Estonia - Travel Europe

Estonia (Eesti Vabariik) is country in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia. The capital is Tallinn.

After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. In 1940, it was incorporated into the Soviet Union. Estonia attained its freedom in 1991. It joined EU in 2004.

Geography
Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): 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), Vorumaa (Voru). Note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses.

Total area: 45,226 km². Coastline: 3,794 km (offshore lie more than 1,500 islands).

Terrain: the mainland terrain is flat and partly wooded; marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south. Highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m.

Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers.

Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn.

People
Population: 1.2 million (July 2018).

Religions: Lutheran 9.9%, Orthodox 16.2%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 2.2%, other 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7% (2011 est.).

Ethnic groups: Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%, Ukrainian 1.7%, Belarusian 1%, Finn 0.6%, other 1.6%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.).

Language: Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%, Ukrainian 0.6%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.).

Main source: CIA - The World Factbook.