|RNature and climate:|N A flat plateauland with a highest point of 317 m. 22% of the area is forested and 10% moss or swamps.
Average temperature in January -5°C and in July +17°C. Percipitation about 600 mm.
|RPeople:|N Estonian 65%, Russian 30%. Furthermore Belorussians, Ukrainians, Finns and a small remainder of Swedes.
|REconomy:|N Agriculture dominates economy and is aimed at milk production. Most important crops are potatoes, fodder corn, wheat, vegetables and sugar beats. Extensive fishing in the Baltic Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean.
The forests give raw material for sawmills as well as pulp and papermills.
Rich resources of phosphate, oilshale and uranium.
Extensive electrotechnical manufacturing of control- and measuring instruments, telephones, radiosets and engines.
Also manufacturing of agricultural machineries, textiles and tinned food.
|RHistory:|N Estionian tribes lived in the country at the 10th century. In the 12th century the Hanseatic League tried to Christianize and control the country. Occupied by the Danish king Valdemar Sejr (the Victorious) in 1219 and sold to the German Order (?) in 1346.
Swedish territory 1561, ceded to Russia 1710.
After the revolution in 1917 Estonia gained extensive selfgoverning but was occupied by German forces the same year.
When the German forces were withdrawn in 1918 Estionia proclaimed independence and an Estonian army succeeded with Finnish and British help to stop a new Russian occupation. The independence was confirmed in a peace-treaty with the Sovjetunion in 1920.
In the 1930:ies antiparliamentarian and fascistparties gained extensive influence. Before World War II Estonia declared neutrality, but in 1939 the Sovjetunion gained access to military bases by the Baltic Sea and forced Estonia to install a new government. This government asked for association with the Sovjetunion and Estonia was occupied by Sovjet forces.
Estonia was occupied by German forces 1941 to 1944. Before the Sovjet recapture many Estonians fled to Sweden and Germany.
In March 1990 the Estonian parliament declared the nation occupied by Sovjet forces and during the coup against Gorbatjov, August 20th 1991, the independent nation Estonia was proclaimed.
