9 Weird Facts About Estonia That Will Make You Want To Go ASAP

@sj_bowden

If you’ve been thinking of planning a trip to Northern Europe, you may have considered one of the “trendier” cities like Stockholm, Helsinki or Reykjavik. (We don’t blame you, they’re all pretty damn cool.) But have you considered Estonia? Yes, the country just south of Finland. Estonia is an underrated country with a lot to offer. Here are nine things you didn’t know about the nation:

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1. It has a ton of islands.

2,222 islands, to be exact, all on the Baltic sea. Researchers originally said it had 1,521 islands, but discovered 800 more in 2015, forever changing history books.

2. Public transportation is free in the capital.

You can get around the entire Estonian capital, Talinn, free of charge. Estonia is one of the few countries in the world that provides this service and it’s become an example of how doing so can potentially turn a profit.

3. The entire country is pretty flat.

The highest point in Estonia, Suur Munamägi, sits at a comfortable 1,043 feet above sea level. The rest of the country averages about 164 feet above sea level, which is nearly flat.

4. Estonia claims to have decorated the first official Christmas tree.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Estonia claims that the first Christmas tree was decorated in the country in 1441.

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5. It’s a dream destination for history buffs.

Estonia houses two Unesco World Heritage sites, which highlight the history of Estonia, but also of Belarus, Latvia, Moldova, Russia, Sweden and other countries. Also, Talinn itself is widely known for preserving its original Medieval architecture.

6. Estonia is one of the least religious countries in the world.

A poll conducted in 2005 found that only 16 percent of Estonians devote themselves to a certain religion or spirituality.

7. Everyone votes online.

Estonia is the only country that relies heavily on online voting in national elections, making the process swift and easy for every citizen.

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8. Over 50 percent of Estonia is forest.

Estonia is becoming one of the world’s greenest countries, stacking up at 52 percent greenery. That means 52 percent of the country is untouched or barely touched by humans. Amazing.

9. …But it’s also one of the countries with the most animal predators.

You can’t be too surprised that Estonia is packed with wolves and bears, right? Over 500 brown bears, 150 wolves, 12,000 elk and other wild animals roam the forests, so you should be careful where you hike.