10 fun facts about Estonia that will surprise you
Currently, when you start talking about Estonia, the first thing that comes to mind is how technologically advanced this small country located in northern Europe is and, obviously, its digital society and the benefits it has brought to the population. in years.
Well, from shipping wives to the country with the largest population of brown bears in Europe, the idea of this post is to show you a list of curiosities about Estonia that you usually don't find around, let's go?
1. Sauna is a way of life
Did you know that the tradition of the “Smoke Sauna”, created in southern Estonia, is listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
This more than 800-year-old custom is still alive today among Estonians and it is very curious how they keep this tradition alive year after year. While in some countries, having a sauna at home is synonymous with elitism, around here it is almost essential and very common to find a sauna area in homes – but it is not just there, as there are several spas across the country and even shared saunas in bars and restaurants.
In more detail, the Estonian Smoke Sauna does not have a chimney, and the smoke from the wood circulates through the room heating the environment. Typical sauna temperatures range between 70 and 100 TheÇ.
2. The country with the largest brown bear community in Europe
More than half of the Estonian territory is covered by forests, which makes the country's fauna very rich and preserved. Deer, foxes, lynx and even moose are easily found in certain areas of the region.
However, what stands out the most is the number of brown bears in Estonia! Even though it is an endangered animal, it is estimated that more than 700 of them live in the country, making this the largest community of this species in Europe.
3. Estonia has already been world champion 11 times in a very peculiar sport: wife-carrying
That's right! As ridiculous and different as it may seem, wife-carrying is a traditional sport and even has a world league. This league Estonia has won 11 times and even has a legend in the sport, Margo Uusog, who is five-time champion of the sport.
In terms of practice, she doesn't have much of a secret. Basically, the idea is for male participants to carry their companions through an obstacle course in the shortest possible time.
There are several ways to do this carry, including the Estonian style, where the wife lies upside down on her back with her legs over her neck and shoulders.
4. The first country in the world to hold its elections online
Obviously we wouldn't be able to make a list of interesting facts about Estonia without mentioning some fact related to technology in the country, would we? In the 2005 municipal elections, more than 9,000 Estonians exercised their right to choose online, without having to leave their homes. A fact that has become common and routine in the country since then, now also for parliamentary choices.
To give you an idea, 263,566 people voted online during the 2021 municipal elections, which represented 47% of all votes tallied, setting a new record.
In 2017, the year of the last municipal elections, online votes represented 31.7% of the total.
5. The Old Town in Tallinn is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe
Walking through the streets of the Old Town in the capital is like transporting yourself back in time and getting to know part of human history in just a few steps.
No wonder, in 1997, the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) considered the Tallinn's Old Town a World Heritage Site, joining the world's most recognized landmarks. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit the Estonian capital for the privilege of visiting and walking through these streets.
6. Estonia's air is one of the cleanest in the world
Still related to the fact above, where we mentioned that more than half of the Estonian territory is covered by forests, the WHO (World Health Organization), classified the Estonian air as one of the cleanest in the world.
All this dedication and preservation of the Estonian people towards the environment was also rewarded in 2021, when Tallinn was elected the Green Capital of Europe 2023, recognizing the city's efforts to preserve and enhance an ecosystem that supports both the environment and the economy.
7. It is a country of extreme and intense sensations
Here we are specifically talking about the experiences you can live a year in Estonia (or even spending a shorter season). A very evident contrast is when we compare winter and summer, seasons that in themselves are already opposites, but when we go to individualities, this is even more evident.
For example, in relation to the temperature, which during the beginning of 2021 reached -25TheÇ and, in the summer of the same year, at +35TheÇ. Ah, here it is worth mentioning a tradition very practiced by Estonians, which is to leave a sauna with a temperature above 40TheÇ to dive directly into a lake, preferably frozen, with very low temperatures.
Sunlight is also something that draws attention, while in summer you can experience White Nights with up to 19h of sunlight in a day, during the height of winter you experience the opposite and have contact with only 6h of daylight. day.
8. ⅓ of Estonia's population lives in the capital
Currently, Estonia has a population of around 1,330 million inhabitants, with around 33% of these people (440,000) living in just one city, the capital Tallinn.
To bring this number closer to our reality, we give a very Brazilian example: the population of the city of São Paulo alone is more than 12 million inhabitants, that is, almost 12 times the population of Estonia as a whole.
9. The use of a reflector during winter is mandatory
During the winter, when the days are shorter and the nights are longer, a very peculiar rule comes into effect: all pedestrians are required to wear reflectors when walking on the streets.
This safety measure is precisely due to the lack of visibility on the roads at many times of the year. By law, they can be placed in clothes, bags or even backpacks, and they must be between 50 to 80 cm from the ground and in a point that is visible from all sides.
10. The Estonian income tax return takes about 3 minutes
Since the 2000s, Estonia has started to offer the possibility of tax declaration in country online. Today, 98% of the population uses this method to file their tax return every year, and the income tax return takes an average of 3 minutes to complete.
This saves time and reduces bureaucracy in an industry that has been heavily affected for years. By the way, a very interesting point of this digital revolution that Estonia is leading in the world: 99% of government services can be done online in the country.
Do you want to know more about Estonia and be part of this revolution that the country has been making? We help you! Contact us and our team of experts will help you get these plans off the ground.
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