Once Europe’s ”best kept secret” as claimed by Lonely Planet, Estonia’s lush forests, beautiful coastline, quaint countryside, and charming cities are only some of its boastings. It’s also home to Skype’s software developers. This former Soviet Union nation still shows evidence of its darker, colder times, while its people search for liberty. Usher in a spirit of freedom as you carry God’s presence into this oft overlooked country. Estonia was forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 – an action never recognized by the US – it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Geography:
-Eastern European, borders the Baltic See and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
-Slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
-Highest point is Suur Munamagi (1,043 ft)
-Capital is Tallinn
People/Society:
-Estonian is the official language (67%) along with Russian (30%)
-13.6% Evangelical Lutheran, 12.8% Orthodox, 1.4% Other Christian, 66.1% unaffiliated or unspecified, 6.1% none
-Population is 1,266,375
-Median age 41 years old
-22.4% unemployment rate between 15-24
Government:
-Parliamentary Republic, President Toomas Hendrick Ilves
-Gained independence February 24, 1918 from the Soviet Russia, August 20, 1991 declared its independence from the Soviet Union
-National symbols are the barn swallow and cornflower
-Blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, black represents the soil of the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian people, white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and virtue.
Economy:
-Agriculture: grain, potatoes, vegetables, livestock, dairy products, and fish
-10.2% unemployment rate
-17.5% live below the poverty line
-Exchange rate is 0.77 kroon to USD
