Everything about Estonia

1. Estonia
(EE)
World tourism Geography & Culture
Tiwan, Alexis Mendez. Sept. 2015
TM2-01 A5
General Info:

2. Estonia, offically the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe.
o The territory of Estonia covers 45,227 km².
o The population is about 1,3 million people.
o The capital of Estonia is Tallinn, which is also the largest city in Estonia.
o Estonia is divided into 15 counties.
The official language is Estonian, it is a Finno-ugric language and closely related
to Finnish.
Estonian flag- blue symbolizing the blue sky above the native land, black symbolizing
the attachment to Estonia’s black soil and white, hard work and purity.
Coat of arms of Estonia
Estonia's coat has two forms: large and small coat of arms.
A large coat of arms have three blue lions on a golden shield and the tip-looking lion.
AREA:
total: 45,228 sq km
country comparison to the world: 133 land: 42,388 sq km
water: 2,840 sq km :includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Facts:
Heart of Estonia – Paide
Area - 45 227 km²
Capital – Tallinn
Summer Capital – Pärnu
Population – 1 ,5 million
History
Previously ruled by Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian governments, but finally
free to govern itself in 1994
Religion

3. Estonians are considered the most non-religious people in the 25-member EU,
according to the Eurobarometer Poll 2005
Demographics
Population:1.3 million (July 2010)
67.5% of the population is between15-64 years
Literacy Rate: 99.8%
Urban Population: 73%
Rising middle-class in the last five years- the number of Estonians who have minimum
purchasing power continues to fall
People and Society
Ethnic groups:
Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%
LANGUAGES
Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%
RELIGION
54.1%, unspecified 16.7%
MONEY
Kroon (EEK) per US 0.7697 (2013 est.)
Government
Estonia is a parliamentary representative democratic republic in which the Prime
Minister of Estonia is the head of government and which includes a multi-party system.
The political culture is stable in Estonia, where power is held between two to three
parties that have been in politics for a long time. This situation is similar to other
countries in Northern Europe. The former Prime Minister of Estonia, Andrus Ansip, is
also Europe's longest-serving prime minister .
Chief of State: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006)
Head of Government: Taavi ROIVAS (since 26 March 2014)

4. Cabinet: Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
(Elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second
term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of
balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus
members of local councils) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates
with the highest number of votes; election last held on 29 August 2011 (next to be held
in the fall of 2016); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by
Parliament
Election Results: Toomas Hendrik ILVES reelected President; parliamentary vote -
Toomas Hendrik ILVES 73, Indrek TARAND 25
Money and Currency
Estonia joined the EURO-zone in the beginning of 2011 - and now, EURO is the official
currency.
The value of the Estonian Kroon (eek) was fixed to the €. The smaller unit was called
the Cent, 1 kroon = 100 cents. 1 EUR = 15,65 kroons(EEK).
Culture
 Population of Estonia (2007): 1‘342‘000 inhabitants, this is 30 inhabitants per km2
 Almost one third of the population lives in Tallinn
 68.6% are of Estonian origin
 25.7% have a Russian origin
 Small groups are from Belarus, Ukraine and Finland
 In Tallinn 45% of the inhabitants are not from Estonia
The integration of Russian and other foreign people has not been successful
à Estonian people are more often in a leading position, Russian people are
more often in service sector and branch of production
The culture has been shaped by its regimes from Denmark, Germany, Sweden and
Russia
From 1850, there has been a Russification under the regime of the tsar
This day, Estonian culture orients itself to Finland (affinity of the two languages)

5. Culture: Religion
Religion is important only for a minority of Estonia's population.
The majority of the Estonian people are non-denominational
Only 30% of the population are members of a Christian church (evangelic, orthodox,
baptism or roman-catholic)
The ten most important Christian church of Estonia have joint forces to the council of
Christian churches of Estonia.
A particularity are the 5‘000 old-orthodox people who escaped to the Russian
borderland in the 18th century.
Besides, there are some small Jewish and Islamic communities
Highlights of History
In the area that now forms present-day Estonia, the first settlements occurred some
11,000 years ago, after the ice cap retreated.
13th century, first half.
During the 12th century the Baltic region had been in the hands of the Teutonic Knights.
Estonia was incorporated into Christendom at the beginning of the 13th century, under
the pressure of crusaders from Germany and Denmark.
14th century.
In the Baltic region, power was now in the hands of the Hanseatic League. Several
Estonian towns and cities belonged to the League, including Tallinn (Reval), which had
received its city charter as early as 1248.
16th century, first half.
The Reformation reaches Estonia, which from then on remained a part of the Lutheran
cultural space.
16th century, second half - 17th century.
From 1558 onwards, Estonia became the battleground for a war involving Denmark,
Sweden, Russia and Poland. Sweden came out as winner, and Estonia remained under
her sphere of influence until the beginning of the 18th century. During Swedish rule,
the first university in Estonia was founded at Tartu in 1632.
18th century.
The Great Northern War left Estonia under Russian rule (1721). Estonia became a
window through which Peter the Great wished to gain access to Europe.

6. 19th century.
The winds of numerous national movements blow through the whole of Europe. In
Estonia, the period of national awakening commences. In 1862, a national epic
"Kalevipoeg" was published. A high point of the Estonian national movement was the
first nation-wide Song Festival organised by Johann Voldemar Jannsen and the
“Vanemuine” society in Tartu in June 1869.
1918.
On the 24th of February the Estonian Republic was proclaimed. At first this was merely
a decision made on paper. True independence was fought for over the period 1918 to
1920, during the War of Liberation. The struggle was crowned with success, and a
treaty was finally signed with Soviet Russia, which revoked in perpetuity all claims over
Estonia.
1918-1939.
This was the period of the first sovereign republic. During independence, Estonia
established diplomatic relations and made its existence felt throughout Europe.
Independence was curtailed by the signing of the Pact between Nazi Germany and the
Soviet Union in 1939.
1940-1991.
Following the Soviet occupation in 1940, Estonia was occupied by Nazi Germany from
1941 until 1944. The Soviet Union incorporates Estonia in the fall of 1944. A large
proportion of the population fled abroad. Many others were arrested and deported to
Siberia. Those who remained, had to adjust to a new way of life.
The end of the 20th century.
Estonia succeeded in regaining independence by way of the Singing Revolution of
1988. She has been fully independent once more since 1991.
2004.
Estonia became a NATO member state on 29 March 2004 and a European Union
member state on 1 May 2004.
2011.
From 1 January 2011 Estonia is member of eurozone and the currency in Estonia
is euro.
Estonian Holidays
Public Holidays
1 January - New Year's Day

7. 24 February - Independence Day (1918), the 96th anniversary of the declaration
founding the Republic of Estonia. After this declaration Estonia was forced to fight a war
of independence against Soviet Russia in the east and Baltic-German forces in the
south. During this war Estonia secured its borders and concluded the Tartu Peace
Treaty with Soviet Russia on 2 February 1920.
3 April - Good Friday
5 April - Easter Sunday
1 May - Spring Day
24 May – Pentecost
24 June - St John's Day or Midsummer Day (Jaanipäev) and its important Midsummer
Eve is a traditional celebration held on the night of 23-24 June. This day marks a day
closest to the longest day of the year when twilight and dawn appear to merge. The
evening of the 23rd and well into the morning of the 24th is celebrated with bonfires and
a traditional festive menu.
20 August - Day of Restoration of Independence. Dramatic developments in the Soviet
Union in August 1991 resulted in the three Baltic countries finally regaining their
independence. On 20 August 1991, Estonia issued a decision on the re-establishment
of independence on the basis of historical continuity of statehood.
24 December - Christmas Eve
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - Boxing Day
National holidays
6 January - Epiphany
2 February - Anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty, which was signed on 2 February
1920 in Tartu between Soviet Russia and Estonia. With this treaty Soviet Russia finally
recognised the independence of Estonia.

8. 14 March - Native Language Day
10 May - Mothers' Day
4 June - National Flag Day. The Estonian tricolour flag was first consecrated as the flag
of the Estonian Student Society on 4 June 1884 in Otepää.
14 June - Day of Mourning and Commemoration. On 14 June 1941 the first mass
deportation from the Baltic States took place. Over 10,000 Estonians were deported to
Siberia that day. Another largest deportation took place in March 1949, when more than
20,000 Estonians were deported to Siberia. Altogether up to 60,000 Estonians were
killed or deported in the 1940s.
23 August - Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism
22 September - Resistance Fighting Day. On 22 September 1944, Soviet troops
conquered Tallinn. The Estonian national tricolour was torn from the flagstaff on
Tallinn's Pikk Hermann Tower and was replaced by the symbol of the new occupation,
the Soviet banner.
17 October - Tribal Day. On the third Saturday of October, "Tribal Day" is celebrated in
Estonia. With this occasion, Estonia's place in the Finno-Ugric family of nations is
publicized. It is a day for cherishing Estonia's unique linguistic and cultural identity as
well as a day for thinking about other Finno-Ugric peoples, introducing their languages
and cultures.
2 November - All Souls' Day
8 November - Fathers' Day
16 November - Day of Declaration of Sovereignty. On 16 November 1988, the Supreme
Soviet of the Estonian SSR adopted a declaration of national sovereignty under which
Estonian laws should have the precedence over the Soviet Union ones.
Flag Days
On 1 January 2006, the new State Flag Act entered into force in Estonia. The most
important change introduced by the new law is that all individuals have the right to use
the state flag as a national flag whenever they feel it fit to do so, but the use of the flag
must be appropriate and respectful of time-honoured traditions. State flags are
permanently flown over state institutions, local and city governments, and also at border
crossing points.

9. The new law reduces the number of official flag days from fifteen to thirteen, including 9
May and Europe Day. Election days and referendum days are also flag days. However,
flags must be hoisted on all buildings on only three of these days.
Another major change compared to the past situation is the hoisting of state flags on
school and university buildings on all schooldays. This regulation entered into force on
the 1 September 2005.
Tourist Destinations in Estonia
Despite being a tiny little country off in the middle of nowhere, Estonia happens to be
the home of one of Europe’s most picturesque medieval cities, plenty of seaside
beach towns, impressive castles, outdoorsy hiking opportunities, and friendly kids
whose English is better than yours. With plenty of places to visit in Estonia, it’s no
surprise that it’s becoming a popular destination for plenty of backpackers visiting
Eastern Europe, who linger beyond their planned itinerary, enjoying the lively but cozy
atmosphere of the cities, or the laid-back beauty of the smaller towns.
Best places to visit in Estonia?
Estonia is easily explorable, with any destination just a few hours away by bus,
making it easy to get around to all sorts of attractions without much trouble. You can
easily spend one day in a city, explore a castle the next, hike around a national park on
the third, and relax on a beach on the fourth.
So if you’re wondering what to see in Estonia, here’s a list of some of the major
attractions for all types, from history and architecture fans to the outdoorsy crowd:
Major Estonian cities
They’re called “cities,” but Estonia’s urban environments are compact, walkable, and
often free of cars in many of the areas you’ll visit. Even the biggest cities in Estonia feel
like adorable little towns, and you can easily spend more time in each one than you
planned.
• Tallinn: The Estonian capital and easily one of the most picturesque medieval
towns you’ll find anywhere in Europe, Tallinn’s winding maze of cobblestone
streets, church towers, medieval walls, and lively bar scene will keep you around a

10. while longer than you really need. Check out some fun activities to see what you
can find.
• Tartu: Estonia’s second largest city and home to Tartu University, this is a major
student town with a cozy atmosphere, winding rivers, some rather attractive
architecture, and far fewer tourists.
Beachside cities
Want a break from the city? Estonia’s lengthy coastline offers some nice
beaches for relaxing and soaking up the sun. Haapsalu is particularly close to Tallinn,
and an early morning bus ride means you could get your sunshine fix as part of a day
trip, but the cities are charming enough to stick around longer.
• Haapsalu: A popular seaside resort, with some historical buildings for a
sightseeing break from the beach, including some impressive castle ruins.
• Pärnu: Another major beach city, Pärnu is popular with Estonian vacationers
who show up for the massive beach and small-town atmosphere.
Castles
Estonia’s medieval heritage is on full display, not only in the stone walls of the capital,
but in plenty of other old military fortifications sprinkled throughout the country. If you’re
a huge castle nerd (and who isn’t?) then you won’t want to miss these:
• Rakvere: Probably Estonia’s most impressive castle, situated up on a hill in all its
crumbling glory. Rakvere also has a massive statue of a bull. Because why not?
• Narva: Narva gives you a 2 for 1 castle discount: Narva has a castle, and
Ivangorod, the Russian town just over the border, has its own. They stare each
other down across the river and it’s pretty great.
• Haapsalu: The aforementioned seaside beach town has some impressive castle
ruins, so it’s worth a visit for more than just swimming and sunshine.
• Kuressaare: You’re more likely to visit Kuressaare as part of a visit to the island
of Saaremaa rather than sail over just for a castle visit, but it’s an impressive
square-shaped structure nonetheless, with a picturesque moat crossing to get
there.
Islands
Plenty of Estonian islands populate the Baltic Sea, though they’re far enough off the
beaten track for most tourists that you can enjoy these areas in relative isolation. Even
the biggest island has only one city!

11. • Saaremaa: Estonia’s biggest island is home to Kuressaare, its only city (which is
still tiny!), which is home to a small castle. Attractions throughout the island include
windmills, fortified areas, meteorite craters, spas, and some natural sites, though
most likely the highlight of visiting Saaremaa will be exploring tiny villages few other
tourists visit.
• Hiiumaa: Smaller and even less busy than its bigger island brother, Hiiumaa is
home to a unique culture of people that speak their own language. Fun fact!
Hiiumaa was formed by a meteorite. You’ll find some picturesque areas, but once
again, exploring this off-the-beaten-path destination is likely to be its own reward.
Dance Festivals
Estonia is also known for its dance festival, which takes place at the same time as the
song festival.
Nowadays there are also held dance festivals for men only and for younger
dancers.
Folk-dance groups gather from all over Estonia and dance together, 7000 of
them, to show their communion.
Estonian Song Festival
It is one of the most unique celebrations in Estonia and is also a part of UNESCO World
heritage!
The first all-Estonian Song Festival took place in Tartu in 1869 and since then the
Song Festivals have become a national tradition, being held every 4-5 years, when
choirs from all over the country come to sing together.
This year the all Estonian song festival was visited by a record number or
people- about 100 000 singers and spectators at one concert .
Individualism
Diversity in religions: 30% Christian, majority non-denominational, some Jewish and
Islamic communities
Diversity in ethnic: 68.8% are Estonians, 25.6% Russians, a few people are from
Byelorussia, Finland
90.9% of Estonians citizen are born in Estonia (year 2000)

12. Diversity in language: most people speak Estonian (83.4%), but there are also Russian
speaking inhabitants (15.3%)
Power of the government: Parliament is elected by the Estonian people. The
government of Estonia is approved by the Parliament
à Low degree of individualism
Masculinity
21% of the candidates in the Estonian Parliament are women
Lack of female managers (4% vs. 96% male)
Women earn about 75% of the wages what their male counterparts earn
2/3 of the women who are in the labour market, perform all of the home chores. Only
22% of the women share these chores equally with their partner
Maternity benefit: Working mothers can compensate 100% of their wages during a
period of 140 days receive before and after childbirth
Average working hours per week in Estonia 41.2
à Medium to high degree of masculinity
Time
Estonia is a dependent country in the terms of energy and energy production. In recent
years many local and foreign companies have been investing in renewable energy
sources.
The importance of wind power increases continuously
Narva Power Plants is a power generating complex which generates about 95% of the
total power production of Estonia. It is one of the World biggest oil shale-fired thermal
power plants à release of aggressive sulphur dioxide and other heavy metal gases but
the money for modernisation of the is missing
à Medium degree of time
Money and Banking
Estonia adopted the Euro in January 2011, which makes it especially easy for those
coming from the Euro area. You can pay with debit or credit cards in most places, even

13. at kiosks and on trains. In order to make everyday shopping easier, you may want
to consider opening an Estonian banking account. Anyone can open a bank account in
Estonia, but many banks ask for a minimum deposit. Photo identification is also
required as well as some proof of address and employment.
Estonia’s main banks are Swedpank, SEB, and Sampo Bank (new name is Danske
bank), they are the most accessible for foreigners as they make a policy of serving
tourists and less paperwork is required to open an account.
Most banks are closed on weekends and their office hours are Monday to Friday from
9.00 am till 4 pm.
All major foreign currencies can be easily exchanged at currency exchange offices.
These can be found at the port of Tallinn, the airport, railway stations and on every
street corner in city centers. Estonians don’t have any unwritten rules about tipping,
they tend to do it when the service is especially good. Bargaining is not a deep-rooted
habit either.
Transport
Road
Predominately, only roads which have a national significance are asphalted, but each
year there are more and more roads which become asphalted
Railway / Bus
For journeys within Estonia, the railway is not very significant since the failed
privatisation of the railway
à a lot of lines have been put out of service
Public transport takes almost completely place by buses
Navigation on the Baltic Sea
There are three harbours for high-see navigation
Ferry to Finland and Sweden
Production
Main branches of Industry (2002):
Wood-, paper- and furniture Industry (25%)
Food Industry (28%)

14. High increase in the electronic industry and in the machine as well as vehicle parts
building industry (18%)
Example: one of the worldwide biggest companies for safety belts is in Estonia (Norma
in Tallinn)
Unemployment rate
10.9% (2013 est.)
Population below poverty line
17.5% (2008 est.)
GDP per capita
$21,100 (2013 est.)
Labor Force by occupation
agriculture: 4.2%
industries: 20.2%
services: 75.6% (2013 est.)
Exchange rate
kroon (EEK) per US dollar -
0.7697 (2013 est.)
Imports (commodities)
machinery and electrical equipment, mineral fuels, chemical products, foodstuffs,
plastics, textiles
Imports (partners)
Finland 15.1%, Germany 10.7%, Sweden 10.7%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Poland
6.6%, China 4.4%, Russia 4.1% (2012)
Estonia has the highest spot among East European states. The report points out
Estonia's good education system, well-functioning and developed financial and goods
markets and constant aspiration for raising technological abilities, a relatively well
managed state and flexible labor market – in the latter Estonia is on the 12th position
among 148 states
Safety

15. Estonia is a relatively safe country. Violent crime occurs, but foreigners are not usually
targeted. Petty crime (e.g. pickpocketing, purse snatching and mugging) also occurs,
particularly in Tallinn’s Old Town during the summer tourist season. Thieves often work
in small groups and target tourists in airports, train stations and other public areas.
Avoid parks, poorly lit streets and certain areas of Tallinn after dark, including Kopli and
Lasnamäe.
Theft of vehicles or their contents is common. Keep vehicles locked and in guarded
parking lots overnight.
Did you know that?
Skype was designed by Estonian developers, and millions of internet users in Estonia
use it to make free calls over the internet.
Estonia has the highest number of meteorite craters per land area in the world.
The lowest temperature measured in Estonia is -43,5 celsius and the highest is
+35,6 degrees celsius. This winter has also been really cold and snowy. The lowest
temperature mesured this winter is -32,1 degrees, in Jõgeva.
Tallinn was chosen to be the Culture Capital of Europe during the year 2011.