Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Estonia, Saaremaa and Saaremaa Co-educational Gymnasium

Alar Leemet, Form 11A

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

● The Baltic Sea to the north and west, borders Russia east and Latvia south

● Area 45 228 sq km, 133rd country in size● Population 1 294 000 (as of 2012), 156th

● Declaration of Independence 24th February 1918, Re-establishment of independence 20th August 1991

● E-country (Banking, school, healthcare, voting)

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Nature of Estonia● Temperate climate, 4 equally lengthed seasons● Flat, hilly in the south-east, the highest point

Suur Munamägi 318m (Big Egg Mountain)● Cliffs on the northern coast● 50% of the territory is covered by forests● Over 1400 lakes, which is 1/20 of the territory,

the largest: Lake Peipus● Over 1500 islands, which is 1/10 of the territory

the largest is Saaremaa, 2nd largest Hiiumaa

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Nature of Estonia

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Estonian society● 70% Estonians, 25% Russians● Estonian language (mother tongue of 67%),

difficult to learn● High level of education (ranked 13th in quality)● Song Festival every 5 years● Religion: 73% claim to be non-religious, 13%

lutherans, 12% orthodoxians● Estonians are considered to be reserved,

stubborn, hard-working, having a peculiar sense of humour

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Saaremaa● The largest island, about 35 000 inhabitants● Kuressaare, the biggest and only town and a

seaside resort, about 15 000 inhabitants● 98% Estonians● Popular among tourists – many sights● Unique nature (80% of all plant species)● Accessible by ferry or airplane (from Tallinn)● Very low crime rate – Safe!● Popular annual events, e.g. Saaremaa Rally,

Opera days

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Places of interest on Saaremaa● Kuressaare Bishop's castle● Old town of Kuressaare (unique architecture)● Angla Windmills● Panga cliff (up to 21m high)● Kaali meteorite crater● Medieval churches and manors● Spas (curative sea mud)

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Sights in pictures

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Saaremaa Co-educational Gymnasium

● The oldest school on Saaremaa (since 1919)● In Kuressaare, students from all over the island

and even from mainland● 800 students in forms 1-12 (for students aged

7-19), 27 classes in total● Sapere aude – dare to be wise● Main goal is to prepare students for university● Many traditions: Olympic Games, Minitheatre

Festival, Form 11 Cabaret and many more

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Traditions in pictures

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Questions?

Thank You!

Believe It or NotOctober 2012

Used materials● http://www.naturetours.ee/uudiskiri/2009/birdfair/index.html● https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/en.html● http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17220810● http://www.estonica.org/en/● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Estonia● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia#Geography● http://www.estinst.ee/publications/12/kaheksas.html● http://www.saaremaa.ee/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=498&lang=en&Itemid=257