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 Estonia| Facts & Figures |
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| President:
Toomas Hendrik Ilves (2006) Prime
Minister: Andrus Ansip (2005) Land area: 16,684 sq mi (43,211 sq km);
total area: sq mi (sq km) Population (2009 est.): 1,299,371 (growth
rate: –0.6%); birth rate: 10.3/1000; infant mortality rate:
7.3/1000; life expectancy: 72.8; density per sq km: 30
Capital and largest city (2003 est.):
Tallinn, 379,000 Other large city: Tartu, 100,100 Monetary unit: Kroon More Facts & Figures |
GeographyEstonia is mainly a lowland country that is
bordered by the Baltic Sea, Latvia, and Russia. It has numerous lakes and
forests and many rivers, most draining northward into the Gulf of Finland
or eastward into Lake Peipus, its largest lake.
GovernmentParliamentary democracy.
HistoryEstonians resisted the assaults of Vikings,
Danes, Swedes, and Russians before the 13th century. In 1346, the Danes,
who possessed northern Estonia, sold the land to the Teutonic Knights of
Germany, who already possessed Livonia (southern Estonia and Latvia). The
Teutonic Knights reduced the Estonians to serfdom. In 1526, the Swedes
took over, and the power of the German (Balt) landowning class was
reduced. But after 1721, when Russia succeeded Sweden as the ruling power
under the Peace of Nystad, the Estonians were subject to a double
bondage—the Balts and the czarist officials. The oppression lasted
until the closing months of World War I, when Estonia finally achieved
independence after a victorious war (1918–1920). But shortly after
the start of World War II, the nation was occupied by Russian troops and
incorporated as the 16th republic of the USSR in 1940. Germany occupied
the nation from 1941 to 1944, when it was retaken by the Soviets.
Estonia declared independence from the Soviet
Union in March 1990. Soviet resistance ensued, but after recognition by
European and other countries, the Soviet Union acknowledged Estonian
nationhood on Sept. 6, 1991. UN membership followed on Sept. 17. The newly
independent nation embraced free-market reforms. Fueled by foreign
investments, economic advances continued. In 2004, Estonia became a member
of the European Union as well as of NATO. In Sept. 2006, Toomas Hendrik
Ilves was elected president, defeating incumbent Arnold
Rüütel.
In March 2007, Estonia allowed Internet voting
for Parliamentary elections, becoming the first country to do so. Prime
Minister Andrus Ansip's Reform Party narrowly won the election, taking 31
out of 101 seats, just two more than the Centre Party.
Violent protests erupted in April when Estonian
officials moved a controversial bronze statue of a Soviet soldier from a
park in Tallinn and placed in it a military cemetery. One person died in
the protests and dozens were injured. Ethnic Russians—as well as the
Russian government—say the memorial honors Red Army soldiers who
died fighting Nazi Germany and object to its relocation. Estonians,
however, believe the statue glorifies Soviet occupation of Estonia.
See also
Encyclopedia:
Estonia
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes:
Estonia
.
Statistical Office of Estonia
www.stat.ee/
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