Nature and culture of Estonia

Estonia has an advantageous geographical location in Northern Europe. It's easy to get here, whether traveling by plane, train, ferry, or car. There are daily flights to several European countries from Tallinn International Airport (Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport), which is only five kilometers from the city center. Developed ferry service: a trip from Tallinn to Helsinki takes only two hours. Travel in Estonia is easy, simple, and safe. 

Estonia is well organized by public transport, intercity buses, trains, and internal flights from Tallinn to the islands. In addition, it is possible to drive around Estonia in your own or rented car or by bicycle. Gambling in the country is not so developed, but wishing to play 3 patti play online will not encounter problems.

Flora and Fauna

All of Estonia's nature can be divided into three main parts:

- Forests;

- Swamps;

- Lakes.

There is plenty of these things here. Forests, for example, cover half the country's territory, a quarter of it is swampy, and many small and large lakes have earned Estonia the title "the Land of a Thousand Lakes."

People in Estonia love and care for nature and consider it their national heritage, which is why a nature trail crosses almost every forest and marsh. So wetlands are not dark spots on the map of the country but quite popular tourist routes.

Tallinn - a medieval pearl

Tallinn is the best preserved medieval city in Northern Europe. Tallinn's Old Town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Tallinn's Old Town is adorned with gothic spires, medieval houses with red-tiled roofs, and winding narrow streets surrounded by a defensive wall. The Estonian capital boasts the oldest functioning pharmacy in Europe and the oldest Gothic-style town hall in Northern Europe. The city has grown and developed for hundreds of years, filled with legends and new attractions. A town at the center of a tangle of trading routes has something for everyone. 

Forests cover 50% of Estonia

Estonia has a slightly less than 1.3 million population, but the country is more significant than Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Estonia is one of the least populated countries in Europe, with an area of 45,336 square kilometers. Most of the population lives in cities, the largest of which is Tallinn, followed by Tartu, Narva, and Pärnu. In some regions of Estonia live, only 6.5 people per square kilometer. Nevertheless, Estonia's fantastic nature, clean air, and, at the same time, easy accessibility of infrastructure and safety will delight hiking fans and nature lovers.

The forest covers more than half of Estonia. Regarding forest cover, Estonia is in fourth place after Finland, Sweden, and Slovenia. 8% of Estonian forests are strictly protected, only natural processes occur there, and humans do not intervene. In this area are the most valuable natural communities. Estonian forests are an ideal place for nature rest and recreation. Estonia has a network of hiking trails through forests, bogs, and the coast. Their total length is 2000 km. The forests are equipped with campfire and grill sites and even small huts for overnight stays. The forests are inhabited by wild animals: wolves, lynxes, wild boars, foxes, deer, and moose. The wolf is Estonia's national animal, and the swallow its national bird.

Estonia has more than 2,000 islands

Most Estonian islands are tiny and uninhabited. So if you like bird watching, paddling, sailing, or fishing, you can easily find a remote islet suitable for a nature holiday. The islands with permanent residents are known for their rustic charm and authentic way of life. On the largest island of Estonia, Saaremaa, there is a large Bishop's Castle, the only medieval fortress in the Baltic States that has survived unchanged. Hiiumaa is famous for its lighthouses, pristine nature, and its islanders' excellent sense of humor. In cold winters, when the ice is strong enough, you can also reach the island by car on the ice track. The road between the mainland and Hiiumaa is the longest ice road in Europe - about 26 kilometers. If you want contrasts, take a ferry to the tiny island of Kihnu on the west coast of Estonia in the Gulf of Riga. Most of the women on Kihnu wear traditional costumes consisting of striped multi-colored wool skirts and white shirts, moving around the island on their vintage motorcycles for their daily routines. There are also a few small islands near Tallinn, such as Naissaar and Aegna, where a ferry leaves daily. 

The fifth season and the Witches' Well

Of course, Estonia has sunny summer, golden autumn, frosty winter, and green spring, but there is also the fifth season. With the onset of spring floods after melting snow or heavy rains, water floods forests, roads, and even yards. Boats, canoes, and kayaks become the only means of transportation during this "time of year." This natural phenomenon is most evident in Soomaa National Park, which covers the Pärnumaa and Viljadimaa wetlands. Soomaa National Park was founded in 1993. Thanks to these large untouched areas, Soomaa is part of the European network of national parks with pristine nature. During a flood, more than 100 square kilometers of the approximately 390 square kilometers of the landscape can be flooded. Another unique natural phenomenon on a European scale is the Witch's Well. When the water level rises in the spring, the Tuhała well begins to "boil," spewing about 100 liters of water per second. The ancients believed that witches would soar and brew potions during this time. 

Language and dialects

Estonian is spoken in Estonia, as also English, Russian, Finnish, and German. Estonia has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, with 99.8%, and almost all residents speak at least one foreign language - English, Russian, Finnish, German or Swedish. Estonian is unique among European languages and belongs to the Finno-Ugric group, including Saami, Finnish, and Hungarian. The Estonian alphabet consists of 32 letters. In Estonian, there are 14 cases instead of prepositions - postpositions, and there is no gender and no future tense. 

Estonian Song and Dance Celebration unites hundreds of thousands of people

Estonians are often called the singing nation and are famous for the most extensive collection of folk songs: there are more than 133 thousand recordings. Estonia holds a Song and Dance Festival every five years, bringing together 200,000 performers and audiences. The first song festival was born in 1869 in Tartu. It is not surprising that this most important tradition for the Estonians is included in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. 

Estonia - the Digital Society

Digital technology is developing fast in Estonia. As a result, Estonia has introduced simple and modern approaches to solving its problems digitally, from voting to signing documents. 

Estonia was the first country to declare that Internet access is a human right, and even in the middle of nowhere, 4G works. The only service that is not available online here is marriage and divorce. To make such a severe step in life, you still need to look each other in the eye and hold hands. However, if a person is interested in a unique query, for example, information about the best casino bonuses, he will easily find it.

Estonia - home of world-famous composer Arvo Pärt

The unique music of the most widely known living composer has dramatically influenced the way of thinking and attitude towards life of many people. The works of Arvo Pärt have affected a significant part of the music of the second half of the 20th century, and interest in them continues to grow. His minimalism is widely used in movies to create an atmosphere of melancholy or eternity. The Arvo Pärt Center opened in 2018 in Laulasmaa, about 35 kilometers from Tallinn, where the building's unique architecture blends harmoniously with the pine forest and the sea. In the center, you can get acquainted with the composer's creative heritage.