Estonia
Estonia lies along the Baltic Sea, just below Finland. Tallinn, Estonia’s capital city is only about 40 miles south of Helsinki, across the Gulf of Finland. Sweden is Estonia’s Western neighbour across the Baltic Sea, Russia lies in the east and Latvia in the south. Estonia is 45 226 km2, which is divided into 15 counties.
Estonian fauna is relatively young as it evolved only after the last glacial period. As in the case of flora, among the animals inhabiting Estonia there are many rare and endangered species, some of them relics of colder climatic periods of the past. Estonia is one of the richest countries in the world in forests, which cover 50% of the territory. Estonia likewise other Baltic States have mainly flat landscape – over 60% of the country’s territory lies at an absolute height of 0 to 50 metres and only one tenth has an elevation over 100 metres above sea level. The influence of the maritime location can be observed in virtually every aspect of Estonian nature. The country has 3794 km of coastline, 2540 km of it on the islands. The land border, in comparison, is mere 633 km. The coast varies from the sheer limestone cliff in the North to sandy beaches and shelving coastal meadows in the West. There are some 1 450 natural and man-made lakes in Estonia (6.1% of the nation’s territory). Birds were probably the first creatures to arrive in Estonia after the last glacial period. Since then, Estonia forms an important link in a migratory track of a variety of Arctic water birds flying every spring northwards to their nesting places and every autumn back to their southern wintering areas.
Estonia`s population is 1 340 600 inhabitants (2008) of which 69% are Estonians, 26% Russians and the rest Ukrainians, Belorussians, Finnish etc. Estonian capital Tallinn has about 400 445 (2006) inhabitants, of which 54% Estonians, 37% Russians and the rest of the other nationalities. It is not exactly known when was Tallinn founded – the location probably attracted attention as a suitable port area long before first written sources mention a settlement there. The early history of Tallinn begins from suburban Iru, where a castle together with a nearby settlement was built in the end of the first millennium. In the Middle Ages Tallinn, similarly with Riga, was an important Hanseatic trading town.
The old town of Tallinn belongs to the UNESCO’s list of the world’s most important cultural and natural sites.
Tallinn is the Culture Capital of Europe 2011.
More information about Estonia: http://www.estonica.org/
Latvia
Latvia is in the middle of the Baltic States both by size and location. Its area is 64,589 km2, which is divided into four historical regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, Latgale. Total national border length is 1,862 km while the length of coastline is494 km.
Latvia is situated in a nature zone between the vegetation of Northern and Central Europe. This is a country of splendid and diverse natural landscapes. Forests cover 44 percent of the territory and the larger forest tracts are to be found in the northern part of Kurzeme. There it is still possible to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of nature untouched by man. The largest river to flow through Latvian territory is Daugava, total length 1,005 km, of which 352 km within Latvian territory.
Russia is Latvia`s Eastern, Estonia Northern, Lithuania and Belorus Southern and overseas Sweden Western neighbour. It is situated on trading cross-roads and has long since served as a bridge between Western Europe and Russia. The famous “route from the Vikings to the Greeks” mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from Scandinavia through Latvian territory along the Daugava River to the ancient Russia and Byzantin Empire.
Latvia’s population in 2007 was 2,270,700, 59% of them are Latvians. Nearly one third of Latvia’s population (747 000) lives in the capital city Rīga. Rīga, the oldest still existing Latvian medieval city, was founded in 1201. The value of Rīga’s cultural and historical significance has been recognised by the fact that its old city centre has been included in UNESCO’s list of the world’s most important cultural and natural sites.
More information about Latvia: http://www.li.lv/
Lithuania
Lithuania – is the largest and the most southern of the three Baltic States. Lithuania is situated between Eastern and Western Europe. The country borders with Latvia in the North, Belarus in the South, Russia (Kaliningrad Region) and Poland in the West. Despite of its largest area – 65 300 km2 – Lithuania has the shortest coastline, only 99 km. Since the 13th century five ethnographic areas, or regions, have historically formed in the current territory ofLithuania: Aukštaitija, Žemaitija, Dzūkija, Suvalkija and Lithuania Minor.
Nature has been generous to Lithuania. Lithuania is a place of rolling hills and gentle plains, quietly following rivers and lakes. The largest river, the Nemunas, gathers and carries the waters of many tributaries to the Baltic Sea, wherein lies Lithuania`s famous “ amber coast”. Forests cover 28% of the country. The most beautiful and valuable nature and culture places of Lithuania have the status of protected areas – 12 % of the country’s area is covered with national and regional parks, reserves, cultural, nature and biosphere reserves.
Lithuania’s population is 3 440 000 inhabitants of which 84% are ethnic Lithuanians, 7% Poles and 6% Russians. The Lithuanian language belongs to the family of Indo-European languages
In 2009 Lithuania will celebrate its Millennium – the name „Lithuania” was first mentioned in 1009 in the Annales Quedlinburgenses books.
Lithuania’s capital is Vilnius with the population of 541 300 people. The city may be proud of its Baroque Old Town, which is the largest in Eastern Europe and praised as the „New Prague”. Vilnius was officially established in 1323, but a fortified castle at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers was set up earlier. The Old Town of Vilnius is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List
Institute of France proclaimed a point (now a popular tourist attraction) 15 miles (24km) northwest of the capital, Vilnius, as the geographic centre of the continent in 1989.
Vilnius has been the Culture Capital of Europe 2009.
More information about Lithuania: www.visitlithuania.net