什麼是愛沙尼亞

正式名稱愛沙尼亞共和國（Republic of Estonia）

東北歐國家。由大陸地區和波羅的海中的1,500多個大小島嶼組成。面積17,413平方哩（45,100平方公里）。人口約1,363,000（2001）。首都︰塔林（Tallinn）。人口中近2/3爲愛沙尼亞人，俄羅斯人約佔1/3，及少數烏克蘭人、芬蘭人和白俄羅斯人（Belarusian）。語言：愛沙尼亞語（Estonian，官方語）。宗教︰愛沙尼亞東正教（Estonian Orthodoxy）、路德宗（Lutheranism）、循道宗（Methodism）。貨幣︰愛沙尼亞克朗（EEK）。地形低，有小丘，多湖泊、森林、河流。涼爽溫和，潮溼氣候。經濟以工業爲主，生產頁岩、機械、金屬加工產品以及建築材料。以紡織品着稱。木材加工是該國重要的傳統工業。政府形式是共和國，有一立法機構。國家元首是總統，政府首腦爲總理。

9世紀該地區遭維京人侵襲。後來又遭到丹麥人、瑞典人和俄羅斯人的侵略。但愛沙尼亞人都能抵擋住襲擊，直到1219年丹麥人取得控制。1346年丹麥王國政府將其對愛沙尼亞的主權出售予當時佔領利沃尼亞（愛沙尼亞南部和拉脫維亞）的條頓騎士團（Teutonic Order）。16世紀中葉，愛沙尼亞再次被瓜分，愛沙尼亞北部臣服瑞典，波蘭贏得利沃尼亞（Livonia），1629年利沃尼亞割讓給瑞典。1721年俄羅斯取得利沃尼亞和愛沙尼亞。約一世紀後，農奴制度廢除，1881年開始愛沙尼亞徹底的實施俄羅斯化。1918年愛沙尼亞脫離俄羅斯獨立，直到1940年被蘇聯佔領，後被迫加入蘇維埃社會主義共和國聯邦（亦稱蘇聯）。第二次世界大戰期間，德國曾經佔領該地區（1941～1944），但1944年蘇聯又恢復了對愛沙尼亞的統治。此後，愛沙尼亞的經濟實行了集體化，成爲蘇聯經濟的一個組成部分。與前蘇聯的其他部分於1991年宣佈獨立，隨即舉行大選。愛沙尼亞仍與俄羅斯談判解決他們共有的邊界。

Estonia

EstonianEestiCountry, northeastern Europe. It consists of a mainland area and some 1,500 islands and islets in the Baltic Sea. Area: 17,413 sq mi (45,100 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 1,463,000. Capital: Tallinn. Estonians are nearly two-thirds of the population. Russians account for almost one-third, and there are Ukrainian, Finnish, and Belarusian minorities. Language: Estonian (official). Religions: Estonian Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Methodism. Currency: kroon. The land is low and hilly, with numerous lakes and forests and many rivers. It has a cool-temperate and humid climate. The economy is mainly industrial, producing shale oil, machinery, fabricated metal products, and building materials. It is noted for its textiles, and woodworking is a traditional and important industry. It is a republic with one legislative body; the chief of state is the president, while the head of government is the prime minister. It was invaded by Vikings in the 9th century AD and later by Danes, Swedes, and Russians, but the Estonians were able to withstand the assaults until the Danes took control in 1219. In 1346 the Danes sold their sovereignty to the Teutonic Order, which was then in possession of Livonia (S Estonia and Latvia). In the mid-16th century, Estonia was once again divided, with northern Estonia capitulating to Sweden, and Poland gaining Livonia, which it surrendered to Sweden in 1629. Russia acquired Livonia and Estonia in 1721. Nearly a century later, serfdom was abolished, and from 1881 Estonia underwent intensive Russification. In 1918 Estonia obtained independence from Russia, which lasted until the Soviet Union occupied the country in 1940 and forcibly incorporated it into the U.S.S.R. Germany held the region (1941-44) during World War II, but the Soviet regime was restored in 1944, after which Estonia's economy was collectivized and integrated into that of the Soviet Union. In 1991, along with other parts of the former U.S.S.R., it proclaimed its independence, and subsequently held elections. Estonia continued negotiations with Russia to settle their common border.