爱沙尼亚(Estonia)
正式名称爱沙尼亚共和国（Republic of Estonia）
东北欧国家。由大陆地区和波罗的海中的1,500多个大小岛屿组成。面积17,413平方哩（45,100平方公里）。人口约1,363,000（2001）。首都︰塔林（Tallinn）。人口中近2/3为爱沙尼亚人，俄罗斯人约占1/3，及少数乌克兰人、芬兰人和白俄罗斯人（Belarusian）。语言：爱沙尼亚语（Estonian，官方语）。宗教︰爱沙尼亚东正教（Estonian Orthodoxy）、路德宗（Lutheranism）、循道宗（Methodism）。货币︰爱沙尼亚克朗（EEK）。地形低，有小丘，多湖泊、森林、河流。凉爽温和，潮湿气候。经济以工业为主，生产页岩、机械、金属加工产品以及建筑材料。以纺织品着称。木材加工是该国重要的传统工业。政府形式是共和国，有一立法机构。国家元首是总统，政府首脑为总理。
9世纪该地区遭维京人侵袭。後来又遭到丹麦人、瑞典人和俄罗斯人的侵略。但爱沙尼亚人都能抵挡住袭击，直到1219年丹麦人取得控制。1346年丹麦王国政府将其对爱沙尼亚的主权出售予当时占领利沃尼亚（爱沙尼亚南部和拉脱维亚）的条顿骑士团（Teutonic Order）。16世纪中叶，爱沙尼亚再次被瓜分，爱沙尼亚北部臣服瑞典，波兰赢得利沃尼亚（Livonia），1629年利沃尼亚割让给瑞典。1721年俄罗斯取得利沃尼亚和爱沙尼亚。约一世纪後，农奴制度废除，1881年开始爱沙尼亚彻底的实施俄罗斯化。1918年爱沙尼亚脱离俄罗斯独立，直到1940年被苏联占领，後被迫加入苏维埃社会主义共和国联邦（亦称苏联）。第二次世界大战期间，德国曾经占领该地区（1941～1944），但1944年苏联又恢复了对爱沙尼亚的统治。此後，爱沙尼亚的经济实行了集体化，成为苏联经济的一个组成部分。与前苏联的其他部分於1991年宣布独立，随即举行大选。爱沙尼亚仍与俄罗斯谈判解决他们共有的边界。
English version：
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.
