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ABOUT ESTONIA
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This small
country welcomes you with unspoilt nature, rich traditions and
history as well as modern entertainment facilities.
Estonia is
a diverse country that ought to suit the taste of even the most
pretentious visitor. There are ancient defensive walls, medieval
fortresses and cobb led streets coupled with leafy parks, romantic
coasts, deep forests, sandy beaches, wooden windmills, modern
hotels, luxury restaurants and tourist farms.
After
centuries of Danish, Swedish, German and Russian rule, Estonia
attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR
in 1940, it regained its freedom 1991, with the collapse of the
Soviet Union. Estonia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of
2004. As of 21 December 2007, Estonia is a part of the Schengen
visa area.
In 2008 the Republic of Estonia
celebrates the 90th Anniversary.
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Area:
Population:
Capital:
Other Major Cities:
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45,227
square km
1.361
million
Tallinn
(397,000)
Tartu
(102,000)
Narva
(66,700)
Kohtla-Järve
(45,400)
Pärnu (44,100)
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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Official name:
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Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariik)
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Head of State:
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President
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Constitution:
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passed on 28th of June 1992 (4.)
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Government:
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Parliamentary Republic, single chamber
Parliament (Riigikogu) of 101 members
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Currency:
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Eesti Kroon (EEK); 1 kroon = 100 sents.
Pegged to Euro under currency board arrangement at rate 1 EUR
= EEK 15.6466
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National Day:
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Independence Day, February 24th
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Population:
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1.361 million; in towns 70%, in rural
municipalities 30%
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Language:
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Estonian. Other languages such as
English, Russian and Finnish are also widely spoken.
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Ethnic groups:
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Estonians 68.5%, Russians 25.7%,
Ukrainians 2.1%
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Main Religion:
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Lutheran
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Major Natural Resources:
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Timber, oil shale, phos phorite, peat,
limestone, dolomite
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National bird:
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barn swallow
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National flower:
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cornflower
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Estonia is divided:
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into 15 counties, 202 rural
municipalities and 39 towns
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Time Zone:
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GMT + 2 hours
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Distance from Tallinn:
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Helsinki 85 km, Riga 307 km, St
Petersburg 395 km, Stockholm 405 km, Vilnius 605 km
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Flight times:
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Helsinki 35 min, Stockholm 1 h,
Copenhagen 1 h 30 min, Moscow 1 h 40 min, Amsterdam 2 h 20
min, London 2 h 45 min
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Climate:
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The climate in Estonia is tempe rate,
characterised by warm summers and fairly severe winters. The
weather is often breezy and humid due to the proximity of the
Baltic Sea. Average temperatures range from 20.9° C in summer
(usually July is the hottest month) to - 8°C in winter.
Although occasionally the temperature may rise to 30°C and
above in summer or sink below - 23°C in winter, it is very
usual at our latitude
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More information about Estonia
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