Estonia is the northernmost and the smallest of the three Baltic States, at 45.2000 sq km-slightly bigger than Switzerland or Denmark. It borders Russia in the east and Latvia in the south. Nearly 10% of Estonian territory is islands, the biggest of which are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa to the west.

Northern Estonia faces the Gulf of Finland, the narrow eastern arm of the Baltic that leads into St. Petersburg, while much of Estonia's west coast is shielded by its islands.

Like other Baltic states, Estonia is mainly flat. The main upland area is the south-east where the hill Suur Munamagi, at 317 metres, is the highest point in the Baltic States. Estonia has the biggest lakes in the Baltic region: Lake Peipsi, which is on Estonian-Russian border is the 4 th biggest lake in Europe.

Of approximately 1.4 million people who live in Estonia, only around 65% are ethnic Estonians. About 35% of the population is Russian speaking .

Official language is Estonian.

Money: Estonian kroon

Religions: Most Estonians are Lutheran,

Most Russians are Russian Orthodox.

The capital of Estonia is Tallinn that is on the north coast and has a population of about 430 000. Tallinn fronts the Gulf of Finland and is dominated by Toompea, the hill over which it has tumbled since the Middle Ages. In few places in Europe does the aura of the 14 th and 15 th centuries survive intact as it does in Tallinn's jumble of medieval walls and turrets, needling spires, and winding, cobbled hills. Tallinn's Old Town is judiciously restored with lots of tourist attractions, fascinating to explore, and about the most picturesque square km in the Baltic states. It is also a lively capital city with Estonia's government, embassies, culture, entertainment, commerce and industry all headquartered here-and some chic fashions are to be seen on its streets and in its shops.

http://www.tallinn.ee

Other interesting places are:

Tartu (105 000)-a small and beautiful university town (famous Tartu University was founded here in 1632) in the South-East of Estonia

http://www.tartu.ee

Narva (80 000)-Estonian easternmost town-Russian centre of the country with its famous Narva Castle - only river Narva separates it from Ivangorod (Russia).

http://www.narva.ee

Kohtla-Jarve (70 000)- another Russian centre in the east of Estonia that was famous for its mines in the Soviet times

http://www.kohtla-jarve.ee

Pyarnu (50 000)- the summer capital of Estonia, it is situated in the south-west and has been Estonia's leading seaside resort since before WW2.

http://www.parnu.ee

Saaremaa-the biggest island in the west of the country is worth a visit. The Estonians say it is like Old Estonia. Soviet industry has barely touched the place, and it retains the appearance and old-fashioned pace of agricultural pre- WW2 Estonia. In the Soviet times the island was closed for foreigners. Now it is a place of unspoiled rural landscapes with wooden farmsteads dotted among the forests that still cover nearly half of the island. There are many remains of its past pre-German strongholds, fine fortress-like early churches, windmills and the attractive old capital Kuressaare, which is a mighty castle.

http://www.saaremaa.ee

Hiiumaa-the second biggest island in Estonia-is quiet, sparsely populated and gently beautiful with some lovely stretches of coast and pretty inland areas.

http://www.hiiumaa.ee