Estonia

Estonia, the most northerly of the Baltic states, regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It is a mainly flat country on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, with many lakes and islands. Much of the land is farmed or forested.

The Estonian language is closely related to Finnish, but bears no resemblance to the languages of the other Baltic republics, Latvia and Lithuania, or to Russian. About one quarter of the population is of Russian-speaking origin.

The capital, Tallinn, is one of the best-preserved mediaeval cities in Europe, and tourism accounts for 15% of Estonian GDP. The economy is driven by engineering, food products, metals, chemicals and wood products.

Throughout history, many other nations that ruled the region – Danes, Germans, Swedes, Poles and Russians – have influenced Estonian cuisine. Among the traditional dishes are marinated eel, blood sausage and sauerkraut stew with pork.

Famous Estonians include the writer Jaan Kross whose work has been translated into at least 20 languages, the author of the national epic (Kalevipoeg) Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, and the writer, film-maker, diplomat and politician Lennart Meri.

USEFUL LINKS:

1. National public administration portal

   The Riigiportaal is a gateway to all of Estonia’s public institution websites. The portal also features a database with press releases and speeches by the President of the Republic as well as a weekly news bulletin. A special section is dedicated to the country's relations with the European Union.

2. Introduction to the country

   The Welcome to Estonia portal is divided into sections. The “Travel facts” section offers factsheets on geography, history, climate and travel formalities. Other sections provide a wide range of information on upcoming events, things to do and places to see.