of Estonia, dissolved the Provincial Zemstvo Council and began to nationalize banks, industrial enterprises, means of transport and landowners' lands.
Formation of the independent Republic of Estonia. Soviet power in Estonia lasted until February 18, 1918, when its territory was occupied by German troops. Taking advantage of the situation, the leaders of the Estonian intelligentsia K. Päts, J. Vilms and K. Konik published a manifesto “On the Independence of Estonia” on February 24, 1918. During the German occupation, Soviet regulations were abolished, and previously expropriated lands were returned to the landowners. In mid-November 1918, Germany transferred the administration of Estonia to the hands of the Provisional Government under the leadership of Päts. At the end of the same month, Red Army troops were sent to the Baltic states to restore Soviet power. As a result, Narva was conquered on November 28, 1918, and the next day the state of the Estonian Labor Commune was proclaimed, headed by the chairman of the Council of the Commune, J. Anvelt, and the head of the Department of Internal Affairs, V. Kingisepp. At the same time, an armed struggle against units of the Red Army began throughout Estonia with the support of the United States and Great Britain. On June 5, 1919, the government of the Estonian Labor Commune ceased to exist.
After a 13-month war of liberation against Soviet Russia (November 28, 1918 – January 3, 1920), the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed on February 2, 1920 between the RSFSR and Estonia. According to the first constitution, Estonia was proclaimed a democratic republic in which power belonged to a unicameral parliament. In December 1924, the Estonian Communist Party, acting in accordance with the instructions of the Chairman of the Comintern G.E. Zinoviev, raised an armed uprising, which was suppressed. The rise of the national movement, which coincided with the global economic crisis of the early 1930s, contributed to the spread of conservative ideas in Estonia. On March 12, 1934, a coup d'état was carried out. The national bourgeoisie, led by K. Päts and I. Laidoner, came to power. By the fall, parliament was dissolved, and subsequently all active political parties were banned. In fact, a dictatorship was established. In 1937, a new constitution was developed, which came into force in 1938. It returned Estonia to parliamentarism, and it became possible to elect opposition deputies (although the activities of political parties were still prohibited). The post of president was introduced, and Päts was elected the first president in April 1938.
In the second half of the 1930s, Estonia experienced rapid economic growth. The most developed industries - oil shale, cellulose, phosphate - were reoriented to the German market. At the end of the 1930s, Germany became Estonia's main export partner, where most of its agricultural products were supplied.
The further fate of Estonia was decided in August 1939, when the Soviet-German non-aggression pact was signed with secret protocols, according to which Estonia fell into the sphere of interests of the Soviet Union. On September 28, 1939, Estonia concluded a forced mutual assistance agreement with the USSR, according to which military bases of the Soviet Union were located on the territory of Estonia. On June 17, 1940, the Soviet government presented an ultimatum, which was followed in August of the same year by the entry of Soviet troops and the annexation of the entire territory of the country.
Soviet Estonia. On June 21, 1940, the Estonian government was overthrown and was replaced by the Popular Front government with the support of the Soviet Army. On July 21, 1940, the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed, and on August 25, its constitution was adopted. The main efforts of the Soviet government were aimed at the rapid Sovietization of the former independent republic; arrests and executions began. In September 1941, Nazi German troops invaded Estonia and occupied the country.
In the autumn of 1944, after heavy fighting, Estonia was occupied by units of the Red Army. During the war, about half of the industrial enterprises were destroyed, most of the livestock were destroyed, approx. 80 thousand inhabitants, at least 70 thousand Estonians emigrated. At the end of the war, the authorities launched massive repressions (many specialists, public figures and wealthy peasants were arrested and deported). Private property was abolished in the industrial sector in 1945, and in trade in 1947. The forced collectivization of agriculture provoked armed resistance by partisans (the so-called “forest brothers”), which lasted until 1953.
During the Khrushchev "thaw" the Estonian Communist Party gained a certain degree of independence from the CPSU in governing the republic. However, in the subsequent period, especially after 1968, there was a rollback from the liberalization policy. The response was the spread of political dissent, expressed in demands for Estonia's independence and the restoration of the role of the Estonian language in education and public life. In 1980, forty representatives of the intelligentsia, including liberal-minded members of the CPSU, sent “Letter 40” - essentially a manifesto against Sovietization - to the central government bodies and the Pravda newspaper.
Restoring independence. The mass movement for independence in Estonia began in 1987 with public protest against the barbaric mining of phosphorites, which was causing serious environmental damage to the country. In 1988, the Popular Front of Estonia was created, as well as a number of other political organizations (including the Independence Party), which put forward demands for separation from the USSR. In November 1988, the Supreme Council of Estonia, headed by communist reformers, adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Estonian SSR by 254 votes to 7. In 1989, the desire to achieve full independence intensified, the Committee of Estonian Citizens carried out a campaign to register Estonian citizens. In March 1990, the newly elected Supreme Council of Estonia announced the beginning of the transition to full independence, and on May 8, 1990, the Republic of Estonia was proclaimed, soon recognized by many states. On September 6, 1991, the independence of Estonia was recognized by the USSR and then by the USA.
The main political milestones after August 1991 were the adoption of a new constitution in June 1992 and the parliamentary and presidential elections in September and October 1992. After the first parliamentary elections held in September 1992, a center-right coalition led by Mart Laar formed the cabinet. In October 1992, parliament elected the first president of Estonia, Lennart Meri, a writer and former foreign minister, who was re-elected to this post in September 1996.
The introduction of a new currency, the Estonian kroon, pegged to the German mark in June 1992, stopped inflation and allowed the economy to stabilize. Thanks to a balanced budget and price liberalization, Estonia has achieved significant economic success over several years.
The parties that supported the Laar government failed in the parliamentary elections in March 1995, when a new coalition led by Tiit Vähi, consisting of representatives of the Coalition Party, the Agrarian Union and the Estonian Center Party, won. The ruling coalition continued its policy of economic liberalization and integration with Western European countries. However, the Vähi government lasted only two years and was replaced by a minority government under the leadership of Mart Sijman. Political confrontation began to intensify as the 1999 elections approached.
Although the new election law aims to reduce the number of parties, Estonia's political system remains fragmented. According to the results of the elections held in March 1999, the parliament included representatives of the Center Party of Estonia (28 seats), the Fatherland Union (18), the Reform Party (18), the Moderate Party (17) and the Coalition Party of Estonia (7), the Union of Agrarians ( 7), United People's Party of Estonia (6).
In August 1994, units of the Russian army were withdrawn from Estonia. The Estonian government, in turn, has adopted the principle of “social guarantees” in relation to approximately 10 thousand former Soviet officers living in the country, now pensioners, and members of their families. The problem of citizenship of non-Estonians who moved to Estonia during the years of Soviet power has not yet been fully resolved.
In October 2001, the parliament of the republic elected the former chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Estonian SSR Arnold Ruutel as president of the country.
On March 29, 2004, Estonia officially became a member of NATO.
LITERATURE
Soviet Union:. M., 1967
Soviet Estonia: Encyclopedic Reference. Tallinn, 1979
Wanatoa E. Estonian SSR: Directory. Tallinn, 1986
Kahk Y., Silivask K. History of the Estonian SSR. Tallinn, 1987
– Eesti: Quick reference. Tallinn, 1999

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

ESTONIA

REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
State in the north-west of Eastern Europe. In the north it is washed by the Gulf of Finland, in the west by the Baltic Sea. In the east the country borders on Russia, in the south on Latvia. Estonia owns more than 1,500 islands, the largest of which are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The area of ​​the country is about 45,100 km2.
The population of Estonia (1998 estimates) is approximately 1,421,300 people. Ethnic groups: Estonians - 61.5%, Russians - 30.3%, Ukrainians - 3.2%, Belarusians - 1.8%, Finns - 1.1%, Jews, Latvians. Language: Estonian (state), Russian. Religion: Lutheran, Orthodox. The capital is Tallinn. Largest cities: Tallinn (502,000 people), Tartu (114,239 people), Narva (87,000 people), Pärnu. The government system is a republic. The head of state is President Lennart Meri (re-elected on September 20, 1996). The head of government is Prime Minister T. Vähi (in office since April 17, 1995). The monetary unit is the Estonian kroon. Average life expectancy (as of 1998): 64 years - men, 75 years - women.
Estonia declared independence on August 20, 1991. The country is a member of the UN and the IMF.
Among the country's many attractions, one can note: in Narva - a medieval castle, in Tartu - the town hall building and one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe. In Tallinn there is an ensemble of the Old Town with numerous cathedrals, fortress walls and medieval towers. The upper city was built in the XIII-XIV centuries. Lower town - in the XIV-XVI centuries.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .
Natural conditions
Most of the territory is moraine plain. In the southeastern part, a strip of hilly hills begins (height up to 318 m); The northern and central parts are occupied by the Pandivere Hill (height up to 166 m). The climate is transitional: from maritime to continental. Average temperatures in February are -6 °C, in July - 17 °C. Precipitation is up to 700 mm per year. Latvia is rich in beautiful clean lakes. The largest are Chudsko-Pskovskoye and Vyrtsjärv. The Narva Reservoir is famous. The soils are predominantly sod-podzolic, sod-carbonate, and swampy. Forests occupy over 40% of the territory (two thirds of them are coniferous). Nature reserves: Viidumäe, Vilsandi, Matsalu, Nigula. Lahemaa National Park.

Economy
Estonia is an industrial-agrarian country. Leading industries: mechanical engineering and metalworking (electrical and radio engineering industry, instrument making and ship repair), chemical (production of mineral fertilizers, sulfuric acid, benzene, detergents, etc.), light (textile, etc.) and food (meat and dairy , fish, confectionery, etc.). The country has established production of building materials, pulp, and paper. Applied arts became widespread: leather goods, metal goods, textiles and knitted items.
Agriculture mainly specializes in dairy and beef cattle breeding and bacon pig farming. In crop production, preference is given to grain (42.2%; barley, rye, wheat) and feed crops (50.5%). They grow potatoes and vegetables. Main seaports: Tallinn, Novotallinsky. Navigation on the river Emajõgi. Latvia exports products from the electrical and radio-electronic industries, industrial equipment, chemicals, food and consumer goods. Main foreign trade partners: Russia, Eastern countries. and Sev. Europe. Resorts: Pärnu, Haapsalu, Narva-Joesuu, Kuressaare.
Story
By the 1st millennium AD The main groups of Estonian tribes formed; during this period, contacts between the Estonians (Chud in Russian chronicles) and the Eastern Slavs were established. Trade centers appeared on the site of modern Tallinn, Tartu, large settlements - Otepää, Valjala, Varbla, etc. In the 11th century. The Estonians made a number of campaigns in Russian and Scandinavian lands. In the 11th-12th centuries. unsuccessful attempts were made to annex the Estonians to the ancient Russian principalities. In the 13th century territorial associations-maakondas emerged.
From the 13th century Estonia was the object of German and then Danish aggression. In the 2nd quarter of the 13th - mid-16th century. the territory of Estonia, conquered by the German crusaders, was part of Livonia. At the end of the 16th century. Estonia is divided between Sweden (north), the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (south) and Denmark (Saaremaa); in the middle of the 17th century. the entire territory is under Swedish rule. According to the Treaty of Nystadt in 1721, Estonia became part of Russia. The abolition of serfdom in the Estland (1816) and Livonia (1819) provinces accelerated socio-economic development. At the end of October 1917, Soviet power was established. From November 29, 1918 to June 5, 1919, the Estonian Soviet Republic existed (name Estonian Labor Commune). On May 19, 1919, the Constituent Assembly proclaimed the creation of the Estonian Republic; in March 1934, a coup d'état was carried out in Estonia, a dictatorship was established, parliament was dissolved, and in 1935 all political parties were banned. In June 1940, Soviet troops were brought into Estonia. On July 21, 1940, the Estonian SSR was formed. On August 6, 1940, it was annexed by the USSR, and some Estonians were deported. By December 1941, Estonia was occupied by Nazi troops; released in 1944. In 1991, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Estonia adopted a resolution on the state independence of Estonia. In 2004, the country joined the EU and NATO.
Tourism and recreation
Tourism in Estonia is the third source of budget revenue. Tourism traditions generally date back to the middle of the last century. It was then that the northern and western coasts became a favorite place for recreation and restoration of health among the Russian nobility and intelligentsia. Now more and more services are offered by the resort cities of Pärnu, Haapsalu, Narva, Iyesuu. A large number of tourists visit another beautiful city in Estonia - Tartu. Lovers of a calm and measured holiday are attracted by the small resort town of Ust-Narva, located 14 km from Narva.

Cities
Paldiski is a small cozy town in the Harju region of Estonia, located 49 km from Tallinn and 80 km (by sea) from Finland on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. The city was founded by Peter I in the 17th century. Since then, many attractions have remained, but the most important is the Peter's Fortress. The town is ideal for a quiet family holiday: beautiful uncrowded beaches, sea air and pristine nature will ensure a good mood.
Viljandi is a county center in Estonia, located on the high bank of the low lake Viljandi, which stretches for more than 10 km. Population - 23 thousand inhabitants. The city has been known since 1211. Dense spruce forests on one bank and a steep, steep bank on the other gave it an advantageous position.
In 1224, the Crusaders built the Order Castle here, which is considered one of the largest in the Baltic. The city was part of the Hanseatic League and was in the possession of Russia, Poland, and Sweden. Until 1917 the official name of the city was Fellin. Despite the fact that the city is not large, it is full of various attractions and architectural monuments. For example, the city has preserved a beautiful medieval castle (13th century), across a deep moat there is a picturesque suspension bridge connecting the Castle with the city. The Church of St. Paul has been preserved - a striking example of the neo-Gothic architectural style. You can see many wonderful modern monuments.
Haapsalu (until 1917 the official name was Gapsal) is a tiny town on the western coast of Estonia, 100 km from Tallinn. Population - 12.5 thousand inhabitants. Considered the sunniest resort in Estonia, it is washed on three sides by the sea. Until 1917, the city was called Gaspal. City attractions, beautiful nature, clean air and the silence of coastal pine forests, a warm bay and picturesque reed thickets, sea bathing and the healing mud of the bays - all this attracts people to Haapsalu. The city was founded in 1279. For several centuries, Haapsalu was the center of the Catholic bishopric and was a fairly influential city. Here is an ancient bishop's castle from the 16th century. Subsequently, Haapsalu experienced the rule of the Swedes and Russians.
In 1825 it became a seaside resort, visited by members of the imperial family. Today, the preserved walking path along the seaside and the wooden Kursaal located there remind us of the rise of Haapsalu as a resort. It is interesting to see the sights of the town: the ruins and 38-meter watchtower of the bishop's castle, an alley with a memorial bench made of dolomite with a portrait of P. I. Tchaikovsky, the Town Hall building, the Dome Church with a round chapel of the 14th century. It is interesting to listen to the legend about the ghostly vision of the White Lady, who appears in the window of the sacristy of the Dome Church on a full moon night in August as a symbol of eternal love.

National cuisine
The range of Estonian national cuisine includes many dishes from pork (pork legs, pea soup from pork legs, boiled pork with vegetables, etc.), fish (pickled herring, herring soup, pickled herring, dishes from pike perch, flounder, etc.). Such national dishes as kama flour made from rye, peas, wheat and barley, consumed with milk or curdled milk, mulgikapsad - cabbage cooked with pork and cereals, blood sausage, blood dumplings, are very popular. Dairy products occupy a special place in Estonian cuisine. Milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, whipped cream, homemade cheese are included in the daily diet. We recommend trying sour oatmeal jelly.

National holidays
January 1 - New Year
February 24 - Independence Day
March/April - Easter
May 1 - Spring Festival
May/June - Trinity
June 23 - Victory Day (anniversary of the battle of Võnnu)
June 24 - Midsummer's Day Illustrated encyclopedic dictionary Modern encyclopedia

The largest shale mine in Europe. Production capacity 5.4 million tons of commercial oil shale per year. It is located in the middle part of the Estonian oil shale deposit, 20 km from the town of Kohtla Järve. Commissioned in 1972 together with enrichment, f... ... Geological encyclopedia

- (Estonia), state in the east. coast of the Baltic Sea. Annexed by Russia in 1709, it regained its independence in 1918 during the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. The most important event in the history of Egypt in the 1920s. agrarian reform has become paradise... ... World history

Republic of Estonia

The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the people - Estonians.

Capital

Square

Population

1423 thousand people

Republic Estonia- a state in the north-west of Eastern Europe. In the north it is washed by the Gulf of Finland, in the west by the Baltic Sea. In the east the country borders with Russia, including Lake Peipsi, and in the south with Latvia. Estonia owns more than 1,500 islands, the largest of which are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.

Administrative division

Estonia is divided into 15 maakunds (counties) and 6 centrally subordinate cities.

Form of government

Parliamentary republic.

Head of State

President, elected by parliament for a 5-year term.

Supreme legislative body

Sejm, whose term of office is 5 years.

Supreme executive body

Government.

Major cities

Tartu, Narva.

State language

Estonian.

Religion

70% are Lutherans, 20% are Orthodox.

Ethnic composition

61.5% are Estonians, 30.3% are Russians, 3.2% are Ukrainians, 1.8% are Belarusians, 1.1% are Finns.

Currency

Climate

The climate is transitional from continental to maritime. The average temperature in summer is + 15°C, in winter - 4°C. August and autumn are rainy. Precipitation is 600-700 mm per year.

Flora

Estonia is located in a mixed forest zone. The country's territory covered with forests is 38%, two thirds are coniferous (spruce, pine). Meadows are located in the north-west of the country and on the islands. Swamps occupy about 20% of the territory.

Fauna

Among the mammals that live in Estonia are elk, roe deer, wild boar, brown hare, mountain hare, wolf, fox, and birds - wood grouse, hazel grouse, black grouse, partridge, oriole, and many migratory birds. Commercial fish - herring, sprat, pike perch, cod, eel.

Rivers and lakes

Estonia has 420 small rivers, the largest of which are Pärnu, Emajõgi, Narva, Kazari. In terms of the area of ​​lakes and reservoirs, the republic ranks first in the Baltic states.

Attractions

In Tallinn - the Old Town, the town hall, the Oleviste guild of the 15th century, the Dominican monastery, St. Michael's Cathedral, St. Brigid's Cathedral, the Kadriorg Palace of the 18th century, 19 museums, including the house museum of Peter I. In Tartu - the town hall, Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, in Narva - a fortress of the 15th century. There are more than 50 stone medieval castles scattered throughout the country. Singing festivals, which are held in Tallinn and promote the development of choral singing, are very popular.

Useful information for tourists

Of interest to tourists are primarily the numerous shops selling folk art, handicrafts, jewelry, leather goods, souvenirs, and antiques. These stores are located mainly in the old parts of cities and are usually open from 9.00 to 18.00. In large cities, department stores and supermarkets are open until 20.00. Many shops are also open on Sundays. Recently, chain stores with 24-hour opening hours have appeared. In restaurants, hotels and taxis, tips are included in the cost of services. But you have the right to reward the service staff additionally for good service.