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Estonia |
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AtlasEstonia The Country
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Estonia borders to Russia in the east and Latvia in the south. It has an area of 45,215 km2 of which 4,132 km2 are islands and 2,760 km2 are inland water bodies. The largest lakes are Lake Peipus (3,550 km2) and Võrtsjärv (270 km2). Rivers flow into the Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Riga, Väinameri (Moonsund Strait) and lake Peipus. The longest river is the Pärnu (144 km), other important rivers are Kasari, Narva, Pedja and Emajõgi. As a part of the east-European platform Estonia is characterized by a flat surface topography with only slight differences in elevation. Only 10% of the territory lies at altitudes exceeding 100 masl and the highest point, Suur Sunamägi in the southeast is 317 masl. The landscape is largely the product of glacial activity and its associated forms of deposits modified by the Baltic Sea. The northern part of the country consists of an extensive plateau of limestone bedrock whose northern edge forms a steep cliff - the north Estonia Glint. The climate is temperate and humid. The prevailing winds are from the west. Local climatic differences are caused primarily by the distance to the Baltic Sea. Three climatic provinces can be distinguished; the coastal areas that tend to be milder; north Estonia with colder and more variable climate; south Estonia that tend to be more continental. Estonia belong to the northern part of the nemoral forest zone. Forests cover about 47% of the land. Norway spruce usually dominate over a mixture of pine, birch, linden, aspen, alder and oak. Meadows occupy large areas, as do marshes and swamps. Characteristically meadows of the coastal areas, are semi-natural grasslands (alvars, wooded meadows, flooded meadows) whose plant cover is rich in species.
Estonia has a population of about 1.4 million. As in the other Baltic states the population is predominantly urban. Approximately 50% of the whole population and 70% of the urban population lives in the 5 largest cities (Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Kohtla-Jäve and Pärnu). The average population density is about 30/km2. Nearly two thirds of the population are ethnic Estonians. Other groups are Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusian and Finns. The proportion of ethnic Estonians ii higher in rural than in the urban population. Official un-employment is about 2% but in reality about 10% of the potential labor is seeking jobs.
In Soviet times Estonia was basically an industrial region, but its agriculture also made a contribution to the Union's economy. Industry and agriculture remain important components of today's economy. However, their proportion of the GDP is declining while that of the commerce and service sectors is growing. During the transition to a market economy a serious down-turn was experienced characterized by decreased production, inflation and un-employment. However, by the mid 1990's the economy began to recuperate and at present the increase in GDP is over 3% per year and the average salary is about 4,000 Kroons per month. Major industries include: agriculture, forestry, textile, chemical, commerce, service, machinery and electronics. The introduction of the national currency in 1992 contributed to the stabilization of foreign trade. Russia continues to play an important role in trade with Estonia but other major trading partners include Finland, Sweden and Germany. Principle export are food products, textiles, wood products and machinery. Imports include machinery, oil and transport equipment. Trade is almost balanced with a slight deficit. Major highways link Tallinn with St. Petersburg and Riga. Main rail lines connect Tallinn with Tartu and Narva, from where lines go to Russia and the other Baltic states. Sea transport, with main ports in Tallinn. Pärnu and Narva serves mainly foregin trade. regular international passenger boat services are run from Tallinn to Helsinki and Stockholm. The major airport ia at Tallinn, however, ther are alos airports at Tratu and Pärnu.
Estonia supplies much of the power need of Latvia and parts of northwestern Russia. Most of the electricity produced is generated by thermal power plants fired with oil shale.
There is a growing concern about the environmental impact of the power plants. Similarly, the phosphorite mining industry is also in the focus of environmental concerns. Natural ResourcesThe most important minerals are oil shale and phosphorite. The reserves of peat are also substantial, and deposits of limestone, dolomites, sand, gravel and clay, and curative mud and sapropel exists. |
