State of Estonia. Fascinating Estonia on the world map. Winter sports

Useful information for tourists about Estonia, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Estonia, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in Estonia.

Geography of Estonia

Estonia is a country in northeastern Europe, on east coast Baltic Sea. It borders with Russia and Latvia. In the north it is washed by the Gulf of Finland, in the west - by the Baltic Sea. Estonia owns more than 1,500 islands, the largest of which are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The relief is predominantly flat with an extensive network of lakes.

State

State structure

The form of government is a republic. The head of state is the president, the legislative body is the State Assembly.

Language

Official language: Estonian

Widely spoken are English, Russian, Finnish and German.

Religion

The majority of believers are Lutherans (70%) and Orthodox (20%).

Currency

International name: EUR

From 1992 to 2010, the country used the Estonian kroon. The transition to the euro took place on January 1, 2011.

History of Estonia

The territory of modern Estonia was inhabited approximately two and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ. Profitable geographical position at the crossroads of trade routes from East to West and from North to South, it caused great interest in this piece of land, inspired many kings to go on military campaigns and gave rise to many strife.

Since the 13th century, Estonia has been under the influence of the Teutonic Order. Knight's castles, more or less preserved to this day, are one of the most important tourism sites.

In 1285 Tallinn became part of the Hanseatic League. German merchants conducted mainly trade business. Subsequent generations of Germans, who finally settled in Estonia, built family estates countrywide. The Germans were the first wave in a long line of conquerors. Danes, Swedes, Poles and Russians all marched across Estonia, imposing their will, erecting cities and castles, exporting goods through Estonian ports.

IN late XIX century, a wave of national liberation movement arose in Estonia. On February 24, 1918, Estonia declared its independence. True, Estonia did not remain free for long. In 1940, Estonia was annexed to the Soviet Union, and only in 1991 (August 20) was it able to regain independence by separating from the USSR peacefully. Today the country is a member of the UN and the IMF.

The territory of modern Estonia was inhabited approximately two and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ. The advantageous geographical position at the crossroads of trade routes from East to West and from North to South led to great interest in this piece of land, prompted many kings to go on military campaigns and gave rise to many disputes....

Popular attractions

Tourism in Estonia

Where to stay

All of Estonia is one huge resort. Hotels and sanatoriums are located here wherever there are suitable conditions for this. After the country gained independence, the number of hotels increased from several dozen to several hundred. Estonia has a fairly developed tourism industry, which is reflected in the breadth and quality of the hotel stock, as well as a really high level of service in hotels.

The country's hotels have a standard five-star classification plus a separate classification of motels from one to three stars - everything is strictly controlled. state level.

In one-star hotels in Estonia, the reception is open from 7.00 to 23.00. In rooms ranging from 9 sq. m and above there is a bath, toilet and towels. Breakfast is included in the price. Unlike one-star rooms, two-star rooms have a telephone and at least 10% of these rooms are non-smoking.

In three-star hotels, the reception is open 24 hours a day. Guests have access to computers with the Internet, and each room has a TV. Breakfast, if desired by the guest, is served in the room. Daytime and evening meals are provided at the hotel restaurant.

Four-star hotels in most cases have an elevator. The rooms are equipped with comfortable furniture, TV with international channels, minibar and computer with Internet access. Hot meals can be served in your room at least 16 hours a day. In addition to this range of services, five-star hotels are distinguished by round-the-clock service, the presence of their own restaurant, swimming pool and fitness center.

For more thrifty tourists In Estonia there is always a choice between small private hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, hostels and campsites (both tent camps and caravan parks).

Many old sanatoriums and boarding houses have been completely converted into modern medical and health complexes, where tourists are offered a variety of health programs and SPA services.

Popular hotels

Excursions and attractions in Estonia

Estonia is small charming country on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Its centuries-old history, rich cultural heritage and magnificent natural landscapes will fill your holiday with unforgettable impressions. Here you will find the picturesque shores of the Gulf of Finland and Riga, many beautiful islands, dense forests, lakes, nature reserves and National parks. It will be a great pleasure to get acquainted with ancient cities and colorful fishing villages, as well as visit magnificent medieval castles, most interesting museums, ancient churches and monasteries.

The capital of Estonia, Tallinn, is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. The historical center of Tallinn certainly deserves special attention – Old city. Its narrow winding streets, the remains of fortress walls, medieval towers, ancient houses with red tiled roofs and numerous weather vanes create a magical atmosphere and unique flavor. It is definitely worth visiting Toompea Castle, Tallinn Town Hall, St. Olav and St. Nicholas Churches, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Glen Castle, Kadriorg Palace, Church of the Holy Spirit, Niguliste Church, Maarjamägi Castle, Maritime Museum Estonia, Art Museum, Botanical Garden and Zoo. In the vicinity of Tallinn, the Estonian open-air museum Rocca al Mare and the ruins of the monastery of St. Brigid are interesting.

Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia and its cultural center. Among the many attractions of the city of Tartu, the most interesting are Toomemägi Hill (Domberg) with the ruins of the Cathedral of Peter and Paul (Dome Cathedral), the Tartu Observatory and the Old Anatomicum, the Town Hall and Town Hall Square, St. John's Church, Estonian National Museum, National Gallery, Toy Museum, Oskar Luts House Museum, Angel's and Devil's Bridges, Botanical Garden and St. Anthony's Metochion.

The ancient city of Narva and its main attraction is the Narva Hermann Castle, which is very popular among tourists. Also worth visiting in Narva are the Alexander Church, the Town Hall, the Resurrection Cathedral, the Narva Museum, the Art Gallery and the oldest park in Narva - the Dark Garden. Of particular interest is the complex of buildings of the Krenholm manufactory, located on island of the same name.

Estonia includes more than one and a half thousand islands and Saaremaa is not only the largest of them, but, perhaps, the most interesting. Its main attraction, the Bishop's Castle in Kuressaare (the largest settlement on the island), is considered the only medieval castle that has been completely preserved to this day in the Baltic countries. Today the castle houses the Saaremaa Museum and Art Gallery. Among the natural attractions of the island, lakes Kaali (meteor crater) and Karujärv should be noted. Lovers of nature and silence will have a lot of fun taking a walk through the Viidumäe nature reserve. The island of Saaremaa is also known for its excellent mud baths. The picturesque islands of Hiiumaa and Vormsi are also worth a visit.

Charming Estonia offers holidays on the picturesque Baltic coast and relaxation on the lake shores, a rich excursion program and treatment on mineral springs. Ancient Tallinn, resort Pärnu and the island of Saaremaa - all about Estonia: visa, map, tours, prices and reviews.

Last minute tours Worldwide

Holidays in Estonia have a number of obvious advantages: proximity to Russia (you can get here in a few hours by bus from St. Petersburg), the process of obtaining a visa is not too complicated, the absence of a language barrier (in major cities almost everyone speaks Russian), high level of service. And the Estonian “excursion” is generally beyond praise: it’s even surprising how so many attractions fit into such a small country. Finally, in the summer you can sunbathe, swim, and at the same time improve your health.

All of Estonia - one big resort: Hotels and sanatoriums are springing up wherever there are suitable conditions. Lovers of a quiet and secluded holiday will be able to have a good rest on the islands, as well as on farms and farms in the Estonian “outback”. The country's entry into Schengen did not make obtaining a visa a more complicated procedure (however, it did not simplify it), but it opened the borders of many European countries to its guests.

Regions and resorts of Estonia

Time difference from Moscow

− 1 hour not in summer

with Kaliningrad

with Samara

with Yekaterinburg

with Omsk

with Krasnoyarsk

with Irkutsk

with Yakutsk

with Vladivostok

from Severo-Kurilsk

with Kamchatka

Climate

The weather in Estonia is subject to the whims of the Baltic. The climate here is temperate, moving from maritime to continental. On west coast a little warmer than in the southwest, but overall the temperature difference is insignificant. Winters are most often mild and snowy, but local weather seven Fridays in a week: clear sunshine can suddenly give way to gusty winds and prickly rain. Most precipitation falls in autumn, but an umbrella will come in handy at the end of August. Spring is gray and cool, summer is warm, but not stuffy (winds from the Baltic Sea save you from the heat).

Officially swimming season lasts from June to August, but it is more comfortable to swim from mid-July: shallow coastal waters warm up to +20...+25 °C by this time.

Visa and customs

Estonia is a member of the Schengen Agreement. A visa and travel health insurance are required to visit the country.

The import and export of foreign currency is not limited, but amounts over 10,000 EUR must be declared. There are no restrictions on the import of personal items; meat and dairy products are prohibited. You can carry 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco. Customs will allow 1 liter of strong drinks (with an alcohol content of more than 22°) or 2 liters with an alcohol content of less than 22°, 4 liters of wine and 16 liters of beer. You can take 50 ml or 250 ml of perfume with you eau de toilette. Medicines - in the quantity necessary for personal use, baby and medical food - up to 2 kg per person (packages must be sealed). The import of drugs, weapons, explosives, pornography and any counterfeit goods is strictly prohibited. Cultural property exported from Estonia must be accompanied by official certificates. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Tax free

Shopping in Estonia can become 20% more profitable if you meet all the conditions of the system Tax free. This is not difficult to do: just make purchases worth at least 39 EUR in stores marked with appropriate signs and ask the seller for two receipts - a regular cash receipt and a special one, with a list of purchased goods, indicating VAT rates and the buyer’s personal data. All this will be needed at customs at the airport: unpacked goods will be inspected, a Tax Free check will be stamped, and at the Global Blue office they will give you the required amount in cash or arrange a bank transfer.

How to get to Estonia

The largest airport in Estonia, Tallinn Airport, is located within the capital, just 4 km from its historical center. Direct flights from Moscow are operated only by Aeroflot, departure from Sheremetyevo, you will spend 1 hour 40 minutes in the air. Getting there with one transfer is a little more profitable: Air Baltic has routes with a connection in Riga, the journey duration is from 3 hours 20 minutes. LOT, UTair, Es Seven and other carriers organize flights with two transfers, the journey takes from 5.5 hours, connections in Riga, St. Petersburg, Vilnius and other European cities.

There are no direct flights from St. Petersburg to Tallinn. Air Baltic flies via Riga (from 3 hours in the air), Norra and Finnair - via Helsinki (from 7 hours), Scandinavian Airlines - via Stockholm (from 4 hours), LOT - via Warsaw (from 20 hours).

You can also get to the Estonian capital by land. The Baltic Express runs between Moscow and Tallinn, starting from Leningradsky Station and taking 15.5 hours to reach its destination. Tickets in a reserved seat - 80 EUR, in a compartment - 95 EUR. You can also take the same train in St. Petersburg, at the Moskovsky station: the trip will cost 40 EUR and 50 EUR, respectively. Ecolines buses also depart from both Russian capitals to Tallinn: tickets from Moscow - 55 EUR, from St. Petersburg - 20 EUR, schedule and details - at the office. carrier's website.

Search for flights to Estonia

To Estonia by car

You can also get to Estonia by car (just under 8 hours drive from St. Petersburg) through the checkpoints of Narva, Pechora and Luhamaa. However, keep in mind that there may be a long queue at the border.

Information about border checkpoints: Pärnu is located at the same distance from the checkpoint of Narva and Kunichnaya Gora (which is near Pskov), but the queue is traditionally much shorter at Kunichnaya Gora. But on the way back, you can reserve your place in the queue on the GoSwift website. Reservations can be made 90 days in advance. Next, the procedure is simple - drive up to Narva, go to the “station” (turn right immediately after the first gas station when entering the city, and look for a small sign on the left hand side on the concrete fence). As soon as the reservation number is displayed, go to the window, go through the necessary procedures and after that go directly to the checkpoint. Don't forget to take out Green Card insurance in advance.

Transport

The main means of transportation between Estonian cities is the train. The railway network is maintained by Elron (office site), the rolling stock has recently been updated: the seats are now soft, there are blackout curtains on the windows, Wi-Fi is available in the cars. Tickets are sold at the box office and online, and electronic tickets do not need to be printed: special machines read them directly from the display.

A trip from the capital to Tartu will cost from 10.50 EUR, to Narva - from 11.40 EUR.

An alternative to trains are buses: intercity transport strictly follows the schedule and stops in the centers of all settlements. The largest carriers are Sebe, Lux Express (office site), Simple Express (office site). The cost of a trip from Tallinn to Pärnu is 6-9 EUR, to Haapsalu - 8 EUR.

Between numerous Estonian islands There are ferries. Ticket prices range from 3-4 EUR depending on the distance, standard surcharge for a car is 10 EUR.

Public transport within cities

Buses operate in most Estonian cities; there are also trolleybuses and trams in the capital. Tickets are sold at kiosks (1 EUR) and from drivers (2 EUR), it is more profitable to purchase reusable ones electronic cards(from 3 EUR) and replenish them with the required amount. By the way, Tallinn residents themselves use public transport absolutely free.

Tourists rarely need taxis in Estonia: most attractions are located within walking distance of each other. However, you can always catch a car on the street or call by phone, the average tariff for landing is 2 EUR, for each km - 0.50-1 EUR, at night - twice as expensive.

Bicycles are rented out in specialized showrooms and large hotels. The 1st hour of rental costs from 1.60 EUR, each subsequent one - from 1.40 EUR, a day - from 10 EUR (plus a required deposit - 100 EUR). The trip will be as eventful as possible if you pick up a brochure with detailed cycling routes from the travel agency.

Rent a Car

If traveling around Estonia is not limited to Tallinn, renting a car is a very good solution. In the capital, the old center is given over to pedestrians; attractions are located close to each other. But beyond its borders there is complete freedom of movement: the roads are good, large islands cars are delivered by ferries.

Rental offices are located at the airport and big cities, the most popular are Alamo, Inter Rent, addCar, Prime Car Rent. Cars are rented to drivers over 19 years of age with insurance and an international license valid for more than a year. Some companies charge additional rates for customers under 25 years of age. In addition to the rental fee, you will need to pay a deposit (about 450 EUR) with bank card. The cost of renting a standard car is from 35 EUR, a station wagon - from 40 EUR, a premium model or SUV - from 70 EUR per day. Gasoline costs 1.10-1.20 EUR per liter; when returning the car you will have to fill up a full tank.

Fines for violating traffic rules are severe: from 70 EUR for talking on a mobile phone to 1200 EUR for speeding or drunk driving.

Traffic jams only occur in the capital, where it is most difficult to find a parking space. Most parking lots in the centers of large cities are paid and equipped with parking meters. You can leave a car for an hour for 0.60-5 EUR, depending on the area.

Communications and Wi-Fi

Using Estonian SIM cards is quite profitable. Key players in the market mobile communications- Tele2, EMT and Elisa, it is most convenient for tourists to connect the so-called conversational SIM cards (konekaart), the activation of which does not require any special formalities. They are sold at gas stations, supermarkets and kiosks of the R-kiosk network and cost from 2-3 EUR. If you wish, you can choose an additional package with Internet traffic for 4-10 EUR.

Calls to your home country with an EMT operator will cost 0.50 EUR per minute; Tele2 has a special “Russia” tariff for 5 EUR with 50 minutes of calls included for a month.

You can no longer find payphones on the streets of Estonian cities: they were eliminated as unnecessary back in 2010. But there are no problems with the Internet: unlimited free Wi-Fi is available at the airport, restaurants, hotels and many public places in large cities and resorts.

Your browser does not support iframes

Money

The country's currency is the Euro (EUR), 1 euro is 100 euro cents. Current rate: 1 EUR = 68.32 RUB.

It is best to go to Estonia with euros in your pocket: rubles are exchanged here, but the exchange rate is not very attractive. Dollars are accepted in all banks and exchange offices Eurex, Tavid and Monex, located everywhere: at the airport, hotels, large shopping complexes, at railway stations. The most favorable rates are usually in banks; many exchangers charge a commission for transactions.

Tipping is voluntary: you can always thank an attentive waiter with 5-10% of the bill, but no one will judge you for paying strictly according to the check.

Estonian banks are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00; exchange offices often work longer. Some financial institutions are also open on Saturdays (until lunch), but Sundays are closed everywhere. Credit cards Common payment systems are accepted in both large stores and small souvenir shops. There are ATMs even in the outback, and they are safe to use: credit card fraud is rare in Estonia.

Estonia – state in Northern Europe , located on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.

On detailed map Estonia can see that the country borders Russia in the east (for 294 km), in the south – with Latvia (for 339 km), and in the north it has a maritime border with Finland.

Estonia is a major financial center and exporter of shale, phosphorites, lumber and construction materials, and fish.

Estonia on the world map: geography, nature and climate

Estonia on the world map is located in Northern Europe, in the Baltic states, and is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea - the Gulf of Finland in the north and the Gulf of Riga in the west. The territory of Estonia stretches from north to south for 240 km, and from west to east – 350 km. In addition to the main continental part, the country includes 2,355 Baltic islands, the largest of which are Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu and Vormsi. The total length of land and maritime boundaries Estonia is 1633 km.

Minerals

Estonia is not rich in mineral resources, but it does have some of the world's largest shale reserves. Reserves of peat, phosphorites, limestone and clay have also been explored.

Relief

The territory of Estonia is located on the East European Plain. The surface of the earth is predominantly flat, alternating with lowlands, hills, depressions and valleys. Major landforms of Estonia:

The Haanja Hills in the southeast, where the highest point not only of Estonia, but of the entire Baltic region is located - Mount Suur-Munamägi (318 meters);
West Saaremaa Upland in the west;
Pandivere Hills in the north;
Sakala and Otepää hills in the south;
Harju and Viru plateaus in the north;
Uganda Plateau in the south;
North-Estonian klint (ledge).

Hydrography

About 7,000 rivers and streams flow through the country, only 10 of which are longer than 100 km. Almost all rivers are fed by snow, rain or lakes and swamps and flow into the Baltic Sea, Lake Peipus and Pskov or Lake Vyrtsjärv. The longest river is Võhandu, with a length of 162 km.

There are 1,150 lakes in Estonia, covering 5% of the country's territory and predominantly of glacial origin. Largest lake– Chudskoye (area – 3555 km 2), on the map of Estonia in Russian it can be found on the border with Russia, in the eastern part of the country.

Flora and fauna

Approximately half of Estonia's territory is occupied by forests (4th place in Europe in terms of forest cover), and a fifth of it is swamps. Pine, birch, spruce, aspen and alder trees grow in the forests.

The country is home to 65 species of mammals, 331 species of birds, 65 species of fish, 15 thousand species of insects and 3,500 species of invertebrates. The most frequently encountered animals are moose, roe deer, hares, wild boars, bears, minks, hedgehogs; birds – wood grouse, hazel grouse, black grouse. The waters of Estonia are home to salmon, whitefish, bream, roach, perch, pike perch, pike and other fish.

About 1,500 plant species grow in Estonia, 83 of which are found only here: for example, the Saarema yellow bell and the Estonian red bellweed.

Specially protected areas occupy 18% of the country's area. Largest national park– Lahemaa, located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland in Northern Estonia and includes untouched swamps, rocky and pine forests, and picturesque coastlines.

Climate of Estonia

The climate of Estonia is temperate maritime and temperate continental, with small amplitudes of annual and daily temperatures, influenced by Atlantic cyclones and the warm Gulf Stream. Therefore, winters in Estonia are mild for their latitudes, and summers are cool - average temperature January from -2 to -6 °C, and July from +17 to +18 °C. Average annual temperature air ranges from +5 to +7 °C, and the average annual precipitation ranges from 530 to 730 mm. Due to the proximity of the sea, the relative humidity is approximately 80-85%. The country usually experiences cloudy and cloudy weather.

Map of Estonia with cities. Administrative division of the country

The territory of Estonia is divided into 15 counties (maakond).

Largest cities in Estonia

Tallinn– the capital and largest city of Estonia, which is its scientific, economic, cultural and transport center. The city is located in the north of the country, on south coast Gulf of Finland. Tallinn is home to 450 thousand people, the most numerous nationalities are Estonians (52%), Russians (38%), Ukrainians (4%). Old part city included in the list world heritage UNESCO.
Tartu is the second most populous city (93 thousand people) in the country and the center of the county of the same name, located 185 km southeast of Tallinn. The woodworking industry, metalworking, and mechanical engineering are developed in Tartu, and one of the leading universities in Europe, the University of Tartu, is also located here. Estonians make up the majority of the city's population - 80%, Russians in Tartu - 15%.
Jõhvi- a city in the north-eastern part of the country and the center of the most Russian-speaking county in Estonia - Ida-Viru County. The basis of the city's economy is oil shale mining. The population of Jõhvi is 10 thousand people, of which Russians account for 53% of the population, and Estonians account for 33%. On a map of Estonia with cities in Russian, Jõhvi can be found 160 km east of Tallinn.

Most residents of Western Europe, and especially Asia and the United States, are unlikely to be able to find Estonia on the world map. But so much the worse for them, because Estonia is not just a small country in the Baltic states. Estonia is an amazing Baltic nature, medieval fortresses, numerous museums, amber, the Baltic Sea, as well as balneological and beach resorts.

Geography of Estonia

Estonia is located in the Baltic States, Northern Europe. In the south, Estonia borders on Latvia, in the east on Russia. In the north and west, Estonia is washed by the Baltic Sea. total area this country is 45,227 sq. km., including islands, and the total length of the border is 1,450 km.

55% of Estonia's territory is covered by forests. The highest point in the country is Mount Suur Munamägi on the Haanja Hills, whose height is only 318 meters.

There are a lot of lakes in Estonia, the largest of which are Lake Peipsi in the east and Võrtsjärv in the south of the country.

Capital

The capital of Estonia is Tallinn, which is now home to more than 420 thousand people. Archaeologists believe that the first human settlements on the territory of modern Tallinn appeared approximately 2 thousand years ago.

Official language

The official language in Estonia is Estonian, which belongs to the Finnish branch of the Uralic language family.

Religion

About 14% of the population of Estonia belongs to the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, and another 10% of Estonians are Orthodox Christians. The rest of Estonia does not believe in God.

State structure of Estonia

According to the 1992 constitution, Estonia is a parliamentary republic, the head of which is the President, elected by the country's Parliament.

The Estonian Parliament consists of 101 members who are elected for a 4-year term. Executive power belongs to the President, Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers.

Climate and weather

The climate in Estonia is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental. The average annual air temperature is +5.2C. In general, the determining influence on the Estonian climate is Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. The average annual precipitation is 568 mm.

Average air temperature in Tallinn:

January – -5C
February - -6C
March - -3C
April - +3C
May - +8C
June - +13C
July - +16C
August - +15C
September - +11C
October - +6C
November – +1C
December - -3C

Sea in Estonia

In the north and west, Estonia is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea (Gulf of Finland). The length of the Estonian coast of the Baltic Sea is 768.6 km. There are more than 1,500 islands in Estonia, the largest of which are Saaremaa, Hiiumaa and Muhumaa (Muhu).

The temperature of the Baltic Sea near the Estonian coast reaches +17C in summer. In the bays, the water warms up better in summer and exceeds +20C.

Rivers and lakes

There are 200 rivers and about 1,500 lakes in Estonia. Rivers in northern Estonia form picturesque rapids and waterfalls. The highest Estonian waterfall is Valaste (30.5 m).

Several beautiful rivers flow through the territory of southern Estonia - Piusa, Ahja and Võhandu. By the way, Võhandu is the longest river in Estonia (162 km).

There are a lot of lakes in Estonia, the largest of which are Lake Peipsi in the east and Võrtsjärv in the center of the country. In general, lakes occupy 6% of Estonia's territory. On the shore Lake Peipsi The longest sandy beach in Estonia is located – 30 km.

History of Estonia

People appeared on the territory of modern Estonia approximately 11 thousand years ago. The first state formations in Estonia began to appear in the 1st century AD. In the 9th-11th centuries, Scandinavian Vikings (mainly Swedes) often attacked the territory of modern Estonia.

Before the adoption of Christianity, Estonians were pagans who believed in a supreme being - Tharapita.

From 1228 to the 1560s, Estonia was part of the Holy Roman Empire (it was conquered by the Livonian Order).

In 1629, most of Estonia came under Swedish rule. The first university in Estonia was founded in 1632 in Dorpat (Tartu).

In 1721, according to the Treaty of Nystadt, Estonia was included in the Russian Empire. It was only after the First World War in 1918 that Estonia's independence was declared.

According to the 1939 agreement between Germany and the USSR, Estonia was included in the zone of interests of Joseph Stalin. On August 6, 1940, Estonia was incorporated into the USSR as the Estonian SSR.

Estonia's independence was restored on August 20, 1991. Since 2004, Estonia has been a member of the European Union.

Culture

Estonians, like other peoples, are very proud of their culture. The country's government is making efforts to preserve not only archaeological, historical and architectural monuments, but also intangible monuments. Thus, in Estonia there are currently 7 government programs for the preservation of intangible traditional culture (we are talking about songs, music, dances, etc.).

Back in 1869, the first Estonian folk music and dance festival took place in Tartu. Now the tradition of this festival continues. The Estonian Music and Dance Festival in Tartu is now listed as intangible cultural heritage UNESCO.

The most popular holidays among Estonians are New Year, Independence Day, Easter, Midsummer, Restoration Day and Christmas.

Estonian cuisine

Estonian cuisine is quite simple, it does not have any fancy dishes. But now Estonian cuisine already includes the most popular dishes of international cuisine. However, in Estonia the most typical products are still brown bread, pork, potatoes, fish and dairy products.

We advise tourists in Estonia to try the following traditional Estonian dishes: beer soup, bean soup, soup with dumplings and meat, brawn, blood sausage, Baltic herring in vinegar, pike in oil, stewed pike with horseradish, herring casserole, mulgi porridge "with sauerkraut, honey cake, cabbage pie, baked apples.

In Estonia, the traditional non-alcoholic drink is kali made with yeast, to which juniper berries are added.

As for alcoholic drinks in Estonia, these are, of course, beer and vodka. Estonians began making vodka around the 15th century, but it still cannot compete in popularity with beer.

Sights of Estonia

Estonians have always been sensitive to their history. Therefore, we advise tourists to Estonia to definitely see:

Cities and resorts

The largest Estonian cities are Tartu, Pärnu, Kohtla-Jarve, Narva, and, of course. Tallinn.

Estonia has several good beach resorts on the Baltic Sea coast. By the way, beach season in Estonia it usually begins in mid-May and lasts until mid-September. The most popular Estonian beach resorts are Pärnu, Narva-Jõesuu, Haapsalu, Toile and Kuressaare. There are also beaches on the shores of Lake Peipsi.

But tourists come to Estonia not only to swim in the Baltic Sea and see local attractions. Estonia has several excellent balneological resorts. The most famous of them are Pärnu, Värska, Kuressaare, Pyhajärve and Vimsi.

Souvenirs/shopping

The official name is the Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariik). Located in northeastern Europe. Area 45.2 thousand km2, population 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). The monetary unit is the 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

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. The length of the land border is 637 km, in the south with Latvia (343 km), in the east with the Russian Federation (294 km). The closest northern neighbor is Finland. Coastline heavily 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 Riga and Gulf of Finland in east and southeast directions. The average height is 50 m above sea level, the highest point is 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 the Narva and Emajõgi.

There are more than 1,150 lakes (mostly of glacial origin) and St. 250 ponds. The lakes occupy approx. 4.8% of the territory. The largest of them, Chudskoye (or Peipsi), is located in the east and forms a natural and historical border with the Russian Federation (of the lake's area of 3555 km2, 1616 km2 belong to E.). The largest inland body of water is Lake Võrtsjärv (266 km2).

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

Counts approx. 1560 species of flowering, gymnosperm and pteridophytes. A wide variety of mosses (507 species), lichens (786), fungi (approx. 2500), algae (more than 1700). Available approx. 60 species of mammals. These are: moose, roe deer, hares, wild boars, foxes, pine marten, badger, squirrels, etc. More than 70 species of fish live in fresh reservoirs and coastal waters (carp, salmon, burbot, trout, crucian carp, tench, carp, herring, sprat , cod, flounder, whitefish, eel, etc.).

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

Minerals: shale tar (kukersite), oil shale and phosphorites (explored reserves are estimated at 3.8 billion tons, projected reserves are approximately 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 estimated national statistics, at the beginning of 2003 the population of Estonia was 1356 thousand people, decreased by 20.7 thousand people. compared to 2000 census data.

The population in Estonia is decreasing due to both negative natural growth and emigration. From 1995-2001, the mortality rate steadily increased (from 11.9 to 13.5‰), and 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 years of age, 15% were over 15 years of age, 68% were 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 years for men, 60 years 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% have Russian citizenship, and do not have any St. 12%.

The Estonian language 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. German advance in east direction in the 12th century influenced the fate of the Estonians in the 13th-16th centuries. their lands were conquered by 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 local bishops of the Catholic Church, who were supported by city merchants. As a result of the war (1558-83), the Livonian Order collapsed: Northern part Estonia came under the rule of the Swedes, the south - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The island of Saaremaa remained with Denmark. Since 1645, the entire territory of Estonia became part of Sweden. In the beginning. 18th century Russia's interests in the Baltic region collided with the interests of Sweden. After Sweden's defeat in the Northern War (1700-21), Estonia was annexed to Russia and divided into two provinces. The Estonian province was formed on the territory of northern Estonia, and South part(Pärnu, Viljandi and Tartu) entered the Livonia province.

Under the influence of the events of the February Revolution of 1917, Councils 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 took place on July 7-8, 1917. On February 24, 1918, the Provincial Land Council declared the independence of Estonia. The units of the Red Army and Estonian riflemen who entered contributed to the proclamation of the Estonian Soviet Republic (Estonian Labor Commune) on November 29, 1918, which existed until June 5, 1919, and on May 19, 1919, the Constituent Assembly proclaimed the formation of the 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, and in August 1940 it became part of the USSR. In 1941-44, England was occupied by Nazi troops. In the fall of 1944, after heavy fighting, Estonia was liberated by units of the Red Army.

In December 1988, the Popular Front of Estonia was created, as well as a number of other political organizations (including the Independence Party), which put forward demands for separation from the USSR. In November 1988, the Supreme Council of Estonia, led by communist reformers, adopted the Declaration of 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. Largest cities (thousand people): Tallinn, Tartu (115), Narva (68.5), Kohtla-Jarve (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 ballot 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 legislation, approves or rejects the prime minister appointed by the president, and forms the government of the country.

The elections of the next (10th) Riigikogu, held on March 2, 2003, demonstrated the previous tendency towards the predominance of right-wing conservative, nationally oriented forces. In total, approx. took part in the elections. 58% of the Estonian electorate, or 40% of the country's residents. 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 parliament. Russian-speaking parties - the United People's Party of Estonia and the Russian Party of Estonia did not receive the required minimum votes. The center-right party “Res Publica” won (28 seats), in second place was the social democratic Center Party, led by the mayor of Tallinn E. Savisaar (28), in third place was the Reform Party with leader S. Kallas (19), the only party from “ triple alliance" (reformists, moderates and the Fatherland Union), which has broad support after the right-wing government, since it managed to move away from the unpopular decisions of this government and actively condemned its partners, then the People's Union (13), the Isamaalit Fatherland Union (7) and the Party moderates (6 seats).

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. Arnold Rüütel won the presidential election on September 21, 2001, replacing Lennart Mary.

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

The primary objectives of the new government were: continuation of the active campaign against corruption (refusal of personal and expensive cars ministers and other officials), reducing the cost of maintaining the state apparatus; the fight for a balanced budget, reducing income tax to 20% and establishing a tax-free level of personal income up to 2,000 thousand crowns per month from January 1, 2004; tougher penalties for drug-related crimes. In area foreign policy- Estonia’s accession to the EU (in the referendum held on September 14, 2003, 66.9% of voters who took part voted for joining the EU) and NATO, further development Estonian-Russian relations, cross-border cooperation between Estonia and Leningrad, Pskov and other regions 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 goals 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. Regular Armed forces number approx. 4500 people All of Estonia is divided into 4 military districts and 14 defense regions. Ground troops 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 guns and St. 400 recoilless rifles, 100 anti-aircraft guns and approx. 15 anti-tank guided missile launchers. The Air Force has 110 personnel. 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 vessels. 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: oil shale mining and processing, light industry, food processing, woodworking, metalworking, mechanical engineering and construction materials production. Industrial enterprises in the country are concentrated in large cities. Tallinn is home to metalworking, machine-building and instrument-making factories, and light industry enterprises. In Narva there is a famous large cotton mill (Krenholm Manufactory), in Sillamae there is a plant for the production of rare metals (Silmet). The cities of Kohtla-Jarve, Sillamäe and Narva have the main fuel and energy complexes. Small enterprises in the food and wood processing industries are evenly distributed throughout the country. The industry is experiencing crisis phenomena associated with structural changes and reorientation towards the production of competitive products that meet the requirements of the world market.

St. is involved in agriculture. 12% of the economically active population, agricultural land area is 2.57 million hectares. The main directions are meat and dairy farming, bacon production. They grow potatoes, vegetables, grains 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 exports to the west are 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. Total length of broad gauge railway railway 1018 km (privatized in 2001), highways- 49,480 km (10,935 km paved, 38,545 km uncoated), navigable waterways - 320 km, gas pipelines - 420 km. There is year-round maritime transport (ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Tallinn) and air service(5 airports, the largest in Tallinn).

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

Over the years of its sovereign existence, the country has experienced a fairly long (5 years) and deep economic recession. In 2000, GDP in Estonia was 85% of the 1990 level, industrial production decreased by 35%. The development of the Estonian economy was negatively impacted by the Russian monetary and financial crisis of 1998. 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 company, exporting primarily food, chemical products, building materials, and computers, was affected. Many Estonian enterprises were forced to reduce production volumes by almost 2 times (in the processing industry - by 40%, in the electronics industry - by 55%). The volume of exports to the Russian Federation decreased by 59%, and to EU countries 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. followed a trend common to all transition economies: a strong decline was replaced by unsustainable growth. At the same time, exports and foreign investment remained the main sources of growth in conditions of limited domestic demand.

The volume of GDP (in constant prices) in 2002 amounted to 96.9 billion crowns, 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 crowns (an increase of 10.6%), in the manufacturing sector - 16,746.4 million crowns (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 construction work increased by 14.7% and amounted to CZK 5,551 million, and the volume of retail and wholesale trade increased by 10.1% (CZK 12,896 million). Revenues 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 of 4.7% was recorded. In the livestock industry, 92 thousand tons of meat were produced, 1% more, eggs (247.3 million pieces) - 11% less, milk (620.7 thousand tons) - 9% less. In crop production: 543.7 thousand tons of grains were collected (a decrease of 2.7%), potatoes - 285.7 thousand tons (6.7% less).

The volume of Estonia's foreign trade turnover 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%, imports increased by 6%. Estonia's foreign trade deficit amounted to 39.7% of exports (in 2001 - 33%). EU countries accounted for 68% of exports and 58% of imports, 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 crowns, the CIS - 5.1 billion crowns.

Unstable dynamics of the global economy and negative trends in the development of EU countries (slowdown of economic growth) in last years have an impact on the Estonian economy. This is directly related to the shrinking export opportunities and the constant increase in 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. Major export items are mechanical engineering products (approx. 60%), food products. Almost 50% of imports from the Russian Federation are mineral products (oil, petroleum products, gas, mineral fertilizers). Large import items are metals (mainly ferrous and aluminum) and products made from them, as well as chemical products, forest and paper products, primarily wood for the production of lumber exported to the West.

There are no large investments from the Russian Federation in Estonia; the shareholders are legal and individuals registered in 266 Estonian companies. RAO Gazprom made relatively large investments in the petrochemical enterprise Nitrofert in Kohtla-Jarve. At 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 facility. The products of this enterprise (fertilizers, methanol, etc.) will be exported to the markets of Western countries.

Transit 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 petroleum products, fertilizers, metals and a number of other goods. Revenues from the transit of these goods account for up to 25% of the Estonian budget.

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

Estonia's economic development in 2003 will continue to be determined by the dynamics of demand on the domestic market. Some growth in consumption will be possible due to increased wages and expanded 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). Hansapunk is one of the largest banks in the country. According to the Bank of Estonia, the country's balance of payments deficit in 2002 amounted to 13.3 billion kroons ($930 million), or 12.5% of GDP, 2 times more than in 2001. The increase in the deficit was caused by the constantly increasing import of services, indicating for active investment activities. Estonia's external debt is at stake. 2002 amounted to 12.3 billion crowns, or 11.6% of GDP (in 2001 - 9.2 billion crowns, or 10% of GDP, respectively).

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

The number of employees in 2002 amounted to 586 thousand people, 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 school year, 207.6 thousand people were studying in general education schools in Estonia. (26.2% - in Russian), in vocational educational institutions - 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 higher education students has increased sharply due to paid education (both in public and private educational institutions).

Since 2002, a new financing system began to operate budget places V higher education. It provides for the conclusion of agreements between the Ministry of Education and the university for the entire nominal period of budget education (up to graduation, obtaining a master's or doctorate 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), Tallinn Technical University, Tallinn Pedagogical University, Estonian Agricultural Academy in Tartu, Tallinn University of the Arts, Estonian Music and Art Academy in Tallinn.

Expenditures on science amount to 0.7% of GDP (2001). The country's leading scientific center, the Estonian Academy of Sciences, was reorganized into a personal academy, and its 19 institutes were transferred to universities. A major center of 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 country's 114 museums, the largest is the Estonian National Museum, established in 1909 in Tartu, which has a rich collection of ethnographic materials. In Estonia there are approx. 600 libraries. The largest of them 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 developed in the 2nd half. 19th century The most famous were L. Koidula (the founder of Estonian drama), A. Reinwald, M. Veske, M. Under and B. Alver. In the beginning. 20th century the poet G. Suits led the cultural movement “Young Estonia”; poets such as P. Rummo (the play “Cinderella’s Game”) and J. Kaplinsky became famous.

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

Folklore plays an important role in Estonian culture, inspiring writers, artists, sculptors, and musicians. Among the founders of Estonian national fine art are the artist J. Köhler and the sculptor A. Weizenberg, the Estonian graphic artists T. Vint, V. Tolly and M. Leis. Among the 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).

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

It might be useful to read: