Tallinn

During the Viking age, it was not necessarily a good idea to live by the coast…

Two cities separated only by 80km of open water.

Helsinki Tallinn

Founded 1550 by the king of Sweden.

Failed attempt to compete with Tallinn.

Only after Russian invasion in 1809 Helsinki started to gain importance.

Founded 1219 by invading danes.

Became soon an important trade city between german Hanseatic league cities and the east.

Helsinki Tallinn

Helsinki metro area : 1 000 000 (Finland has a population of 5,5 million)

The city has been controlled by Swedes and Russians.

Became capital of independent Finland in 1917.

Tallinn metro area: 500 000 (Estonia has a population of 1,4 million)

The city has been controlled by Danes, Germans, Swedes and Russians.

Became capital of independent Estonia in 1918.

Earliest settlement in Tallinn was a fortress on Toompea hill, around 1050.

Toompea forms the upper part of the historic city centre.

It is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Danish painting from 1809 (Statens museum for kunst)

Dannebrog falling from the sky during the battle of Lyndanisse, 1219

In the 13th century, the Baltic region was colonised by Germans, who then formed the political, economic and cultural elite of the region all the way until the russian revolution (1917)!

Germans also introduced the feudal system to Baltic region, which is a major social difference compared to Scandinavia.

Language

Helsingi on Soome pealinn ja Uusimaa ajalooline keskus. Helsingi paikneb Soome lõunarannikul Soome lahe kaldal.

Helsingi kliimadiagrammPindala on 715,55 km², millest 213 km² on maismaad ja ülejäänud 500 km² veealad. Helsingis on üle 300 saare.

Helsingis elab 605 523 inimest. Koos Espoo, Kauniaise ja Vantaaga moodustab ta Suur-Helsingi, kus elab 1 059 060 inimest

Helsingi on Soome suurim linn ja riigi haldus-, äri- ning kultuurikeskus. See on paljude suurte ettevõtete kodulinnaks ja riigi suurim tööandja.

Linna pikim tänav on Mannerheimintie (5420 m).

From 1940 to 1991 Estonia was occupied by Soviet Union (and briefly by Nazi Germany).

From 1991 Estonia has systematically tried to distance itself from Russia, but the long shadow of Kremlin still lingers…

In 2004 Estonia joined both EU and NATO. Estonia has been part of the EURO since 2011.

Recent history

25% of the population are ethnic Russians.

A legacy left by Stalin and his population transfers.

An uneasy situation, considering Moscows vows to protect the interest of ethnic Russians wherever they might reside.

Ukraine…

The meager 80km of water that separate Finland and Estonia is actually quite a divide economically.

Finnish average wage: 3000€/month

Estonian average wage: 900€/month

Very interesting to compare food prices in a local supermarket. Sad comparison for Estonians.

In 2013, 60 000 Estonians were officially working in Finland.

Many have no choice and commute between Tallinn and Helsinki weekly.

For Finnish people, the boatride between the cities is a place to party and buy cheap alcohol.

Also visiting Tallinn makes a Finn feel rich because of lower prices.

Just watch!

Toompea at the end of the 19th century