LocationEastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia Geographic coordinates59 00 N, 26 00 E Map referencesEurope Areatotal: 45,226 sq km Area - comparativeslightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined Land boundariestotal: 633 km Coastline3,794 km Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm Climatemaritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers Terrainmarshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south Elevation extremeslowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m Natural resourcesoil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud Land usearable land: 12.05% Irrigated land40 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources21.1 cu km (2005) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 1.41 cu km/yr (56%/39%/5%) Natural hazardssometimes flooding occurs in the spring Environment - current issuesair polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one-20th the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations Environment - international agreementsparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands Geography - notethe mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands |
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Source: CIA World Factbook | |