About Estonia and Tallinn

EstoniaTriinu Lillepalu, 16.06.2010 15:45, E-mail to author, Print

10 QUESTIONS ABOUT ESTONIA

Question nr. 1 Where is Estonia?

Estonia is a small country located along the northeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, just south of Finland. Because of its location Estonia is considered to be an important link between East and West.

Question nr. 2 Is Estonia part of the European Union and the Schengen Zone?

Yes, Estonia is a full member state of the European Union. At the end of 2007 Estonia joined the Schengen Agreement, which provides even greater mobility amongst the European countries.

Question nr. 3 Is Estonia the world’s smallest country?

Definitely not. With an area of 45 000 sq km, Estonia is larger than many European countries, like Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland. Estonia stretches 350km from east to west and 240 km from north to south.

Question nr.4 Do Polar bears live in Estonia?

Although Estonia is situated in Northern Europe, the nearest polar bears live more than 2000 km further north. Despite the fact that there are no polar bears living in Estonia, our wildlife is abundant: wolves, bears, lynx, wild boars, elks and otters are all common

Question nr. 5 Does the sun ever shine in Estonia?

Much more than you could have imagined. Due to the White Nights phenomenon the sun sets around 11p.m. and rises at 4 a.m. in summer in Estonia. People in Estonia enjoy this period of the year a lot by spending time outside while grilling, swimming or just chilling in the parks, gardens or sandy beaches. The summers in Estonia are warm, the temperature sometimes reaching up to 32C degrees. The winters are moderately mild. February is usually the coldest; the temperature can go below minus 20C degrees.

Question nr. 6 Can Estonians elect the Parliament without leaving home?

Yes they can! And there is more: since Estonia is an e-Republic, there are a lot of things people can do using the Internet or cell phones, and they don’t even have to leave their homes: e-banking, e-parking, e-studying and e-voting are just some examples. Estonia’s economy is one of the fastest growing in Europe and the country has been particularly successful in information and telecommunications technology: there are lots of public internet cafes and the majority of people have computers and access to the Internet.

Question nr. 7 Are Estonians the oldest settled European peoples?

Yes they are. Estonians have been living here since approximately 2,500 B.C. and that makes them the oldest settled of European peoples.

Question nr. 8 What are Estonians like?

Estonians are third-generation city people at most, so all families have relatives living in the country. The somewhat reserved Estonian of the winter months undergoes a significant change in the summer: people start spending more time outside with their friends and relatives enjoying different activities, laughing and feeling relaxed. There is also a diverse international community in Estonia.

Question nr. 9 Why should I go to Estonia for my studies?

• Estonia is a full member of the European Union
• Great value for your money
• Developed infrastructure
• Peaceful and well-organized European country with Northern spirit
• Country with dynamic economic growth
• International community

Question nr. 10 After my studies in Estonia will I have a best friend in Brazil?

Possibly. Our international degree students come from nearly 30 different countries, Brazil, England, Japan and the Philippines are just a few of them. After graduating from TUT you’ll have not only many Estonian friends but you’ll have met and gotten to know people from all over the world. Having friends and contacts from around the world can open many doors for you to help lead to a successful career somewhere abroad.