GEOGRAPHY
Between 57.3 and 59.5 latitude
and 21.5 and 28.1 longitude, Estonia lies on the eastern shores
of the Baltic Sea on the level northwestern part of the rising
east European platform. Average elevation reaches only 50m (160
ft.).
The climate resembles New
England's. Oil shale and limestone deposits, along with forests
which cover 47% of the land, play key economic roles in this generally
resource-poor country. Estonia boasts over 1,500 lakes, numerous
bogs, and 3,794 kilometers of coastline marked by numerous bays,
straits, and inlets. Tallinn's Muuga port offers one of Europe's
finest warm-water harbor facilities.
Estonia's strategic location
has precipitated many wars that were fought on its territory between
other rival powers at its expense. In 1944 the U.S.S.R. granted
Russia the trans-Narva and Petseri regions on Estonia's eastern
frontier, which still remain contested bilaterally.
Official Name: Republic
of Estonia
Area: 45,226 sq. km. (17,462 sq. mi.); about the size of
New Hampshire and Vermont.
Cities: Capital--Tallinn (pop. 399,850). Other cities--Tartu
(101,240); Narva (68,538); Kohtla-Jarve (47,484); Parnu (44,978);
Viljandi (20,718).
Terrain: Flat, average elevation 50m. Elevation is slightly
higher in the east and southeast. Steep limestone banks and 1,520
islands mark the coastline. Land use--9.5% arable land, 47.4%
forest and woodland, 22% swamps and bogs, 21.5% other. Coastal
waters are somewhat polluted.
Climate: Temperate, with four seasons of near-equal length.
Annual precipitation averages 50-75 cm.
