ESTONIASirly Pikknurm

History Politics Economy Religion Neighbours Culture Sport Geography – Climate & Landscape

Structure

Baltic Sea Neighbours:

◦ Russia – East◦ Latvia – South◦ Finland – North◦ Sweden – West

Strategic place

General Facts 1

Capital – Tallinn◦ Population: ~400 000

Population of Estonia: ~1 340 000◦ 69% Estonians◦ Other 31%:

Russians 25.5% Ukrainians 2.1% Belarussians 1.3%

General Facts 2

National language: Estonian◦ Finno-Ugric◦ Relative languages:

Finnish Hungarian?

Area: 45 227 km2

15 Counties Currency: EURO(1st January 2011)

General Facts 3

1208-1227 – Ancient War of Independence◦ vs. Livonian Brothers of the Sword◦ More than 700 years of occupation

24 February 1918 – Estonian Declaration of Independence

1940 – Estonia’s annexation by USSR 1941-1944 – German Occupation 1945-1991 – Soviet Occupation 24 August 1991 – Estonia’s re-independence

Some important dates...

Democratic parlamentary republic President: Toomas Hendrik Ilves Prime Minister: Andrus Ansip Parliament – 101 members 4 main parties:

◦ Estonian Reform Party◦ Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL)◦ Estonian Centre Party◦ Estonian Social Democrats

Main subject in Foreign Politics - Russia

Politics 1

International organizations:◦ United Nations◦ European Union◦ NATO◦ etc.

Eurozone & Schengen Agreement Small country – voice isn’t heard in the EU

Politics 2

GDP: ~ $25 billion Main export: Machinery & Equipment (33%) Major trading partner: Finland Inflation & Unemployment Economy has one of the best growth rates

in Europe (because of joining the Eurozone)!

Economy

Atheism: ~76%◦ Soviet Occupation

Main religion: Protestant (Lutherian)

Religion

Latvia & Lithuania Shared the same fate Competing in everything Estonia is the best developer in Balticum

Neighbours – Baltic Countries

Estonian Song and Dance celebration◦ Choral festival◦ 25000+ singers◦ Every 5 years◦ Since 1869◦ Youth celebration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_lc92Rq4j4

Culture

Skiing – the most important sport◦ Many winter olympic medals

Football – the most popular sport◦ Play-offs of Euro 2012 qualification

Athletics◦ Olympic gold in decathlonand discus throw

Sport

4 seasons◦ Cold winters and reasonable summers

Coldest month: February (avg. -5 °C) Warmest month: July (avg. +18 °C)

Climate

Flat – highest point 318m Forest covers ~40% of territory 1521 islands, under 20 inhabited

Landscape

We have invented Skype, which is probably our greatest invention!

Our important discovery is the mammal egg cell, discovered by Karl Ernst von Baer in 1827

We won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2001, with the song „Everybody“

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj9BRdHhk2I

Some Interesting Facts

THANK YOU!!