Biggest Cities In Estonia

Estonia is a country in the Baltic region, bordered by the Gulf of Finland to the north, Lake Peipus, and Russia to the east, Latvia to the south, and the Baltic Sea to the west. Estonia attained formal independence in 1991 from the Soviet rule after successive colonization of the Teutonic, Danish, Swedish, and Russian rule. It freed itself from the Russian rule towards the end of the First World War only to fall in the hands the Soviet Union in the Second World War, 1940.

The Five Biggest Cities Of Estonia

Tallinn

Tallinn is the largest and the capital city of Estonia, covering an area of 159 square kilometers with a population of 443, 268. Founded in the 13th Century, Tallinn is one of the oldest cities in the northern Europe. Owing to its strategic location on the north coast, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the small town became a major trade hub and radically grew in importance as part of the Hanseatic League in the 14th and 16th centuries. The city is a prime financial, political, cultural, and educational center of Estonia, commonly aliased as the silicon valley of Europe. Tallinn's old town is among the best preserved gothic towns and UNESCO listed it as a world heritage site.

Tartu

Tartu city comes second after Tallinn city of Estonia. It covers an area of 40 square kilometers with a population of 100,000. The locals of Estonia perceive the city as the intellectual harbor of the country particularly as it hosts the renowned University of Tartu. Almost a seventh of its populations consist of students who have made the city's nightlife flourish and active almost all year round. The city is also home to the supreme court of Estonia, Estonian National Museum, and the Ministry of Education and Research. It lays claim to being Estonia's spiritual capital with locals talking about special Tartu vaim created by the feel of its wooden houses and stately buildings and the beauty of its parks and riverfront. Its climate is rather mild considering the high altitude due to its proximity to the Baltic Sea.

Narva

Narva city covers an area of 60 square kilometers and has a population of 62,000, ranks third among the biggest cities of Estonia. This frontier location of the city, at the extreme eastern point of Estonia and bordering Russia, is the most distinguishing feature of the past and the present face of the town. At this border, two distinct cultures meet, interact, and mutually influence each other culminating into a typical architectural ensemble, appealing beauty and dramatic effect. This skillful architectural fusion resulted into the city's most prominent landmark- 51 m-high long Hermann tower, the 15th-century castle.

Parnu

The strategic location of Parnu city on the southwest of Estonia, coast of Parnu Bay makes this fourth largest city of Estonia a famous summer holiday resort center. With a population of 40, 000, Parnu is the official summer capital of Estonia, hence a major tourist center in the country.

Kohtla-jarve

The city is a municipality in northeastern Estonia, founded in 1924 and acquired city rights in 1946. Ranking fifth among the biggest cities in Estonia,Kohtla-jarve is a major industrial center based in oil and petroleum productions. Kohtla-jarve city is ethnically diverse, consisting of people of over 40 ethnic groups. It comprises of two main parts, Jarve and Ahtime with approximate populations of 20,000 individuals in each, and set 10 km apart.

Global Position Of Estonia

Despite its successive colonization, Estonia is a developed country with a highly advanced high-income economy. Its economy is among the rapidly growing economies in the European Union. There are many important cities in Estonia which include Viljandi, Rakvere, Maardu, Sillamae, Kuressaare, Voru, Jovi, Paide among others. Estonia has an approximate population of 1.3 million and is one of the lowest populated members of the European Union, OECD, Schengen area, and The North Atlantic Treaty Organization.