Estonia territory. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Estonia

Republic of Estonia.

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

Capital of Estonia. Tallinn.

Estonia area. 45227 km2.

Population of Estonia. 1.311 million people (

Estonia GDP. $26.49 billion (

Location of Estonia. The Republic of Estonia is a state in the northwest of Eastern Europe. In the north it is washed by the sea, in the west. In the east the country borders with Russia, including on, in the south - with. Estonia owns more than 1,500 islands, the largest of which are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.

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

Form of government of Estonia. Parliamentary republic.

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

Supreme legislative body of Estonia. Sejm, whose term of office is 5 years.

Supreme executive body of Estonia. Government.

Major cities in Estonia. Tartu, Narva.

Official language of Estonia. Estonian.

Religion of Estonia. 70% are Lutherans, 20% are Orthodox.

Ethnic composition of Estonia. 61.5% - , 30.3% - Russians, 3.2% - , 1.8% - , 1.1% - Finns.

Republic, state in East Europe, washed by the Gulf of Finland and Riga 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 a 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 general edition acad. 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 temperature July approx. 16° C on the coast and approx. 17°C at inland areas countries; The average February temperature ranges 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. Due to the diversity of source rocks, hydrological regime and relief conditions, a variegated soil cover. 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. On far north and the northeast there are areas of podzolic stony 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 Peipsi flows into 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. Largest lake of the country 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.
Vegetable 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. They grow on sandy soils in the southeast of the country. pine forests. 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. Low-lying, periodically flooded coastal strip occupied by seaside 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. North of Lake Peipsi wide use have swampy forests.
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 western coastal areas and on the 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-snouted 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, it is typical for Estonia careful attitude to nature. In order to study it, preserve the gene pool and protect landscapes, several national parks and state reserves and reserves. In total, approximately 10% of Estonia's territory is protected. In 1995, parliament adopted a law on the country's sustainable development, 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.
Second World War and subsequent decades 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 classified as age group from 15 to 65 years.
The highest concentration of population is observed in urbanized areas industrial areas 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 there is a large university town Tartu, and in the southwest - 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 decreasing (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 publication and import were strictly prohibited religious literature. 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 – political, economic and Cultural Center countries. 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 members 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 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 crimes, the legality of police activities in solving crimes, the legality of deprivation of liberty, the presentation of public prosecution.
Local control. IN 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 they are elected by universal suffrage for a three-year term. 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.
Nine parties and electoral alliances were represented in the parliament, elected on September 20, 1992, including the Fatherland Union (30 of 101 seats), Safe Home(17 seats), Popular Front (15 seats), “Moderates” (Social Democrats and members of the Rural Center Party - 12 seats) and the Independence Party (11 seats). In March 1995 they won the parliamentary elections opposition parties: Coalition Party (41 seats out of 101), Reform Party (19 seats) and 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 repressed
In the fall of 1991, after regaining independence, Estonia began creating an internal security and defense system. The Constitution provides military service, but also includes alternative service for persons who refuse to serve in the army for religious and other reasons. Estonia has created a land army, a naval coast guard, an air defense force, and a naval Border Service, security service (internal and border). Military expenses amount to approx. 2% of the budget. Estonia actively participates in UN peacekeeping activities 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 beneficial geographical position. In the 1980s, a new large Tallinn seaport, Muuga, was built. Since the beginning of the 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, but due to low level extraction technologies, 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), in Sillamäe there is a production plant 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 in the following way: 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 state 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, the 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.
The 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. Later Estonia became a kind of experimental laboratory for Soviet agriculture, especially in the sphere 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 of products 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.
IN Soviet time When most of the fish caught and processed was sent to the vast domestic market of the USSR, fishing took 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.
Developed both domestic and international air service. Flights to many European capitals and CIS cities operate through Tallinn Airport.
International 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 last years Trade turnover is rapidly increasing. Thus, in 2000 compared to 1999, exports increased by 52%, imports by 43%. The main exports are machinery and equipment (37.4% in the 2000 export structure), wood and woodworking products (13.4%), metals and metalworking 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.
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 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 moral problems 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, 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. Estonian National Museum, created 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–1930s, the leading scientific center country was the University of Tartu, where special attention was paid to research in the field of Estonian philology and literature, history, ethnography and medicine. IN 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.
Facilities mass media. In 1930, 276 newspapers and magazines were published in Estonia; by 1980, their number had decreased to 148. In 1990, censorship was abolished printed publications and the media. 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–1930s, the country took part in 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, and Religious holidays: Christmas and Easter.
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, as 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) it collapsed Livonian Order: 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, who 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 order were cancelled, 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 democratic republic, in which power belonged to a unicameral parliament. In December 1924 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, troops invaded Estonia fascist Germany 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 undertook massive repressions (many experts public figures and wealthy peasants were arrested and deported). It was liquidated in 1945 private property in the industrial sector, in 1947 - in trade. 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 central government bodies and the newspaper Pravda.
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 harm to the country. environmental damage. 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 in June 1992 of a new currency - the Estonian kroon, pegged to German mark, 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 Estonia (6).
In August 1994, units were withdrawn from Estonia Russian army. 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 president of the country former chairman Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Estonian SSR Arnold Ruutel.
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

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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 city- in the XIV-XVI centuries.

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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 soddy-podzolic, soddy-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 sea ​​ports: 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) were established Eastern Slavs. 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 island); 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 it was installed Soviet authority. From November 29, 1918 to June 5, 1919, the Estonian Soviet Republic existed (name Estonian Labor Commune). May 19, 1919 constituent Assembly proclaimed the creation of the Republic of Estonia; 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 rest
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 shore 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), with 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, fresh air and the silence of the coastal pine forests, the 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 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, and 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. became agrarian reform, the edges… … The World History

Useful information for tourists about Estonia, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Estonia, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in Estonia.

Geography of Estonia

Estonia is a country in northeastern Europe, on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It borders with Russia and Latvia. In the north it is washed by the Gulf of Finland, in the west by the Baltic Sea. Estonia owns more than 1,500 islands, the largest of which are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The relief is predominantly flat with an extensive network of lakes.

State

State structure

The form of government is a republic. The head of state is the president, the legislative body is the State Assembly.

Language

Official language: Estonian

Widely spoken are English, Russian, Finnish and German.

Religion

The majority of believers are Lutherans (70%) and Orthodox (20%).

Currency

International name: EUR

From 1992 to 2010, the country used the Estonian kroon. The transition to the euro took place on January 1, 2011.

History of Estonia

The territory of modern Estonia was inhabited approximately two and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ. The advantageous geographical position at the crossroads of trade routes from East to West and from North to South led to great interest in this piece of land, prompted many kings to undertake military campaigns and gave rise to many disputes.

Since the 13th century, Estonia has been under the influence of the Teutonic Order. Knight's castles, which have survived to a greater or lesser extent to this day, are one of the most important tourist sites.

In 1285 Tallinn became part of the Hanseatic League. German merchants conducted mainly trade business. Subsequent generations of Germans, who finally settled in Estonia, built family estates countrywide. The Germans were the first wave in a long line of conquerors. Danes, Swedes, Poles and Russians all marched across Estonia, imposing their will, erecting cities and castles, exporting goods through Estonian ports.

At the end of the 19th century, a wave of national liberation movement arose in Estonia. On February 24, 1918, Estonia declared its independence. True, Estonia did not remain free for long. In 1940 Estonia was annexed to Soviet Union, and only in 1991 (August 20) was it able to regain independence, leaving the USSR peacefully. Today the country is a member of the UN and the IMF.

The territory of modern Estonia was inhabited approximately two and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ. The advantageous geographical position at the crossroads of trade routes from East to West and from North to South led to great interest in this piece of land, prompted many kings to go on military campaigns and gave rise to many disputes....

Popular attractions

Tourism in Estonia

Where to stay

All of Estonia is one huge resort. Hotels and sanatoriums are located here wherever there are suitable conditions for this. After the country gained independence, the number of hotels increased from several dozen to several hundred. Estonia has a fairly developed tourism industry, which is reflected in the breadth and quality of the hotel stock, as well as a really high level of service in hotels.

The country's hotels have a standard five-star classification plus a separate classification of motels from one to three stars - everything is strictly controlled at the state level.

In one-star hotels in Estonia, the reception is open from 7.00 to 23.00. In rooms ranging from 9 sq. m and above there is a bath, toilet and towels. Breakfast is included in the price. Unlike one-star rooms, two-star rooms have a telephone and at least 10% of these rooms are non-smoking.

In three-star hotels, the reception is open 24 hours a day. Guests have access to computers with the Internet, and each room has a TV. Breakfast, if desired by the guest, is served in the room. Daytime and evening meals are provided at the hotel restaurant.

Four-star hotels in most cases have an elevator. The rooms are equipped with comfortable furniture, TV with international channels, minibar and computer with Internet access. Hot meals can be served in your room at least 16 hours a day. In addition to this range of services, five-star hotels are distinguished by round-the-clock service, the presence of their own restaurant, swimming pool and fitness center.

For more budget-conscious tourists, Estonia always has a choice between small private hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, hostels and campsites (both tent camps and caravan parks).

Many old sanatoriums and boarding houses have been completely converted into modern medical and health complexes, where tourists are offered a variety of health programs and SPA services.

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Excursions and attractions in Estonia

Estonia is a small charming country on the Baltic Sea coast. Its centuries-old history, rich cultural heritage and magnificent natural landscapes will fill your holiday unforgettable impressions. Here you will find the picturesque shores of the Gulf of Finland and Riga, many beautiful islands, dense forests, lakes, nature reserves and National parks. It will be a great pleasure to get to know ancient cities and colorful fishing villages, as well as visit magnificent medieval castles, interesting museums, ancient churches and monasteries.

The capital of Estonia, Tallinn, is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. Special attention The historical center of Tallinn, the Old Town, certainly deserves. Its narrow winding streets, remains of fortress walls, medieval towers, ancient houses with red tiled roofs and numerous weather vanes create a magical atmosphere and unique flavor. It is definitely worth visiting Toompea Castle, Tallinn Town Hall, St. Olav and St. Nicholas Churches, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Glen Castle, Kadriorg Palace, Church of the Holy Spirit, Niguliste Church, Maarjamägi Castle, Estonian Maritime Museum, Art Museum, Botanical Garden and Zoo. In the vicinity of Tallinn, the Estonian Museum under open air Rocca al Mare and the ruins of the monastery of St. Brigid.

Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia and its cultural center. Among the many attractions of the city of Tartu, the most interesting are Toomemägi Hill (Domberg) with the ruins of Peter and Paul Cathedral (Dome Cathedral), the Tartu Observatory and the Old Anatomicum, the Town Hall and Town Hall Square, John's Church, the Estonian National Museum, National Gallery, Toy Museum, Oscar Lutz House Museum, Angel's and Devil's Bridges, Botanical Garden and St. Anthony's Metochion.

Very popular among tourists ancient city Narva and its main attraction is Hermann's Narva Castle. Also worth visiting in Narva are the Alexander Church, the Town Hall, the Resurrection Cathedral, the Narva Museum, the Art Gallery and the oldest park in Narva - the Dark Garden. Special interest also represents the complex of buildings of the Krenholm manufactory, located on the island of the same name.

Estonia includes more than one and a half thousand islands and Saaremaa is not only the largest of them, but, perhaps, the most interesting. Its main attraction, the Bishop's Castle in Kuressaare (the largest settlement on the island), is considered the only medieval castle, completely preserved to this day in the Baltic countries. Today the castle houses the Saaremaa Museum and Art Gallery. Among the natural attractions of the island, the Kaali lakes should be noted ( meteorite crater) and Karujärv. Lovers of nature and silence will have a lot of fun taking a walk through the Viidumäe nature reserve. The island of Saaremaa is also known for its excellent mud baths. Definitely worth a visit and picturesque islands Hiiumaa and Vormsi.

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:

The area of ​​the land: 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 reaches +20-24 C in July; 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

Vegetable 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 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 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 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 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-snouted 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 wildlife sanctuaries have been created. In total, approximately 10% of Estonia's territory is protected. In 1995, parliament adopted a law on the country's sustainable development, 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 with items 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.

Charming Estonia offers holidays on the picturesque Baltic coast and relaxation on the lake shores, a rich excursion program and treatment on mineral springs. Ancient Tallinn, resort Pärnu and the island of Saaremaa - all about Estonia: visa, map, tours, prices and reviews.

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Holidays in Estonia have a number of obvious advantages: proximity to Russia (you can get here in a few hours by bus from St. Petersburg), the process of obtaining a visa is not too complicated, the absence of a language barrier (in large cities almost everyone speaks Russian), and a high level of service. And the Estonian “excursion” is generally beyond praise: it’s even surprising how so many attractions fit into such a small country. Finally, in the summer you can sunbathe, swim, and at the same time improve your health.

All of Estonia is one big resort: hotels and sanatoriums are springing up wherever there are suitable conditions. Lovers of a quiet and secluded holiday can have a good rest on the islands, as well as on farms and farms in the Estonian “outback”. The country's entry into Schengen did not make obtaining a visa a more complicated procedure (however, it did not simplify it), but it opened the borders of many European countries to its guests.

Regions and resorts of Estonia

Time difference from Moscow

no in winter −1 hour

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• from Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

Climate

The weather in Estonia is subject to the whims of the Baltic. The climate here is temperate, moving from maritime to continental. The west coast is slightly warmer than the southwest, but overall the temperature difference is not significant. Winters are most often mild and snowy, but the local weather has seven Fridays a week: clear sunshine can suddenly give way to gusty winds and prickly rain. Most precipitation falls in autumn, but an umbrella will come in handy at the end of August. Spring is gray and cool, summer is warm, but not stuffy (winds from the Baltic Sea save you from the heat).

Officially, the swimming season lasts from June to August, but it is more comfortable to swim from mid-July: shallow coastal waters warm up to +20...+25 °C by this time.

Visa and customs

Estonia is a member of the Schengen Agreement. A visa and travel health insurance are required to visit the country.

The import and export of foreign currency is not limited, but amounts over 10,000 EUR must be declared. There are no restrictions on the import of personal items; meat and dairy products are prohibited. You can carry 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco. Customs will allow 1 liter of strong drinks (with an alcohol content of more than 22°) or 2 liters with an alcohol content of less than 22°, 4 liters of wine and 16 liters of beer. You can take 50 ml of perfume or 250 ml of eau de toilette with you. Medicines - in the quantity necessary for personal use, baby and medical food - up to 2 kg per person (packages must be sealed). The import of drugs, weapons, explosives, pornography and any counterfeit goods is strictly prohibited. Exported from Estonia cultural values must be accompanied by official certificates. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Tax free

Shopping in Estonia can become 20% more profitable if you meet all the conditions of the Tax free system. This is not difficult to do: just make purchases worth at least 39 EUR in stores marked with appropriate signs and ask the seller for two receipts - a regular cash receipt and a special one, with a list of purchased goods, indicating VAT rates and the buyer’s personal data. All this will be needed at customs at the airport: unpacked goods will be inspected, a Tax Free check will be stamped, and at the Global Blue office they will give you the required amount in cash or arrange a bank transfer.

How to get to Estonia

The largest airport in Estonia, Tallinn Airport, is located within the capital, just 4 km from its historical center. Direct flights from Moscow are operated only by Aeroflot, departure from Sheremetyevo, you will spend 1 hour 40 minutes in the air. Getting there with one transfer is a little more profitable: Air Baltic has routes with a connection in Riga, the journey duration is from 3 hours 20 minutes. LOT, UTair, Es Seven and other carriers organize flights with two transfers, the journey takes from 5.5 hours, connections in Riga, St. Petersburg, Vilnius and other European cities.

There are no direct flights from St. Petersburg to Tallinn. Air Baltic flies via Riga (from 3 hours in the air), Norra and Finnair - via Helsinki (from 7 hours), Scandinavian Airlines - via Stockholm (from 4 hours), LOT - via Warsaw (from 20 hours).

You can also get to the Estonian capital by land. The Baltic Express runs between Moscow and Tallinn, starting from Leningradsky station and the next one to the destination is 15.5 hours. Tickets in a reserved seat - 80 EUR, in a compartment - 95 EUR. You can also take the same train in St. Petersburg, at the Moskovsky station: the trip will cost 40 EUR and 50 EUR, respectively. Ecolines buses also depart from both Russian capitals to Tallinn: tickets from Moscow - 55 EUR, from St. Petersburg - 20 EUR, schedule and details - at the office. carrier's website.

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To Estonia by car

You can also get to Estonia by car (just under 8 hours drive from St. Petersburg) through the checkpoints of Narva, Pechora and Luhamaa. However, keep in mind that there may be a long queue at the border.

Information about border checkpoints: Pärnu is located at the same distance from the checkpoint of Narva and Kunichnaya Gora (which is near Pskov), but the queue is traditionally much shorter at Kunichnaya Gora. But on the way back, you can reserve your place in the queue on the GoSwift website. Reservations can be made 90 days in advance. Next, the procedure is simple - drive up to Narva, go to the “station” (turn right immediately after the first gas station when entering the city, and look for a small sign on the left hand side on the concrete fence). As soon as the reservation number is displayed, go to the window, go through the necessary procedures and after that go directly to the checkpoint. Don't forget to take out Green Card insurance in advance.

Transport

The main means of transportation between Estonian cities is the train. The railway network is maintained by Elron (office site), the rolling stock has recently been updated: the seats are now soft, there are blackout curtains on the windows, Wi-Fi is available in the cars. Tickets are sold at the box office and online, and electronic tickets do not need to be printed: special machines read them directly from the display.

A trip from the capital to Tartu will cost from 10.50 EUR, to Narva - from 11.40 EUR.

An alternative to trains are buses: intercity transport strictly follows the schedule and stops in the centers of all settlements. The largest carriers are Sebe, Lux Express (office site), Simple Express (office site). The cost of a trip from Tallinn to Pärnu is 6-9 EUR, to Haapsalu - 8 EUR.

Ferries operate between numerous Estonian islands. Ticket prices range from 3-4 EUR depending on the distance, standard surcharge for a car is 10 EUR.

Public transport within cities

Buses operate in most Estonian cities; there are also trolleybuses and trams in the capital. Tickets are sold at kiosks (1 EUR) and from drivers (2 EUR); it is more profitable to purchase reusable electronic cards (from 3 EUR) and top them up with the required amount. By the way, Tallinn residents themselves use public transport completely free of charge.

Tourists rarely need taxis in Estonia: most attractions are located within walking distance of each other. However, you can always catch a car on the street or call by phone, the average tariff for landing is 2 EUR, for each km - 0.50-1 EUR, at night - twice as expensive.

Bicycles are rented out in specialized showrooms and large hotels. The 1st hour of rental costs from 1.60 EUR, each subsequent one - from 1.40 EUR, a day - from 10 EUR (plus a required deposit - 100 EUR). The trip will be as eventful as possible if you pick up a brochure with detailed cycling routes from the travel agency.

Rent a Car

If traveling around Estonia is not limited to Tallinn, renting a car is a very good solution. In the capital, the old center is given over to pedestrians; attractions are located close to each other. But beyond its borders there is complete freedom of movement: the roads are good, ferries deliver cars to the large islands.

Rental offices are located at the airport and big cities, the most popular are Alamo, Inter Rent, addCar, Prime Car Rent. Cars are rented to drivers over 19 years of age with insurance and an international license valid for more than a year. Some companies charge additional rates for customers under 25 years of age. In addition to the rental fee, you will need to pay a deposit (about 450 EUR) from a bank card. The cost of renting a standard car is from 35 EUR, a station wagon - from 40 EUR, a premium model or SUV - from 70 EUR per day. Gasoline costs 1.10-1.20 EUR per liter; when returning the car you will have to fill up a full tank.

Fines for violating traffic rules are severe: from 70 EUR for talking on a mobile phone to 1200 EUR for speeding or drunk driving.

Traffic jams only occur in the capital, where it is most difficult to find a parking space. Most parking lots in the centers of large cities are paid and equipped with parking meters. You can leave a car for an hour for 0.60-5 EUR, depending on the area.

Communication and Wi-Fi

Using Estonian SIM cards is quite profitable. The key players in the mobile communications market are Tele2, EMT and Elisa; it is most convenient for tourists to connect the so-called conversational SIM cards (konekaart), the activation of which does not require any special formalities. They are sold at gas stations, supermarkets and kiosks of the R-kiosk network and cost from 2-3 EUR. If you wish, you can choose an additional package with Internet traffic for 4-10 EUR.

Calls to your home country with an EMT operator will cost 0.50 EUR per minute; Tele2 has a special “Russia” tariff for 5 EUR with 50 minutes of calls included for a month.

You can no longer find payphones on the streets of Estonian cities: they were eliminated as unnecessary back in 2010. But there are no problems with the Internet: unlimited free Wi-Fi is available at the airport, restaurants, hotels and many public places in large cities and resorts.

Money

The country's currency is the Euro (EUR), 1 euro equals 100 euro cents. Current rate: 1 EUR = 73.61 RUB.

It is best to go to Estonia with euros in your pocket: rubles are exchanged here, but the exchange rate is not very attractive. Dollars are accepted in all banks and exchange offices Eurex, Tavid and Monex, located everywhere: at the airport, hotels, large shopping malls, railway stations. The most favorable rates are usually in banks; many exchangers charge a commission for transactions.

Tipping is voluntary: you can always thank an attentive waiter with 5-10% of the bill, but no one will judge you for paying strictly according to the check.

Estonian banks are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00; exchange offices often work longer. Some financial institutions They are also open on Saturdays (until lunch), but Sundays are closed everywhere. Credit cards of common payment systems are accepted in both large stores and small souvenir shops. There are ATMs even in the outback, and they are safe to use: credit card fraud is rare in Estonia.