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Estonia is located in the northern Europe in the Baltic region. It is bordered in the north by Finland across the Gulf of Finland, towards the west by Sweden, towards the south by Latvia, and the east by the Russian Federation. It has a total land boundary of 633 km and coastline stretching upto 3,794 km. Coastline is marked by numerous bays, straits, and inlets. There are about 1,500 islands and islets. Two of them are large enough to constitute their own countries Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. It claims a territorial sea of about 12 nm and has an exclusive economic zone with limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states.
The geographical terrain is marshy, lowlands and flat in the north, hilly in the south. The lowest point in Estonia is Baltic Sea 0 m and the highest point is the Suur Munamagi 318 m.
The natural resources to be found in Estonia are oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land and sea mud. |
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| Climate |
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Estonia is located in the northern part of the temperate climate zone and in the transition zone between maritime and continental climate. It has a milder climate despite its northern latitude as the entire northern Europe is warmed by the Gulf Stream. The climate of coastal and inland areas varies due to the Baltic Sea. The average annual temperature is 5°C, February is the coldest month of the year with -5.2°C. July, the warmest month of the year has an average temperature of 18 °C.
The Atlantic Ocean, the North-Atlantic Stream and the Icelandic Minimum, area known for the formation of cyclones and low average air pressure than in neighbouring areas, influence the climate. Estonia lies in a humid zone in which the amount of precipitation is greater than total evaporation. In a year, Estonia enjoys 160-190 days of rain with plenty precipitation on the western slopes of the Sakala and Haanja Uplands. The south-eastern region enjoys deep snow from mid-December to late March. |
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| People |
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The population of Estonia is estimated to be 1,307,605. Of which 67.9% Estonians, 25.6% are Russians, 2.1% are Ukrainian, 1.3% are Belarusian, 0.9% Finn and 2.2% other ethnic groups. 13.6% of the population is Evangelical Lutheran, 12.8% are Orthodox, 1.4% follows other Christian denomination including Methodist, Seventh - day Adventist, Roman Catholic and Pentecostal, 34.1% are unaffiliated, 32% follow other and unspecified religion and 6.1% follow none.
The official language is Estonian used by 67.3% of the inhabitants, 23.7% of the population speak Russian, 2.3% speak other languages and 0.7% speak unknown languages. |
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| Government |
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The Estonian government operates under the framework of parliamentary republic. Wherein, the president is the chief of the state and Prime minister the head of the government. The Council of Ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister and approved by Parliament. The president is elected by the Parliament for a five-year term, and is eligible for the second term. Estonia is administratively divided into 15 counties Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi) and Vorumaa (Voru).
Capital: Tallinn
Independence Day: 20 August 1991
President: Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Prime Minister: Andrus Ansip |
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| Economy |
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Estonia has a modern market-based economy and one of the highest per capita income levels in Central Europe. It is a European Union entrant in the year 2004. The economy boosted by the strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden and Germany. The present government has stabilized the economy, resulting in balanced budgets and low public debt.
69% of the labor force is into dependent on service industry, 20% depended on the industrial sector and only 11% on agricultural sector.
The agricultural products to be found in Estonia are potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products and fish. The industrial goods and services contributing to the economy are engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles, information technology and telecommunications |
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