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Discover Estonia: 8 Captivating Fun Facts You Never Knew About This Baltic Gem

illustration of estonia
Get ready to dive into the world of fascinating trivia as we embark on a thrilling exploration of Estonia's most interesting and quirky tidbits!

1. Wife Carrying Races

Forget couples' therapy - grab your partner and sprint together through an obstacle course: Estonia, along with several other nations, has embraced the quirky sport of Wife Carrying since its origins in Finland in the late 1800s. A race in which participants carry a female partner through a challenging track to compete for record-breaking times, the tradition stems from the legend of notorious robber Herkko Rosvo-Ronkainen and has landed itself a spot in the Guinness Book of Records.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Neugrund Submarine Crater

Talk about an explosive entrance to the stage: Estonia’s Neugrund submarine crater, formed by a massive asteroid impact 535 million years ago, is a 20-kilometer wide geological masterpiece that scuba divers can now freely explore!
Source => europlanet-society.org

3. Birthplace of Kiiking

Swing high, swing low, swing all the way around like a crazy gymnast on a sugar rush: Estonia is the birthplace of kiiking, a unique adrenaline-pumping sport where daring souls strap themselves into specially designed swings to achieve a full 360-degree rotation, and the current world record, held by Estonian Sven Saarpere, boasts an impressive 7.43-meter shaft length!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Tall Estonians

Kisses and handshakes might come with a slight risk of vertigo in this Slavic-Aryan land, brimming with inhabitants that are practically Nordic giants: Estonia boasts an impressive average height of 183 cm for men and 169 cm for women, standing tall among the tallest populations in Europe.
Source => wisevoter.com

Europe's Longest Ice Road

5. Europe's Longest Ice Road

When you have to cross a massive ice rink just to visit the neighbors, you know you're in Estonia: The Hiiumaa ice road, spanning approximately 25 km, holds the record for Europe's longest ice road and serves as an official route connecting the island of Hiiumaa to the mainland.
Source => visitestonia.com

6. Eco-friendly Estonia

In a world where Captain Planet would be proud to call home, Estonia emerges as an eco-warrior, flexing its green muscles while its neighbors watch with envy: Estonia ranks as the eighth most environmentally friendly country in the 2016 Environmental Performance Index, boasting a score of 88.59 out of 100 and outshining its Baltic siblings, Latvia and Lithuania.
Source => estonianworld.com

7. Magical University of Tartu

Forget Hogwarts, Estonia's got the real magic at play: The University of Tartu, founded in 1632, is not only one of the oldest universities in Northern and Eastern Europe but also ranks among the top 1.2% of the world's best universities, demonstrating its dedication to research and learning across various disciplines.
Source => ucl.ac.uk

8. Online Voting Pioneers

In Estonia, even your grandmother can cast her vote while cozying up with her cat and knitting socks: Estonia became the first country to hold legally binding general elections online in 2005, and has used the voting system to elect legislators as early as 2007, allowing citizens to vote from anywhere, including the comforts of their own home.
Source => koreatimes.co.kr

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