Editing Saaremaa (section)

== Characteristics ==
The majority of the island's population is [[Estonians|Estonian]] (97%). The two most numerous ethnic minorities, [[Russians]] and [[Finns]], together comprise less than 3% of the inhabitants. Compared to the Republic of Estonia on the whole, the population of [[Saare County]] and particularly of [[Kuressaare]] town is younger, whereas the number of the retired people is considerably smaller. Saaremaa is located in the heart of the [[Baltic Sea region|Baltic region]], which is one of the most rapidly growing markets in Europe, with 70 million consumers. The island's "Gates to the West" include the reconstructed [[Kuressaare Airport]] and [[Roomassaare Harbour]], the operation of modern ferries between Saaremaa and the Estonian mainland, and the rapid development of the telecommunications. Saaremaa is also a significant tourist destination, revisited by 35% of foreign and 95% of domestic tourists.<ref>http://www.saaremaa.ee/eng/general/default.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314131906/http://www.saaremaa.ee/eng/general/default.htm |date=2008-03-14 }}<br />Saaremaa County&nbsp;– population</ref>