Tartu County
Tartu County is located in Eastern and Southern Estonia. It borders Jõgevamaa to the north, Viljandimaa to the west, and Valgamaa and Põlvamaa to the south. It is commonly considered the starting point of tourist Southern Estonia.
Tartu County – Main Information
Tartu County comprises three major cities: Tartu, Elva, and Kallaste. Since 2017, following an administrative reform, the county has included eight municipalities, among them the city of Tartu and the rural municipalities of Kambja, Kastre, Luunja, Nõo, Peipsiääre, and Elva.
The county covers an area of 3,349.48 square kilometers. It ranks second in population size in Estonia, with over 153,000 residents. 84.9% of the local population are ethnic Estonians, and 12.23% are Russians. The most widely spoken languages are Estonian and Russian (the latter to a lesser extent). The population is on the rise.
The largest Estonian river, the Emajõgi (which translates as “Mother River” in English), flows through Tartu County. It connects Lake Peipus with Lake Võrtsjärv. Just over one-tenth of the county’s territory is occupied by nature reserves. The city of Tartu is the largest tourist center.
