Estonia capital head of state state language. Sports and recreation. Restaurants worth visiting

Republic, state in Vost. Europe, washed by the Gulf of Finland and Riga Baltic Sea. Name according to the ancient name of the indigenous population of Estia (presumably Balt. "living by the water") , which was first mentioned by Tacitus, I V. Already in composition IX V. the land 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 Vabarik), state in NE. Europe, on the coast of the Baltic Sea, 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 is Estonian. B.ch. believers are Lutherans. By the beginning of the XIII century. On the territory of Estonia there were 8 large lands inhabited by Estonians (in Rus' they were called Chud). In the XIII-XVI centuries. - under German rule (under the name Livonia ), then Sweden. Since 1721 it has been 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 . The Parliament (Sejm) elects the President.
Moraine plain with separate hilly elevations. (Suur-Munamägi, 318 m). The shores are heavily indented; app. - low, sowing. - steep, abruptly break off to the sea, forming a ledge Glint , cut through by rivers with waterfalls and rapids. Over 1500 islands (9.2% of the area); moonsund 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 (main arr. glacial) and reservoirs. occupy 4.8% of the area. Unique lake. Kaali of meteorite origin on about. Saaremaa. Marshes - 22% of the area. Forests (mainly coniferous) - over 1/3 of the square. Reserves: Viidumäe , Vilsandi, Matsalu , Nigula, Endla; 15 landscape reserves, nat. a park Lohemaa. Historical and archit. monuments in the cities of Tallinn, Valga, Viljandi , Võru, Kohtla-Järve , Narva , Narva-Jõesuu, Otepaa , Paide, Parnu , Rakvere , Suure-Jaani, Tartu , Haapsalu . Academy of Sciences, universities (including universities in Tartu and 2 in Tallinn, a conservatory, an agricultural academy). Annual singing (Singing field in Tartu) and sports (sailing regatta center in Pirite) holidays. 2.7 million tourists (1997). Resorts: Pärnu, Haapsalu, Narva-Jõesuu, Kuressaare (climatic and mud); resort areas and recreation areas: Vyru, Vyarska (mineral water "Vyarska", therapeutic mud), Laulasmaa, Otepaa, Kabli, Klooga ( sandy beaches, dunes), Aegviidu (skiing). Oil shale mining and processing; engineering (radio and electrical engineering, instruments, ship repair); met.-arr., chem., forestry and woodworking., furniture, cell.-paper., text., pishch. prom-st; production of building materials. They say - live meat, bacon pigs and poultry (1/3 of the products are exported). Grain and fodder crops, potatoes, vegetables, fruits and berries are grown. Fish (herring, herring, sprat). Fur farming (silver fox, arctic fox, coypu, etc.). Artistic crafts: making carpets, knitwear, fabrics, processing wood, leather, metal, glass, ceramics, amber. Dense transport. net. Court-in (along the river Emajygi). Seaport - Tallinn; ferry connections to Helsinki and Stockholm. Intern. airport. Cash unit - Estonian kroon.

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

Republic of Estonia, a state in the northwestern part of Europe. Estonia is washed from the north by the waters of the Gulf of Finland, from the west by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, it borders on Latvia in the south and on 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 relief. Estonia is located within the East European Plain. The height of the surface gradually rises from the coasts of the Riga and Gulf of Finland in east and southeast directions. The average surface heights are 50 m above sea level. The western regions and islands have average heights of less than 20 m above sea level. In the post-glacial period, a stable uplift of the surface occurs at a rate of approx. 1.5 m per 100 years, shallower coastal zone, some islands connected with each other or with the mainland.
In the west of Estonia, maritime, abrasion, moraine and marshy plains are widespread. The activity of the Pleistocene glaciers played a particularly important role in the formation of the Estonian relief. In the central and southern regions, along with moraine plains, terminal moraine ridges, chains of eskers and drumlin ridges are traced. In the southeast, on the outcrops of Devonian sandstones, a hilly-morainic relief prevails with the Haanja Upland, where the highest point of the country, Mount Suur-Munamägi (318 m above sea level), is located. To the south of it, an outwash plain is 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 (glints) along the entire coast of the Gulf of Finland.
Climate Estonia - transitional from maritime to continental. Winter is relatively mild, summer is moderately warm. The average temperature in July is approx. 16°C on the coast and approx. 17° C in the interior of the country; average temperature February varies from -4° C on Saaremaa to -8° C in Narva, in the northeast. The annual rainfall varies from 510 mm to western islands up to 740 mm in the most elevated areas of the southeast.
Soils. Due to the diversity of parent rocks, hydrological regime and topographical conditions, a varied soil cover has formed in Estonia. So, in the south, soddy-podzolic and soddy-gley soils predominate, in the northern half - typical soddy-calcareous, leached soddy-calcareous and podzolized soddy-calcareous soils, alternating with areas of podzolic, podzolic-marsh and marsh soils. In the extreme north and northeast, there are areas of podzolic stony soils. In general, boggy soils occupy more than half of the area of ​​Estonia, and real bogs - 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 eastern Estonia have a runoff to inland water bodies: to Lake Vyrtsjärv in the south (Pyltsamaa river) and Chudskoye (Emajõgi river) and Pskov in the east. The most long river– Pärnu has a length of 144 km and flows into the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea. Most high-water rivers- Narva, through which the flow of Lake Peipsi is directed to the Gulf of Finland, and Emajõgi. Only the river Emajõgi is navigable, and below the city of Tartu. During spring floods, the water level in the rivers rises significantly (up to 5 m).
There are over 1150 lakes in Estonia and over 250 artificial ponds. The lakes are mainly of glacial origin and occupy approx. 4.8% of the territory. largest lake Chudskoye (or Peipsi) is located in the east and forms a natural and historical border with Russia. The area of ​​Lake Peipsi 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 the zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. Few primary forests remain. The most fertile soddy-calcareous soils, on which broad-leaved forests once grew, are now occupied by arable land. In general, under the forests is approx. 48% of the country's area. The most characteristic forest-forming species are Scotch pine, Scotch spruce, warty and downy birch, aspen, as well as oak, maple, ash, elm, linden. As part of the undergrowth, mountain ash, bird cherry, and willow grow. Less often, mainly in the west, in the undergrowth there are yew berry, wild apple, Scandinavian mountain ash and aria, blackthorn, hawthorn.
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-deciduous forests. On sandy soils in the southeast of the country grow pine forests. In the west of Estonia, large areas are occupied by peculiar landscapes - a combination of upland meadows with areas of sparse forests. Meadow vegetation is widespread in the northwest and north of the country. The low-lying, periodically flooded coastal strip is occupied by coastal meadows. A specific flora that tolerates soil salinity is widespread here.
The territory of Estonia is heavily swamped. Bogs (mostly lowlands) are common in the valleys of the Pärnu, Emajõgi, Põltsamaa, Pedja rivers, along the shores of Lake Peipus and Pskov. Raised bogs are confined to the main watershed of Estonia. To the north of Lake Peipus, swampy forests are widespread.
Flora of Estonia includes 1560 species of flowering, gymnosperms and ferns. Of these, about three-quarters of the species are concentrated in the western coastal areas and islands. The flora of mosses (507 species), lichens (786 species), fungi (about 2500 species), algae (more than 1700 species) is distinguished by a large species diversity.
Animal world. The species diversity of wild fauna is small - approx. 60 species of mammals. The most numerous are moose (about 7,000 individuals), roe deer (43,000), hares, and wild boars (11,000). In the 1950s–1960s, maral, red deer, and raccoon dogs were introduced. Brown bears live in the largest forest areas in many parts of Estonia ( OK. 800 individuals) and lynx (about 1000 individuals). Foxes, pine martens, badgers, and squirrels are also found in the forests. The forest ferret, ermine, weasel are widespread, along the banks of reservoirs - the European mink and otter. Very common hedgehog, shrew, mole.
Coastal waters abound with game animals such as ringed seal (in the Gulf of Riga and off the West Estonian archipelago) and long-snouted seal (in the Gulf of Finland).
The avifauna is the most diverse. It has 331 species, of which 207 species nest 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 glades), coot, bittern, shepherd, warbler, mallard and other ducks (on lakes and the sea coast), as well as the tawny owl, woodpeckers, larks, kestrel. Such rare species of birds as white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, short-toed eagle, greater and lesser spotted eagle, osprey, white and black stork, gray crane are under protection. On the islands of the western archipelago, common eider, crested duck, shoveler, merganser, scoter, gray goose, gulls nest. Birds are especially numerous during the spring and autumn mass migration 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 water and coastal waters (carp, salmon, smelt, vendace, Chud whitefish, bream, roach, perch, pike perch, burbot, trout, crucian carp, tench, carp, herring, sprat, cod, flounder, sea ​​whitefish, eel, etc.). Many of them are of commercial importance.
In some regions of Estonia, an unfavorable ecological situation has developed. In the north-east of the country, where oil shale thermal power plants operate, the air basin is polluted with sulfur dioxide. Small reservoirs located in agricultural areas are polluted with animal waste products. Coastal waters are also polluted in many places.
In general, Estonia is characterized by a caring attitude towards nature. In order to study it, preserve the gene pool and protect landscapes, several national parks and state reserves and preservers. In total, approximately 10% of the territory of Estonia is under protection. In 1995, the parliament passed a law on the sustainable development of the country, and in 1996 the government approved a strategy for the protection environment.
POPULATION
As of July 2003, the population of Estonia was 1408.56 thousand people.
The Second World War and subsequent decades of Soviet rule had a strong impact on demographic processes. During the war and in the first post-war years, Estonia lost a quarter of its population, mainly as a result of deportations to other parts 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 planned economy in order to increase the size of the labor force and the Sovietization of Estonia. From 1945 to 1970, the birth rate steadily declined, but by July 2003 it had stabilized at 9.24 per 1,000 inhabitants. The death rate was 13.42 per 1,000 inhabitants. The infant mortality rate in 2003 was approx. 12.03 per 1000 newborns. 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, 15.4% over 65, and 68.8% were in the 15 to 65 age group.
The highest concentration of the population is observed in the urbanized industrial regions of the country, with almost a third of the population living in Tallinn and its environs, 10% in the industrial centers of Narva and Kohtla-Jarve in the north-east of the country. In the southeast is the large university city of Tartu, and in the southwest is the spa town of Pärnu. There is a constant outflow of population from rural areas.
Ethnic composition. In 1945, the share of Estonians in the population of the republic reached 93%, by 1989 it had dropped to 62%. In the last decade, the share of Estonians has been growing (65.3% in 2000), while the share of Russians has been declining (28.1%). Among the national minorities are Ukrainians (2.5%), Belarusians (1.5%), Finns (1%), others (1.6%). Estonians are evenly distributed throughout the country. Russians and other non-Estonians are concentrated mainly in such industrial cities as Tallinn, Narva, Kohtla-Jarve, Sillamäe.
Languages. The official language is Estonian, belonging to the Baltic-Finnish branch of the Finno-Ugric family of languages. The language of communication for most 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 Pyukhtitsky Assumption Convent, founded in 1898, operated. From 1946 to 1982, the publication and import of religious literature was strictly prohibited. Currently, there are no restrictions on religious activities. Among 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 activity of the Estonian Orthodox Church was restored, which since 1996 has been subordinate to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Russian Orthodox Church is also active, subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate. The relationship between the two Orthodox churches is one of the reasons that hinders the Estonian-Russian political dialogue.
Cities. In 2000, three cities in Estonia had a population of over 50 thousand people: Tallinn (400.4 thousand), Tartu (101.2), Narva (68.7). Tallinn is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. Tartu is a university center where almost half of Estonian students study. Narva and Kohtla-Järve are industrial cities in the northeast, specializing in the extraction and processing of shale. In the southwest, on the coast of the Gulf of Riga, is Pärnu, a port and popular resort town. 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).
GOVERNMENT
Public administration. Estonia got its first experience of a parliamentary political system in the 1920s and early 1930s. It 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. Estonia is currently a parliamentary republic. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral parliament, the Riigikogu (National Assembly), which consists of 101 deputies who are elected by universal secret suffrage for a term of four years. All Estonian citizens who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote. Parliament drafts laws, ratifies and denounces international treaties, elects the president of the country, gives the candidate for prime minister the power to form the government of the country, adopts the state budget, on the proposal of the president of the country appoints such senior officials as the chairman of the National Court and (on the proposal of the latter) members of this court, the Chancellor of Justice, the Auditor General, 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 the parliament, by a qualified majority (2/3) of votes, for a term of 5 years. If three rounds of voting are unsuccessful, the President is elected by the Electoral College. According to the constitution, the president represents the state at the international level, proposes the candidacy of the prime minister, can influence the legislative activity of the parliament, proposes candidates to the parliament for the highest posts of the state apparatus.
Executive power is vested in the government, headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president after the approval of his candidacy by a majority of members of parliament.
Judicial system. The constitution provides for an independent judiciary with three instances: county, city and administrative courts (first instance); district courts (second instance) and the Supreme Court (highest instance). Legal proceedings are carried out in the courts of first instance; county courts operate primarily as appellate courts. The Supreme Court is endowed with cassation functions and is a court of constitutional review. Direct constitutional supervision is exercised by the Judicial Collegium for Constitutional Supervision of the Supreme Court. The Chancellor of Justice performs the function of general supervision over the compliance of legal acts of the legislative and executive authorities, as well as local authorities, with the constitution and other laws of the country.
The Minister of Justice supervises the activities of the Prosecutor's Office, which oversees the legality of the registration and preliminary investigation of crimes, the legality of police activities in solving crimes, the legality of imprisonment, and the presentation of public prosecution.
Local government. Administratively, the territory of Estonia is divided into 15 counties - maakonds (subdivided into volosts) and 6 cities of central subordination. Local councils in cities and counties are elected by popular vote for a three-year term. The prerogative of these councils is local government and tax collection. In October 1993, the first local elections after the restoration of independence were held. Only Estonian citizens had the right to vote. In Tallinn, the candidates of the two moderate Russian parties won 42% of the seats, which roughly corresponds to the proportion of Russians in the city's population.
Political parties and movements. Five major political parties were created in the 1920s and 1930s: the Peasants' 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 overshadowed 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 was the Estonian Communist Party as part of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU).
In 1987, in 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 Popular 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 to based on the principle of legal continuity of the first republic.
Nine parties and electoral unions were represented in the parliament, elected on September 20, 1992, including the Fatherland Union (30 out of 101 seats), the Safe House (17 seats), the Popular Front (15 seats), the Moderates (Social Democrats and members of the Rural Center Party - 12 seats) and the Independence Party (11 seats). In March 1995, the opposition parties won the parliamentary elections: the Coalition Party (41 seats out of 101), the Reform Party (19 seats) and the Center Party of Estonia (16 seats). For the first time in the parliament, the party of the Russian population Our home is Estonia (6 seats) received representation.
In 2000, the following major political parties and associations operated in Estonia: the Estonian Center Party, the Reform Party, the Fatherland Union, the Moderate Party, the Estonian Coalition Party (liquidated in 2001), the United People's Party of Estonia, the 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 armed 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 country was annexed by the Soviet Union, and their command staff was repressed.
In the autumn of 1991, after the restoration of independence, Estonia began to create a system of internal security and defense. The constitution provides for conscription, but also includes alternative service for those who refuse to serve in the army for religious and other reasons. A land army, a naval coast guard, air defense, a maritime border service, and a security service (internal and border) have been created in Estonia. Military spending is approx. 2% of the budget. Estonia actively participates in the peacekeeping activities of the UN and regional organizations. In 1994, Estonia joined the NATO Partnership for Peace program.
Foreign policy. In the 1920s–1930s, Estonia was a member of the League of Nations. After the restoration of independence in September 1991, the country became a member of the UN and the OSCE. May 13, 1993 she was admitted to the Council of Europe, and in June 1995 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 had become an industrial-agrarian country. In the future, already in the post-war years, accelerated industrialization of Estonia was carried out, which was facilitated by its favorable geographical position. In the 1980s, a new large Tallinn sea ​​port Muuga. Since the beginning of the 1990s, Estonia has begun to form a market economy, diversify the economy and reprioritize its foreign trade.
Estonia has Europe's largest deposits of oil shale and phosphorite (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. By 1980, their production had increased 9 times compared to 1950 (from 3.5 million tons per year to 31.3 million tons), but by 2001 it had decreased to 10 million tons. By the mid-1970s, Estonia had become the world's largest producer of shale, however, due to the low level of mining technology, the development of their deposits was accompanied by severe environmental pollution. In the 1980s, ca. 80% of the extracted slates were 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. So, in Tallinn, mechanical engineering, metalworking and instrument making prevail, light industry is developed. In Narva there is a large cotton mill (Krenholm Manufactory), in Sillamäe there is a plant for the production of rare metals (Silmet). The main fuel and energy complexes are concentrated in the cities of Kohtla-Jarve, Sillamäe and Narva. Small enterprises in the food and woodworking 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, meat and dairy cattle breeding and fishing prevail.
national income. In the 1970s–1980s, the growth rates of industry and agriculture in Estonia were declining, 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 to a large extent reorient foreign trade from the Russian market to the 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. As a result of the economic recovery in 2000, GDP increased by 6.4%, which 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, or $11,000 per capita. The share of agriculture in the structure of GDP is 5.8%, industry - 28.6%, services - 65.6%.
Currently, employment in different sectors of the economy is distributed as follows: in the manufacturing, gas industry, energy, water supply, construction - 34.7%, in agriculture, hunting, forestry, fisheries - 7%, in the service sector - 58.3 % (including in education - 7.8%, in the state apparatus and defense - 5.6%).
Mining 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 produced fuel and electricity to Leningrad. The energy complex is almost entirely based 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 and pulp and paper industries 9%, chemical industry 9%, and other industries 16%. In the early 1990s, the volume of production declined, 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, cellulose, paper, furniture, building materials, appliances, textiles, clothing, footwear, food.
Agriculture. Historically, the main specialization of Estonian agriculture was meat and dairy farming.
The collectivization carried out in the late 1940s had disastrous consequences: wealthy peasants were dispossessed and exiled to Siberia, the productivity of the industry 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 area of ​​self-government. In 1977 the average size of kolkhoz or sovkhoz lands was 5,178 hectares. In the mid-1970s, two-thirds of agricultural production came from livestock, and one-third came from grains, vegetables, and hay (with most of the grains used to feed livestock).
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 the export of products to the west is 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 at present there is approx. 25%, under pastures - 11% of the country's territory. The structure of agriculture is dominated by meat and dairy cattle breeding and bacon production. In addition, potatoes, vegetables, cereals and fruit crops are grown.
Forestry and fishing industry. In Estonia, compared with 1940, the area occupied by forests has doubled, and at present it makes up 47.8% of the territory. In 1998, roundwood, industrial timber and pulp and paper products accounted for 9% of exports.
During the Soviet era, when most of the fish caught and processed was sent to the vast internal market of the USSR, fishing occupied a more important place in the economy of the republic. Due to the reduction of fish resources in 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 established in Estonia under Russian rule at the end of the 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 private use is growing rapidly: if at the beginning of 1994 there were 211 cars per 1000 inhabitants in Estonia, then in 1997 it was 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.
A gas pipeline with a length of more than 400 km operates on the territory of Estonia, connecting the shale gas plant in Kohtla-Järve with Tallinn, Tartu and other cities, as well as with the Russian gas pipeline network.
Estonia has developed a year-round maritime communication. 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 to Helsinki and Stockholm. The Estonian merchant fleet has 44 ships with a displacement of more than 1,000 gross register tons each (total displacement of 253,460 gross register tons). In summer, navigation opens on Lake Peipus and the lower reaches of the Emajõgi River from the mouth to Tartu. In 2002, a connection was opened along the route Tartu - Pskov.
Developed both domestic and international air traffic. Through Tallinn Airport, flights are operated to many European capitals and cities of the CIS.
International trade. Estonia's main trading partners in the 1920s and 1930s were Germany and Great Britain. The country exported food, gasoline, timber and lumber, imported machinery, metals, cotton, denim 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 the Soviet republics, 11% from abroad.
In the late 1990s, the structure of foreign trade underwent fundamental changes. In recent years, the turnover has increased rapidly. So, in 2000, compared with 1999, exports increased by 52%, imports - by 43%. Exported mainly are machinery and equipment (37.4% in the structure of exports in 2000), wood and woodworking products (13.4%), metals and metalworking industry products (7.1%), textiles and textile products (11.3% ), agricultural products (7.5%), chemical raw materials and products of the chemical industry (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%, UK - 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%.
Estonia imports machinery and equipment (38.5% in the structure of imports 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 products of the chemical industry (6.6%), mineral raw materials (6.1%), timber and products of the woodworking industry (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 Estonian currency was the mark, and since 1928 the kroon. The Bank of Estonia, founded in 1919, served as the main state financial institution. In 1940 the 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 settlements and on farms or constituted the lower classes of the urban population. Only at the end of the 19th century. the intelligentsia and the middle class emerged. Until 1940, peasants dominated the population in Estonia.
Unions. The first trade union associations appeared in Estonia in the 1920s and 1930s, but their activity was 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 recreation for workers. Trade unions had a developed network of sanatoriums, rest houses, boarding houses, tourist centers. In the mid-1990s, an independent Estonian Trade Union Confederation was established in Estonia.
Religious life. In the 13th-14th centuries, during the reign of the Danish kings and the Teutonic crusaders, the Estonians were converted to Catholicism. In the 16th century Estonia (Estland) became a Lutheran country, and until 1918 the Germans were at the head of the church. From the 18th century, after the inclusion of Estonia into Russia, Orthodoxy also became widespread. Since 1925 the church has been separated from the state. During the Second World War, the church suffered great personnel losses: approximately 85% of Lutheran pastors were deported to Siberia. In Soviet times, despite the 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. 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. In Soviet times, this helped Estonians avoid being assimilated by the Russian-speaking population.
In 1997, 224,000 children and adolescents studied in Estonian primary and secondary schools, and 18,600 students in vocational schools. In schools, teaching in Estonian was preferred by 67% of students, and in Russian by 33%.
In 1998, in 10 state higher educational institutions 34.5 thousand students studied in Estonia (of which 52% were women). The largest and most famous universities countries - 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), the Tallinn University of the Arts (500 thousand students) and the Estonian Academy of Music in Tallinn (500 thousand students). 80% of students studied in Estonian, the rest - in Russian. During the years of independent development, dozens of private educational institutions have appeared in the country.
Literature and art. The birth of the Estonian national literature refers to the beginning of the 19th century. A significant event in the formation of Estonian literature is the publication in 1857–1861 by F. Kreutzwald of the national epic Kalevipoeg (Son of Kalev). In the second half of the 19th century poetry developed. Among poets, L. Koidula (who is also the founder of Estonian dramaturgy), A. Reinvald, M. Veske, M. Under and B. Alver gained the greatest fame. At the beginning of the 20th century the poet G. Suits headed the Young Estonia cultural movement. In the Soviet period, poetry played a particularly important role (poets P.E. Rummo and Ya. Kaplinsky), because. less censored. In prose of the 20th century. the biggest achievement is Truth and justice A. Tammsaare (written in 1926-1933) is a five-volume epic novel about the life of Estonians in the 1870s-1920s. The most famous Estonian writer is J. Kross, whose historical novels reveal the moral problems of Estonian society. In the era of glasnost, much attention began to be paid to the fate of the deported Estonians. In the dramaturgy of the 1960s, the theater of the absurd was of particular importance, 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 its scientific research and analysis began at the beginning of the next century. Folklore themes inspired Estonian writers, artists, sculptors, and musicians.
Among the founders of the Estonian national visual arts include the artist J. Köhler (since 1861 a member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts) and the sculptor A. Weizenberg, who received art education outside the country. Professional art education in Estonia itself became possible after the founding of the Pallas Art School in Tartu in 1919. In the 1960s, such Estonian graphic artists as T. Vint, V. Tolli and M. Leis gained recognition outside the USSR.
The Estonian tradition of song festivals - regularly held gatherings of choirs from all parts of the country for performances in Tartu and Tallinn, has 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 speakers reached 30 thousand people, and listeners and spectators - 200-300 thousand. Among the Estonian composers of the 20th century. the most famous is E. Tubin (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 United States in 1980.
Museums, libraries and science. The Estonian National Museum, founded in 1909 in Tartu, has a rich collection of ethnographic materials and is the largest among the 114 museums in the country. Estonia has approx. 600 libraries. The largest of them are the University of Tartu 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 of the country was the University of Tartu, where Special attention was devoted to research in the field of Estonian philology and literature, history, ethnography and medicine. During the Soviet years, the main research centers were the institutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR in Tallinn and Tartu. At present, the Academy of Sciences has been reorganized into a personal academy, and its institutes have been transferred to universities.
Mass media. In 1930, 276 newspapers and magazines were published in Estonia, by 1980 their number had decreased to 148. In 1990, censorship of printed publications and the media was abolished. In modern Estonia, out of 15 daily newspapers (11 in Estonian), the most popular are Postimees (Postman, published in Tartu since 1891), Eesti päevaleht (Estonian daily newspaper, published in Tallinn since 1905) and Yhtuleht" ("Evening newspaper", published in Tallinn since 1944).
The Estonian national radio began broadcasting in 1924, and Estonian television in 1955. The Estonian Telegraph Agency has been operating since 1918.
Sport. Estonia has a longstanding sports culture. Already in the 1920s-1930s, the country took part in Olympic Games, most successfully speaking in wrestling and weightlifting. So, Kristjan Palusalu became the winner in freestyle and Greco-Roman 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 - 24 February. In addition, holidays such as New Year, Spring Day - May 1, Victory Day (celebration of the victory in the war for independence of 1919) - June 23, Ivan's Day - June 24, as well as 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 town of Sindi, etc.). Representatives of this culture later mixed with the Finno-Ugric tribes who came here in the III millennium BC. from the south, and then with the Baltic tribes. Subsequently, the Scandinavians, Germans, and Slavs participated in the formation of the Estonian nation. Despite numerous invasions from the west, south and east, the Estonian lands (maakondas) 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 Derpt and Ezel. The northern part from 1238 to 1346 belonged to Denmark. The country was dominated by the Teutonic Knights, the landowning aristocracy and the 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 more and more enslaved. The Catholic faith had a weak 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 in the bosom of the Lutheran Church.
As a result of the Livonian War (1558–1583), the Livonian Order collapsed: the northern part of Estonia came under the rule of the Swedes, the southern part - under the rule of the Commonwealth. The island of Saaremaa remained with Denmark. From 1645 the entire territory of Estonia became part of Sweden. At the beginning of the 18th century Russia's interests in the Baltic region clashed with those 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 schooling in Estonian became widespread, and in 1739 the Bible was published for the first time in Estonian. 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 property.
Estonian National Movement. Agrarian reforms and the development of the education system under Emperor Alexander II (r. 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 workers' strikes swept across Estonia. The national bourgeoisie came forward with a demand for liberal reforms. Organized action by workers 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, Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies were established 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, disbanding the Provincial Zemstvo Council and proceeding to nationalize banks, industrial enterprises, means of transport, and landowners' lands.
Formation of an 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 on February 24, 1918 published a manifesto "On the Independence of Estonia". During the German occupation, the Soviet order was canceled, the previously expropriated lands were returned to the landowners. In mid-November 1918, Germany transferred control of Estonia into 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, with the support of the United States and Great Britain, an armed struggle unfolded throughout Estonia against units of the Red Army. On June 5, 1919, the government of the Estonian Labor Commune ceased to exist.
After a 13-month liberation war against Soviet Russia (November 28, 1918 - January 3, 1920), on February 2, 1920, the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed between the RSFSR and Estonia. According to the first constitution, Estonia was proclaimed a democratic republic, in which power belonged to a unicameral parliament. In December 1924, the Estonian Communist Party, acting in accordance with the instructions of the Chairman of the Comintern, G.E. Zinoviev, raised an armed uprising, which was suppressed. The rise of the national movement, which coincided with the global economic crisis of the early 1930s, contributed to the spread of conservative ideas in Estonia. On March 12, 1934, a coup d'état took place. The national bourgeoisie headed by K. Pyats 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 drafted, which came into effect in 1938. It returned Estonia to parliamentarism, it became possible to elect deputies from the opposition (although the activities of political parties were still banned). 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, phosphorite - were reoriented to the German market. At the end of the 1930s, Germany became the main export partner of Estonia, where most of the agricultural products were supplied.
The further fate of Estonia was decided in August 1939, when the Soviet-German non-aggression pact with secret protocols was signed, according to which Estonia fell into the sphere of interests of the Soviet Union. On September 28, 1939, Estonia concluded a forced mutual assistance treaty with the USSR, according to which military bases of the Soviet Union were placed on the territory of Estonia. On June 17, 1940, the Soviet government issued 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 government of Estonia was overthrown and replaced by the government of the Popular Front 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 of Nazi Germany invaded Estonia and occupied the country.
In the autumn of 1944, after heavy fighting, Estonia was occupied by units of the Red Army. During the war, about half of the industrial enterprises were destroyed, most of the livestock was destroyed, approx. 80 thousand inhabitants, at least 70 thousand Estonians emigrated. At the end of the war, the authorities undertook mass repressions (many specialists, public figures and wealthy peasants were arrested and deported). In 1945, private property was abolished in the industrial sector, in 1947 - in trade. The forced collectivization of agriculture provoked the armed resistance of the partisans (the so-called "forest brothers"), which continued until 1953.
During Khrushchev's "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 policy of liberalization. The response was the spread of political dissent, expressed in the demand for independence for Estonia and the restoration of the role of the Estonian language in education and public life. In 1980, forty intellectuals, including liberal-minded members of the CPSU, were sent to the central government bodies and to the Pravda newspaper Letter 40 - in fact, a manifesto against Sovietization.
Restoration of independence. The mass movement for independence in Estonia began in 1987 with a public outcry against the barbaric mining of phosphorites, which caused serious environmental damage to the country. In 1988, the Estonian Popular Front was created, as well as a number of other political organizations (including the Independence Party), which put forward a demand for secession from the USSR. In November 1988, the Estonian Supreme Soviet, headed by the communist reformers, adopted the Declaration on the sovereignty of the Estonian SSR by 254 votes against 7. In 1989 the desire for full independence intensified, the Committee of Estonian Citizens launched 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 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, the Parliament elected Lennart Meri, a writer and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the first President of Estonia, who was re-elected to this post in September 1996.
The introduction in June 1992 of a new monetary unit, the Estonian kroon, pegged to the German mark, stopped inflation and allowed the economy to stabilize. Thanks to a balanced budget and price liberalization, Estonia has made significant economic progress in a few 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 Union of Agrarians and the Center Party of Estonia, won. The ruling coalition continued the policy of economic liberalization and integration with Western European countries. However, the Väha government lasted only two years and was replaced by a minority government led by Mart Sijman. The political confrontation began to intensify as the 1999 elections approached.
Although the new electoral 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 Estonian Center Party (28 seats), the Fatherland Union (18), the Reform Party (18), the Moderate Party (17) and the Estonian Coalition Party (7), the Union of Agrarians ( 7), United People's Party of Estonia (6).
In August 1994, parts of the Russian army were withdrawn from the territory of Estonia. The Estonian government, in turn, adopted the principle of "social guarantees" in relation to about 10 thousand former Soviet officers living in the country, now pensioners, and their families. Until now, the problem of citizenship of non-Estonians who moved to the territory of Estonia during the years of Soviet power has not been fully resolved.
In October 2001, the parliament of the republic elected the former chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Estonian SSR, Arnold Ruutel, as president of the country.
On March 29, 2004 Estonia officially became a member of NATO.
LITERATURE
Soviet Union:. M., 1967
Soviet Estonia: Encyclopedic reference book. Tallinn, 1979
Wanatoa E. Estonian SSR: Handbook. Tallinn, 1986
Kahk Y., Siylivask K. History of the Estonian SSR. Tallinn, 1987
– Eesti: Quick Reference. Tallinn, 1999

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ESTONIA

REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
State in the northwest 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 1500 islands, the largest of which are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The area of ​​the country is about 45100 km2.
The population of Estonia (according to 1998 estimates) is about 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: Lutheranism, Orthodoxy. The capital is Tallinn. Largest cities: Tallinn (502,000 people), Tartu (114,239 people), Narva (87,000 people), Pärnu. State structure- 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). Currency unit- Estonian kroon. Average life expectancy (for 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 many sights of the country, one can note: in Narva - a medieval castle, in Tartu - the building of the town hall and one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe. In Tallinn - the ensemble of the Old Town with numerous cathedrals, fortress walls and medieval towers. upper city was built in the XIII-XIV centuries. Lower city - in the XIV-XVI centuries.

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natural conditions
Most of territory - 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 upland (height up to 166 m). The climate is transitional: from maritime to continental. The average temperatures in February are -6 °С, in July - 17 °С. Precipitation - up to 700 mm per year. Latvia is rich in beautiful clean lakes. The largest are Chudsko-Pskov and Vyrtsjärv. The Narva Reservoir is known. The soils are predominantly sod-podzolic, sod-calcareous, swampy. Forests occupy over 40% of the territory (two thirds of them are coniferous). 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 the production of building materials, pulp and paper. Applied arts became widespread: leather, metal, textile and knitwear.
Agriculture is mainly specialized in dairy and beef cattle breeding and bacon pig breeding. In crop production, preference is given to grain (42.2%; barley, rye, wheat) and fodder (50.5%) crops. They grow potatoes and vegetables. Main seaports: Tallinn, Novotallinsky. Navigation on the river Emajõgi. Latvia exports electrical and electronic products, industrial equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs and consumer goods. Main foreign trade partners: Russia, Eastern countries. and Sev. Europe. Resorts: Pärnu, Haapsalu, Narva-Jõesuu, Kuressaare.
Story
By 1000 AD the main groups of Estonian tribes formed; during this period, contacts were established between the Estonians (Chud in Russian chronicles) and the Eastern Slavs. Trade centers arose on the site of modern Tallinn, Tartu, large settlements - Otepa, Valjala, Varbla, etc. In the 11th century. Estonians made a number of campaigns in Russian and Scandinavian lands. In the 11th-12th centuries. unsuccessful attempts were made to attach Estonians to the ancient Russian principalities. In the 13th century formed territorial associations-maakonda.
From the 13th century Estonia is the object of German, then Danish aggression. In the 2nd quarter of the 13th - the middle of the 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 Commonwealth (south) and Denmark (Saaremaa island); in the middle of the 17th century. the whole territory under the rule of the Swedes. According to the Treaty of Nystadt in 1721, Estonia became part of Russia. The abolition of serfdom in the Estonian (1816) and Livonian (1819) provinces accelerated socio-economic development. At the end of October 1917, Soviet power was established. From November 29, 1918 to June 5, 1919, the Estonian Soviet Republic (the name of the Estland Labor Commune) existed. On May 19, 1919, the Constituent Assembly proclaimed the establishment of the Republic of Estonia; in March 1934, a coup d'etat took place in Estonia, a dictatorship was established, the parliament was dissolved, in 1935 all political parties were banned. In June 1940, Soviet troops entered Estonia. On July 21, 1940, the Estonian SSR was formed. On August 6, 1940, it was annexed to the USSR, some of the 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 item of budget revenues. Traditions of tourism generally originate from 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 resort towns Pärnu, Haapsalu, Narva, Iesuu. A large number of tourists visit another beautiful city Estonia - Tartu. Lovers of calm and measured rest attracts little resort town Ust-Narva, located 14 km from Narva.

Cities
Paldiski - small cozy town in the Harju region of Estonia, located 49 km from Tallinn and 80 km (by sea) from Finland on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. The city was founded by Peter I in the 17th century. Since then, many sights have remained, but the most important is the Petrovsky Fortress. The town is ideal for a quiet family vacation: beautiful uncrowded beaches, sea air and virgin nature will ensure a good mood.
Viljandi is the county center in Estonia, located on the high bank of the low lake Viljandi, stretching for more than 10 km. Population - 23 thousand inhabitants. The city has been known since 1211. thick spruce forests on one bank and a steep, precipitous 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, was in the possession of Russia, Poland, 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, a beautiful medieval castle (13th century) has been preserved in the city, with a picturesque suspension bridge spanning its deep moat, connecting the Castle with the city. Preserved church of St. Paul - a prime example neogothic architectural style. You can see many wonderful modern monuments.
Haapsalu (until 1917 the official name of Gapsal) is a tiny town on the western coast of Estonia, 100 km from Tallinn. Population - 12.5 thousand inhabitants. It is considered the sunniest resort in Estonia, washed from three sides by the sea. Until 1917 the city had the name Gaspal. city ​​sights, beautiful nature, clean air and the silence of coastal pine forests, a warm bay and picturesque thickets of reeds, sea bathing and healing mud bays - all this attracts to Haapsalu. The city was founded in 1279. For several centuries, Haapsalu was the center of the Catholic bishopric and was quite an influential city. Here is an old episcopal castle in the 16th century. Subsequently, Haapsalu experienced the rule of the Swedes and Russians.
In 1825 it became a seaside resort visited by members of the imperial family. Today, the well-preserved walking path along the seaside and the wooden Kursaal located there remind of the days of Haapsalu's rise as a resort. It is interesting to see the sights of the town: the ruins and the 38-meter watchtower of the episcopal 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
In the range of Estonian national cuisine a lot of dishes from pork (pork legs, pea soup from pork legs, boiled pork with vegetables, etc.), fish (pickled Baltic herring, herring soup, pickled herring, dishes from pike perch, flounder, etc.). Such national dishes as kama flour from rye, peas, wheat and barley, consumed with milk or curdled milk, mulgikapsad - cabbage cooked with pork and cereals, black pudding, blood dumplings, are very popular. Dairy products occupy a special place in Estonian cuisine. Milk, cottage cheese, curdled milk, whipped cream, homemade cheese are included in the daily diet. We recommend trying sour oatmeal jelly.

National holidays
January 1 - New Year
February 24 - Independence Day
March/April - Easter
May 1 - Spring Festival
May/June - Trinity
June 23 - Victory Day (anniversary of the battle of Vynnu)
June 24 - Midsummer Day Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary Modern Encyclopedia

The largest shale mine in Europe. Production capacity of 5.4 million tons of commercial 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 enrich, f coy, ... ... Geological Encyclopedia

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

The Republic is a state in the northwest 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, including on Lake Peipsi, in the south - on Latvia. Estonia owns more than 1500 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 mln. people

Administrative division: Estonia is divided into 15 maakunds (counties) and 6 cities of central subordination.

Form of government: Parliamentary republic.

Head of State: The President is elected by Parliament for a term of 5 years.

Composition of the population: 65.% - Estonians, 28.1% - Russians, 2.5% - Ukrainians, 1.5% - Belarusians, 1% - Finns, 1.6 - others.

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

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

Internet domain: .ee

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +372

Country barcode: 474

Climate

Moderate, transitional from maritime to continental: along the Baltic coast - maritime, away from the sea - closer to temperate continental. The average air temperature in January is -4-7 C, in July +15-17 C. Precipitation is up to 700 mm. per year, mainly in the autumn-winter period (the end of 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.

Due to the shallow water, the water in the sea and lakes warms up quickly and in July reaches +20-24 C, the beach season lasts from early June to late 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 the territory of Estonia), 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 stretches the Pandivere hill (up to 166 m on the city of Emumägi), and in the southeastern part of the country there is a narrow strip of hilly hills (up to 318 m on the city 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 the zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. Few primary forests remain. The most fertile soddy-calcareous soils, on which broad-leaved forests once grew, are now occupied by arable land. In general, about 48% of the country's area is under forests. The most characteristic forest-forming species are Scotch pine, Scotch spruce, warty and downy birch, aspen, as well as oak, maple, ash, elm, linden. As part of the undergrowth, mountain ash, bird cherry, and willow grow. Less often, mainly in the west, in the undergrowth there are yew berry, wild apple, Scandinavian mountain ash and aria, blackthorn, hawthorn.

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-deciduous forests. Pine forests grow on sandy soils in the southeast of the country. In the west of Estonia, large areas are occupied by peculiar landscapes - a combination of upland meadows with areas of sparse forests. Meadow vegetation is widespread in the northwest and north of the country. The low-lying, periodically flooded coastal strip is occupied by coastal meadows. A specific flora that tolerates soil salinity is widespread here.

The territory of Estonia is heavily swamped. Bogs (mostly lowlands) are common in the valleys of the Pärnu, Emajõgi, Põltsamaa, Pedja rivers, along the shores of Lake Peipus and Pskov. Raised bogs are confined to the main watershed of Estonia. To the north of Lake Peipus, swampy forests are widespread.

Flora of Estonia includes 1560 species of flowering, gymnosperms and ferns. Of these, about three-quarters of the species are concentrated in the western coastal areas and islands. The flora of mosses (507 species), lichens (786 species), fungi (about 2500 species), algae (more than 1700 species) is distinguished by a large species diversity.

Animal world

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

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

The avifauna is the most diverse. It has 331 species, of which 207 species nest 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, shepherd, warblers, mallard and other ducks (on lakes and the sea coast), as well as the tawny owl, woodpeckers, larks, kestrel.

Such rare species of birds as white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, short-toed eagle, greater and lesser spotted eagle, osprey, white and black stork, gray crane are under protection. On the islands of the western archipelago, common eider, crested duck, shoveler, merganser, scoter, gray goose, gulls nest. Birds are especially numerous during the spring and autumn mass migration 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 water and coastal waters (carp, salmon, smelt, vendace, Chud whitefish, bream, roach, perch, pike perch, burbot, trout, crucian carp, tench, carp, herring, sprat, cod, flounder, sea ​​whitefish, eel, etc.). Many of them are of commercial importance.

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

Attractions

Tourists come to Estonia primarily to get acquainted with the ancient and original culture of this country, visit the wonderful song performances for which this land is so famous, as well as relax in 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 in the morning on Saturday.

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

Useful information for tourists

Of interest to tourists are, first of all, numerous shops with folk art, needlework, jewelry, leather goods, souvenirs, and antiques. These shops are located mainly in the old parts of the 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 have appeared with a round-the-clock work schedule.

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

The official name is the Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariik). Located in the northeast of Europe. The area is 45.2 thousand km2, the population is 1.423 million people. (2001). The official language is Estonian. The capital is Tallinn (500 thousand people, 2001). Public holiday - Independence Day February 24 (1918). Monetary unit - crown (equal to 100 centimes).

Member of the UN (since 1993), Council of Europe (since 1993), EU (since 2004), NATO (since 2004), etc.

Sights of Estonia

Geography of Estonia

It is located between 22° and 28° east longitude and 60° and 58° north latitude, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, washed by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. length land border 637 km, in the south with Latvia (343 km), in the east with the Russian Federation (294 km). The nearest northern neighbor is Finland. Coastline strongly indented - 3794 km. More than 1500 islands, the largest are Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu.

Estonia is located within the East European Plain, gradually rising from the coasts of the Gulf of Riga and the Gulf of Finland in eastern and southeastern directions. The average height is 50 m above sea level, the highest point - 318 m - Suur Munamägi hill in the south of the country.

Estonia has a dense river network. Rivers: Narva, Pirita, Kazari, Pärnu, etc. The longest river - Pärnu (144 km) flows into the Gulf of Riga. The most abundant rivers are Narva and Emajõgi.

There are more than 1150 lakes (mostly of glacial origin) and St. 250 ponds. The lakes cover approx. 4.8% of the territory. The largest of them, Peipsi (or Peipsi), is located in the east and forms a natural and historical border with the Russian Federation (out of a lake area of ​​​​3555 km2, 1616 km2 belong to the lake). The largest inland water body is Lake Võrtsjärv (266 km2).

More than 48% of the territory is covered with mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests (pine, spruce, warty and downy birch, aspen, as well as oak, maple, ash, elm, linden). The low coastal strip is occupied by coastal meadows with specific flora that tolerate soil salinity.

There are approx. 1560 species of flowering, gymnosperms and ferns. A wide variety of mosses (507 species), lichens (786), fungi (about 2500), algae (more than 1700). There is approx. 60 species of mammals. These are: moose, roe deer, hares, wild boars, foxes, pine martens, badgers, squirrels, etc. More than 70 species of fish live in fresh water and coastal waters (carp, salmon, burbot, trout, crucian carp, tench, carp, herring, sprat , cod, flounder, sea whitefish, eel, etc.).

Estonia has a rather variegated soil cover from sod-podzolic, carbonate to stony podzolic. In general, waterlogged soils occupy more than half of the country's area, and swamps - approx. 22%.

Minerals: shale tar (kukersite), combustible shale and phosphorites (explored reserves are estimated at 3.8 billion tons, predicted - about 6 billion tons), peat, amber, limestone, clay, phosphates, dolomite.

The climate is transitional from maritime to continental, the average July temperature is approx. +17°C, February from -4°C on Lake Saaremaa to -8°C in Narva.

Population of Estonia

According to the estimated data of national statistics, at the beginning of 2003 the population of Estonia was 1356 thousand people, it decreased by 20.7 thousand people. compared to the 2000 census data.

The population in Estonia is decreasing due to both negative natural growth and emigration. From 1995-2001, the death rate steadily increased (from 11.9 to 13.5‰), while the birth rate decreased (from 13.9 to 8.7‰), while the infant mortality rate also decreased (from 18.7 to 12 , 6 people per 1000 newborns). Average life expectancy is 69.7 years, men 63.7, women 76 years. In 2001, 17% of the population was under 15, 15% over 15, 68% St. 65 years old. Men make up 47% of the population, women 53%. 67.1% of the population lives in cities. The retirement age since 2002 is 65 for men, 60 for women.

Ethnic composition: Estonians - 65.1%, Russians - 28.1%, Ukrainians - 2.5%, Belarusians - 1.5%, Finns - 1%. 75.1% of the permanent population (almost all Estonians) have Estonian citizenship, 6.2% - Russian, do not have any citizenship of St. 12%.

Estonian belongs to the Baltic-Finnish branch of the Finno-Ugric family of languages.

Among believers, Lutherans predominate (80-85%), there are Orthodox (including Estonians), Baptists, Methodists, Seventh-day Adventists, Catholics, and Pentecostals. 8 churches, 8 parish unions and 66 private parishes are registered.

History of Estonia

The scattered Estonian tribes inhabiting the territory of modern Estonia were mainly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and fishing. The advance of the Germans in an easterly direction in the 12th century. influenced the fate of the Estonians, in the 13-16 centuries. their lands were conquered by the German crusaders and included in Livonia. The southern part of the country in 1224 was divided between the Livonian Order, Dorpat and Ezel bishops, the northern part belonged to Denmark in 1238-1346. The country was dominated by the Teutonic Knights, the landowning aristocracy and the local bishops of the Catholic Church, who were supported by city merchants. As a result of the war (1558-83), the Livonian Order collapsed: the northern part of Estonia was under the rule of the Swedes, the southern part - the Commonwealth. The island of Saaremaa remained with Denmark. From 1645 the entire territory of Estonia became part of Sweden. In the beginning. 18th century Russia's interests in the Baltic region clashed with those of Sweden. After the defeat of Sweden in the Northern War (1700-21), Estonia was annexed to Russia and divided into two provinces. The Estonian Governorate was formed on the territory northern Estonia, and the southern part (Pärnu, Viljandi and Tartu) entered the Livonian province.

Under the influence of the events of the February Revolution of 1917, Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies were created in Tallinn and other cities. In April 1917 the Estonian lands became an autonomous province. The first elections to the Estonian Parliament were held on July 7-8, 1917. On February 24, 1918, the Provincial Zemsky Council declared the independence of Estonia. The units of the Red Army and Estonian riflemen who entered contributed to the proclamation on November 29, 1918 of the Estonian Soviet Republic (Estland Labor Commune), which lasted until June 5, 1919, and on May 19, 1919, the Constituent Assembly proclaimed the formation of an independent Estonian Republic. On February 2, 1920, a peace treaty was signed with the RSFSR. In 1934 a coup d'état was carried out, a dictatorship was established, parliament was dissolved, and political parties were banned.

On September 28, 1939, Estonia and the USSR signed an agreement on mutual assistance, which provided for the deployment of part of the Soviet troops on the territory of Estonia, and on June 17, 1940, in connection with the threat of fascist aggression, they were introduced. On June 14-15, elections to the State Duma were held, and on July 21, 1940, the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed; in August 1940, it became part of the USSR. In 1941-44 E. was occupied by fascist German troops. In the autumn of 1944, after heavy fighting, Estonia was liberated by the Red Army.

In December 1988, the Estonian Popular Front was created, as well as a number of other political organizations (including the Independence Party), which put forward a demand for secession from the USSR. In November 1988, the Supreme Council of Estonia, led by the communist reformers, adopted the Declaration of the sovereignty of the Estonian SSR. On May 8, 1990, the Republic of Estonia was proclaimed, and on September 6, 1991, the independence of Estonia was recognized by the State Council of the USSR.

State structure and political system of Estonia

Estonia is a parliamentary republic. The Constitution of 1992 is in force. Administrative division - 15 counties (maakonds), 207 volosts, 47 cities. The largest cities (thousand people): Tallinn, Tartu (115), Narva (68.5), Kohtla-Järve (55), Pärnu (45).

State power in accordance with the Constitution is exercised by the Riigikogu, the President and the Government.

The highest legislative body is the Riigikogu (unicameral parliament), consisting of 101 deputies elected by universal, direct, secret suffrage for 4 years on the basis of proportional representation (over 20 parties and political organizations are registered in Estonia). The Riigikogu elects the president, discusses legislative acts, approves or rejects the candidature of the prime minister appointed by the president, forms the government of the country.

The elections for the next (10th) Riigikogu, held on March 2, 2003, demonstrated the previous trend towards the predominance of right-wing conservative, nationally oriented forces. In total, approx. 58% of the Estonian electorate, or 40% of the country's inhabitants. Almost 25% of the population, mostly Russian-speaking residents who do not have the status of citizens, were not allowed to participate in the elections. Of the 11 registered parties, only 6 entered the parliament. The Russian-speaking parties - the United People's Party of Estonia and the Russian Party of Estonia did not gain necessary minimum votes. The center-right party Res Publica won (28 seats), the second place was taken by the Social Democratic Center Party, led by the Mayor of Tallinn E. Savisaar (28), the Reform Party, led by S. Kallas, was third (19), the only party from " triple alliance (reformists, moderates and the Union of the Fatherland), which has wide support after the right-wing government, because it managed to move away from the unpopular decisions of this government and actively condemned its partners, then the People's Union (13), the Union of the Fatherland "Isamaaliyt" (7) and the Party moderate (6 mandates).

The head of state is the president, elected by the Riigikogu for 5 years, but not more than two consecutive terms, approves laws, appoints a candidate for the post of prime minister, and performs representative functions. On September 21, 2001, Arnold Ruutel won the presidential election, replacing Lennart Mary.

The highest body of executive power, the Cabinet of Ministers, is formed by the Riigikogu. The composition of the new coalition government of the country was approved on April 7, 2003. The ruling coalition included representatives of the Res Publica party, the Reform Party and the People's Union. Juhan Parts, the leader of the Res Publica party, has become the new prime minister of Estonia, replacing Siim Kallas, the leader of the reformist party.

The primary tasks of the new government were: the continuation of an active campaign against corruption (refusal of personal and expensive cars of ministers and other officials), reducing the cost of maintaining the state apparatus; the fight for a balanced budget, the reduction of income tax to 20% and the establishment of a tax-free level of personal income up to 2000 thousand kroons per month from January 1, 2004; tougher penalties for drug-related crimes. In the field of foreign policy - the accession of Estonia to the EU (at the referendum held on September 14, 2003, 66.9% of the voters who took part (63.4%) voted in favor of joining the EU) and NATO, the further development of Estonian-Russian relations, cross-border cooperation between Estonia and Leningrad, Pskov and other regions of the Russian Federation, as well as cooperation within the framework of projects of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS).

NATO membership is one of the main objectives of Estonia's foreign and defense policy. In 2002, 2% of GDP was spent on defense. The preparation and reform of the national defense system is carried out in accordance with NATO standards. The regular armed forces number approx. 4500 people The whole of Estonia is divided into 4 military districts and 14 defense regions. The ground forces consist of 8 battalions: reconnaissance, security, peacekeeping and 5 infantry, as well as an artillery unit. They are armed with 32 armored personnel carriers, up to 60 mortars of various calibers, approx. 20 towed artillery pieces and St. 400 recoilless, 100 anti-aircraft guns and approx. 15 anti-tank guided missile launchers. Air Force has 110 people. and consist of 2 An-2 aircraft and 3 Mi-2 helicopters. The country's Navy - 300 people, one frigate, 2 patrol boats, 4 mine-sweeping ships, 2 auxiliary ships. There is also a border guard, numbering approx. 300 people on 30 patrol boats.

Estonia has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established on October 9, 1991).

Economy of Estonia

Estonia is a state with an industrial-agrarian economy. Industry employs 33% of the economically active population. The main industries are: oil shale mining and processing, light industry, food processing, woodworking, metalworking, mechanical engineering and production of building materials. Industrial enterprises in the country are concentrated in large cities. Metalworking, machine-building and instrument-making plants, light industry enterprises are located in Tallinn. In Narva there is a well-known large cotton mill (Krenholm Manufactory), in Sillamäe there is a plant for the production of rare metals (Silmet). The cities of Kohtla-Järve, Sillamäe and Narva have the main fuel and energy complexes. Small enterprises in the food and woodworking industries are evenly distributed throughout the country. The industry is experiencing crisis phenomena associated with structural changes, reorientation to the production of competitive products that meet the requirements of the world market.

In agriculture, St. 12% of the economically active population, the area of ​​agricultural land is 2.57 million hectares. The main directions are meat and dairy farming, bacon production. They grow potatoes, vegetables, cereals and fruit crops. Agriculture remains the most backward sector of the economy, despite the measures taken. Estonia has lost the market for agricultural products in the east, and the export of products to the west is limited by various quotas. Only 1/3 of livestock and pig products are exported. The slow pace of privatization also had a negative impact on the state of the industry. In the last decade, the area of ​​arable land has been declining, arable land occupies 25% of the country's territory, pastures - 11%.

Industry in 2002 accounted for 19.7% of GDP (including manufacturing - 18.6%), transport and communications - 15.9, trade - 14.6, services - 12.6, construction - 6.4 , other areas of activity - 30.8%.

There is a fairly developed and extensive transport network. The total length of the broad gauge railway 1018 km (privatized in 2001), roads - 49,480 km (10,935 km paved, 38,545 km unpaved), navigable waterways - 320 km, gas pipeline - 420 km. There is a year-round sea (ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Tallinn) and air traffic (5 airports, the largest one is in Tallinn).

Estonia has consistently pursued economic reforms coordinated by the IMF and the World Bank and is a market economy country seeking to join the EU to strengthen economic security. One of the main conditions for joining the EU is WTO membership (Estonia joined this organization in 1999). Another important condition is macroeconomic stability.

Over the years of sovereign existence, the country has experienced a fairly long (5 years) and deep economic recession. In 2000, GDP in Estonia amounted to 85% of the 1990 level, the volume of industrial production decreased by 35%. The Russian monetary and financial crisis of 1998 had a negative impact on the development of the Estonian economy. The reorientation of foreign economic relations to the West to some extent mitigated its consequences, but could not completely replace the vast Russian market. Every sixth firm, exporting primarily food, chemical products, building materials, computers, suffered. Many Estonian enterprises were forced to almost halve their production volumes (in the processing industry - by 40%, in the electronics industry - by 55%). The volume of exports to the Russian Federation decreased by 59%, while to the EU countries it increased by 10%. The sharp decline in food exports to the Russian Federation led to the development of a crisis of food overproduction in Estonia. Unemployment has increased. Slow growth in industrial and agricultural production began in 2000.

GDP dynamics in Estonia in the 1990s had a trend inherent in all transition economies: a strong decline gave way to unstable growth. At the same time, exports and foreign investment remained the main sources of growth in the face of limited domestic demand.

The volume of GDP (in constant prices) in 2002 amounted to 96.9 billion kroons, an increase compared to 2001 - 5.8%. Industrial output increased by 4.5%. The volume of production in the mining and processing industries amounted to 939.7 million kroons (an increase of 10.6%), in the manufacturing sector - 16,746.4 million kroons (9.8%). The largest growth was observed in the production of computers, office equipment (24.7%), electrical machines (20%), paper (20.3%) and textile (14.7%) industries.

The volume of work in construction increased by 14.7% and amounted to 5,551 million kroons, while the volume of retail and wholesale trade increased by 10.1% (12,896 million kroons). Income from the service sector increased (restaurant and hotel services - by 12.7%, financial activities - by 8.5%).

In agriculture and hunting, in 2002, a decrease in production by 4.7% was recorded. The livestock industry produced 92 thousand tons of meat, 1% more, eggs (247.3 million units) - 11% less, milk (620.7 thousand tons) - 9% less. In crop production: 543.7 thousand tons were harvested (a decrease of 2.7%), potatoes - 285.7 thousand tons (6.7% less).

The volume of foreign trade turnover of Estonia in 2002 compared to 2001 increased by 3%, amounting to 136.4 billion kroons, exports accounted for 42% (56.9 billion kroons), imports - 58% (79.8 billion kroons). Exports of Estonian goods decreased by 2.1%, while imports increased by 6%. Estonia's foreign trade deficit amounted to 39.7% of exports (in 2001 - 33%). The EU countries accounted for 68% of exports and 58% of imports, the CIS countries - 5 and 10%, respectively. The main export partners were: Finland (24.8%), Sweden (15.3%), Germany (9.9%), Latvia (7.4%), Great Britain (4.8%), Denmark (4, 4%), and for imports - Finland (17.2%), Germany (11.2%), Sweden (9.5%), Russia (7.4%), China (5.2%), Italy ( 4.6%). The negative balance in trade with the EU countries amounted to 5.6 billion kroons, the CIS - 5.1 billion kroons.

The unstable dynamics of the world economy and the negative trends in the development of the EU countries (economic slowdown) have had an impact on the Estonian economy in recent years. This is directly related to the shrinking export opportunities and the constant growth of imports. Estonia managed to partially compensate for losses in the EU markets by entering the markets of the CIS countries, mainly in the Russian Federation. In 2002, exports to the Russian Federation increased by 39.5% compared to 2001. Mechanical engineering products (about 60%) and foodstuffs are a major export item. Almost 50% of imports from the Russian Federation are mineral products (oil, oil products, gas, mineral fertilizers). Large import positions are metals (mainly ferrous and aluminum) and products made from them, as well as chemical products, timber products, primarily wood for the production of sawn timber, exported to the West.

There are no large investments from the Russian Federation in Estonia, shareholders from among legal entities and individuals are registered in 266 Estonian companies. Relatively large investments were made by RAO "Gazprom" in the petrochemical enterprise "Nitrofert" in Kohtla-Jarve. On the basis of the Nitrofert gas processing enterprise, with the participation of large Western companies and banks, work is underway on a project to create a modern high-tech chemical production. The products of this enterprise (fertilizers, methanol, etc.) will be exported to the markets of Western countries.

The transit of Russian cargo remains an important element of the Estonian national economy. The volume of these services significantly exceeds commodity exports to the Russian Federation in value terms. The Russian Federation is provided with services for the transportation and transshipment of oil and oil products, fertilizers, metals and a number of other goods. Income from the transit of these goods is up to 25% of the Estonian budget.

The reduction in demand in foreign markets had a downward effect on the dynamics of consumer prices. The trade deficit increased markedly. The increase in the balance of payments deficit was counteracted by a very tangible influx of investments from abroad. The volume of accumulated at the beginning. 2002 foreign direct investment (FDI) was $2.7 billion, or $1.8 thousand per capita. The largest foreign investors - Finland and Sweden - invested St. 2/3 of all foreign investment, Germany - 10%.

The economic development of Estonia in 2003 will continue to be determined by the dynamics of demand in the domestic market. Some growth in consumption will be possible due to an increase in wages, expanding opportunities for obtaining loans from commercial banks.

The Estonian banking system consists of the Bank of Estonia and a network of commercial banks (7), whose assets amounted to USD 3.78 billion (September 2002). Hansapank is one of the largest banks in the country. According to the Bank of Estonia, the deficit of the country's balance of payments in 2002 amounted to 13.3 billion kroons (930 million dollars), or 12.5% ​​of GDP, 2 times more than in 2001. The increase in the deficit is caused by the ever-increasing import of services, indicating for active investment activities. Estonian external debt at stake. 2002 amounted to 12.3 billion kroons, or 11.6% of GDP (in 2001 - respectively 9.2 billion kroons, or 10% of GDP).

In 2002, GDP per capita reached 5,000 euros, which is 37% of the EU average. The average monthly wage was $337, the minimum wage was $103, the average pension was $92, and the average family income per person was $131. Food accounted for 32% of all expenses.

The number of employed in 2002 amounted to 586 thousand people, which increased by 1.4% compared to 2001. 67.2 thousand unemployed were registered (in 2001 - 83.1 thousand). The unemployment rate remains quite high, but there is a downward trend from 13.6% in 2000 to 10.6% in 2001 and 10.3% in 2002.

Science and culture of Estonia

In Estonia, the share of those with primary, basic (9 grades) and secondary education in the economically active population is 35.6%, secondary specialized (vocational) education - 35.3% and higher education - 29.1% (2000).

At the beginning of the 2001/02 academic year, 207.6 thousand people were studying in general education schools in Estonia. (26.2% - in Russian), in vocational schools - 29.8 thousand people. (35.3%) and in universities - 60.4 thousand people. (11.2%). In the field of vocational and higher education, a significant share of state funding remains. The number of students in higher education has increased dramatically due to paid education (both in public and private educational institutions).

Since 2002, a new system of funding state-funded places in higher education has been in operation. It provides for the conclusion of agreements between the Ministry of Education and the university for the entire nominal period of budgetary education (up to graduation, obtaining a master's or doctoral degree) for a certain number of places.

The country has 6 public and 8 private universities, 34 universities. The largest and most famous of them are: the University of Tartu (founded in 1632), the Tallinn University of Technology, the Tallinn Pedagogical University, the Estonian Agricultural Academy in Tartu, the Tallinn University of the Arts, and the Estonian Academy of Music and Art in Tallinn.

Spending on science is 0.7% of GDP (2001). The leading scientific center of the country, the Estonian Academy of Sciences, was reorganized into a personal academy, and its 19 institutes were transferred to universities. major center science is the University of Tartu, where special attention is paid to research in the field of Estonian philology and literature, history, ethnography and medicine.

Of the 114 museums in the country, the largest is the Estonian National Museum, founded in 1909 in Tartu, which has a rich collection of ethnographic materials. Estonia has approx. 600 libraries. The largest of these are the University of Tartu Library, the National Library in Tallinn and the Estonian Academic Library in Tallinn.

Estonian culture was formed under strong Scandinavian and German influence. In the beginning. 19th century Estonian literature began to emerge. The publication in 1857-61 by F. Kreutzwald of the national epic "Kalevipoeg" ("Son of Kalev") was a significant event. Poetry was developed in the 2nd half. 19th century L. Koidula (the founder of Estonian dramaturgy), A. Reinvald, M. Veske, M. Under and B. Alver gained the greatest fame. In the beginning. 20th century the poet G. Suits headed the Young Estonia cultural movement, such poets as P. Rummo (the play Cinderella's Game) and J. Kaplinsky gained fame.

The greatest achievement of prose in the 20th century. is a five-volume epic novel by A. Tammsaare "Truth and Justice", written in 1926-33. The historical novels of the most famous Estonian writer J. Kross reveal the moral problems of Estonian society. The national writer of Estonia is Juhan Smuul (1922-71).

An important role in Estonian culture is played by folklore, which is the inspiration for writers, artists, sculptors, and musicians. Artist J. Köhler and sculptor A. Weizenberg, Estonian graphic artists T. Vinta, V. Tolli and M. Leis can be attributed to the founders of Estonian national fine arts. Among Estonian composers, the most famous are E. Tubin (1905-82), A. Pärt (b. 1935), conductor N. Järvi (b. 1937)

It is an Estonian tradition to hold song festivals (in recent decades, the number of performers has reached 30 thousand people, and listeners and spectators up to 300 thousand people).

Estonia has approx. 30 large and small theaters - state, municipal and private (National Opera House "Estonia", State Russian Drama Theater, Theater "Vanemuine", etc.). Famous singers - Georg Ots (1920-75), Anne Veski.

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

Another interesting fact Ob is the country with the largest Wi-Fi access in Europe. More than 1100 access points have been created here, which is simply incredible for a country with such a small area.

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

There are all conditions for excellent beach holiday and especially for families with children. The mass of playgrounds, the cleanest equipped beaches and wonderful ones attract a lot of tourists here.

Holidays in Estonian

The best observation deck, from where it opens up especially amazing, is located on the bell tower, and the view from here allows you to decorate the travel album with memorable panoramic photos.

The cultural capital of St. John is rightfully considered, in which one of the Europe's oldest. Its main building is a historical and architectural landmark, which all city guests aspire to visit. One of the most photographed places is this, as well as with its clay stucco ornaments, and the most visited is where a strong half of the tourist brethren is ready, without interrupting, to listen to the guide. In total, at least twenty museums are open, in which both children and adults find a lot of interesting things for themselves.

Mysterious Island

B has its own islands, rightly called unique nature reserves. The largest one is easily accessible by ferry.

Its pristine beauty overshadows all the creations of human hands. On there are bays and rocky beaches, where fans of solitude and lovers of natural masterpieces like to relax. Comfortable hotels and guest houses offer visitors real comfort and the opportunity to unite with nature. sand dunes, cool sea waves, tart pine aroma spreading in the air - it is not in vain that it is considered one of the best Baltic resorts.

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

Tasty and healthy

Traveling around is not complete without visiting its restaurants with national dishes on the traditional menu. The main and favorite dishes of Estonians can be tasted in any local cafe. On the eve of Christmas, the menu will certainly include jellied meat and black pudding served with lingonberry sauce, and on Maslenitsa - buns garnished with whipped cream. Pickled Baltic herring, stew with sauerkraut and fragrant pates, soft cheeses and rich soups made from potatoes, cabbage or peas with smoked meats are always loved here.

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

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