estonia
DESCRIPTION
EstoniaTRANSCRIPT
Νίκος Μαργιωρής
Democracy of Estonia is one country of north-eastern Europe and one of three Baltic nations.
It borders with Latvia and Russia. It is a small country with land size 45.226
km² and with population of 1.282.963 inhabitants.
Capital: Tallin Currency: Euro Independence from Soviet Union:20
August1991 Language: Estonian Religion: Orthodox and Catholic Christians
Estonia consists mainly of low-lying plains, with some hills in the central and southern regions.
Over 20 percent of the country's territory is covered by Wetlands and lakes and reservoirs cover another 5 percent.
The Pärnu is the longest river and follows a southwesterly course into the Gulf of Riga at Pärnu Bay.
The country has more than 1,500 islands. The coastline stretches across 1,393 km.
Prehistory Viking Age Middle Ages Reformation and Swedish Estonia Russian Empire Declaration of independence World War II Soviet occupation German occupation Post-independence
Estonia joined the European Union in 2004 and signed the Lisbon Treaty in 2007.
Estonian language has a great similarity with Finish but it is not the same with the language of the rest of the Baltic Countries such as Latvia and Lithuania and neither with Russian.
The main areas of Estonian economy is machine production, production of food, metallurgy, chemical industry and the production of wooden items.
The country’s currency as of January 1st 2011 is Euro replacing Estonian Krönen.
Estonia is a member of United Nations and NATO.
The Prime Minister of Estonia is the head of government.
There is a multi-party system. The Prime minister of Estonia is Andrus
Ansip.
Estonian cuisine was heavily influenced from the invaders of the area (Danes, Germans, Swedes, Poles and Russians) throughout their history.
Some of the traditional dishes are eal, sausages from blood of pig (Sauerkraut) and swine with cabbage.
The city was a European Capital of Culture for 2011.
The city was known as Reval from the 13th century until 1917.
Tallinn's old town is placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Kumu, an abbreviation of the Estonian "Kunstimuuseum" (art museum), is one of the best in the country and has even been chosen the European Museum of the Year in 2008.
The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the largest orthodox church in Tallinn's old town. It is built between 1894 to 1900.
Kuressaare Castle is a magnificent castle on the island of Saaremaa off the coast of Estonia. Located on a strategic spot this castle has changed hands many times. Today the castle is a very popular tourist sight.
Otto Wilhelm von Struve Astronomer He observed satellites of Uranus and
of Neptune. He also measured the rings of Saturn
Johann Voldemar Jannsen He was an Estonian journalist and poet. He wrote the national anthem of Estonia.
Folk Music 20th century music Today’s music
Estonia won the Eurovision Contest in 2001 and hosted the Eurovision in 2002.
TennisKaia Kanepi at the 2011 French Open.
Estonian Football Association
http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/estonia/index_el.htm
http://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%95%CF%83%CE%B8%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1
http://www.google.gr/imgres?hl=el&sa=X&rlz=1C2RNAN_enGR452GR455&biw=1280&bih=886&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=1u8tfVa277pDnM:&imgrefurl
http://www.taxidologio.gr/tallinn.html and many others...