Estonia

Description of Estonia

Estonia is located in Northern Europe. The coastline of the country lies on the Baltic Sea and on the Gulf of Finland. It shares borders with Russia and Latvia. This country is the gem of the Baltic and offers travelers a chance to view a dynamic land located on the shores of the Baltic sea.

Wonderful beaches are scattered up and down the coastline, but the season for swimming is quite short as the area is not known for having warm weather. The summer season is quite short and the winters in the country are quite severe.

History

Estonia was ruled by Germany, the Danish, Sweden, Poland, and Russia for more than seven centuries. The country finally gained independence in the year 1918. In the year 1940 it was annexed into the USSR. Independence was won once again in the year 1991 during the Singing Revolution. This was a non-violent revolution that was used to overthrow a violent occupation. The last of the Russian troops left the area in the year 1994 and since that time the country has moved to promote political and economic ties with Europe. The country is now one of the more prosperous past communist states. It has a high tech environment, an economy which is open and liberal, and the government system is transparent. However, it does have a low GDP as well as a low birth rate, which has resulted in a decline in the population. From 1991 through 2007 there was rapid economic expansion in the country, which led it to be one of the most developed and wealthiest of former soviet republics. The global recession damaged the economy quite badly, but it has started to recover as of recent years. Estonia has adopted the Euro as its official currency.

Since becoming a part of the European Union the country is quickly becoming one of the more popular destinations in the north eastern part of Europe. There was a 30% growth rate of visitors in the year 2004.

Things to See and Do

There are some great places to visit in Estonia, which is one of the reasons that the number of travelers has increased over the years. Many people first come to the country in order to see Tallinn, which is the most intact and best protected medieval city in all of Europe. Tallinn has been on the UNESCO’s world heritage list since 1997.

The people of the land lived under the rule of Scandinavian kings, the Russian Empire, as well as Teutonic knights and because of this there is a rich and unique blend of historic landmarks located throughout the country. There are over 1000 manors that were built around the country starting in the 13^th century. There are some of the manors that are now ruins, but many are reconstructed and are some of the favorite destinations for visitors to the country. There are about 200 manor houses that are under the protection of the state as well as several architectural monuments with more than 100 being actively used.

When visiting the country you will definitely want to take the time to see the coastline and the islands. The nature here has been left mostly untouched and offers a different beach experience as they feel more remote and rustic. The public beaches are sandy and the average temperature of the water is about 18 degrees Celsius during the summer months. the shallow bays and the inland waters are warmer.

Saaremaa is the largest island and has a medieval castle that is well restored and still intact. It is located in the only city on the island, Kuressaare. On the island you will find thatched roofs, stone fences, homemade beer, and working windmills.

Hiiumaa is another island in the area that is known for its unspoiled nature, light houses, and the Hill of Crosses. Some of the other important islands include Muhu, Vormsi, and Ruhnu. Many of the other islands are not culturally significant, but can be a great place to go canoeing, for bird watching and for fishing.

Estonia holds a film festival every year that is quite popular. It is held in November/December and combines feature films with student, children/youth, and animated films. There are also music festivals held in the country each year. Tallinn Music Week is one of the most popular and it is held during the spring and showcases the best Estonian talent.

Some facts about Estonia

Gallery of Estonia

Estonia video guide

More information about Estonia

Top cities of Estonia