Since the 16th century, Estonia has been a predominantly protestant (Lutheran) country. Baltic Germans built most of the country’s churches. Up until the 19th century, the church was the only source of education in the countryside and few villages are without an architecturally impressive church at its centre.
Estonia has a temperate climate, with warm summers and severe winters. Temperatures range from a summer average of 70°F (30°C) to a winter average of 18°F (-8°C).
Formal education in Estonian is highly important and general education is divided into two stages: the basic education years and the secondary general education.