Natural disasters

2.1 Shale mining (in the north-east of Estonia)

Eesti Energia (Estonian Energy) is a

company responsible for electricity

supply in the country. The company

mines approximately 15 tonnes of shale

per year.

Consequences

10 000 ha. are covered with quarries and slagheaps;

Mines have made 20 000 ha. of territory unsuitable for living

or any other activity except for shale mining;

Near the power stations there are piles of ash which fills

subterranean waters, forms alkaline compounds. As a

consequence, water reserves and agricultural lands cannot be

used in any way

Getting electricity by means of shale burning

Power Plants running on shale oil produce over

90% of all the electrical and thermal energy, which

is consumed in Estonia.

Besides that shale is one of the cheapest energy

sources, shale burning is one of the dirtiest ways to

produce energy. After oil shale burning there are

5-5,5 million tonnes of burnt shale ashes emitted

per year as well as air polluting substances

2.2 Water pollution

After the IIWW 3 millions tonnes of

chemical weapons consisting of 14

poisonous radioactive substances were

dropped into the Baltic Sea. Plus, there are

a few sunken nuclear submarines in the

depths of the sea.

The emergence of cyanobacteria is a

result of hot weather (+35°C). The

substances that cyanobacterias emit may

cause respiratory muscle paralysis, kidney

and liver tissue destruction and death.

2.3 Deforestation

About 54% of Estonia is covered with forests

(2,284,000 ha.)It causes:

Animals and birds leave their habitats

Cutting out valuable species of plants

Lack of oxygen