IdaVirumaal

Ida-Virumaa, also known as Ida-Viru County, is a county (maakond) in the northeastern part of Estonia. It lies along the Gulf of Finland and shares a long eastern border with Russia. The county covers roughly 4,000 square kilometers and includes coastal towns as well as inland towns and rural municipalities. The administrative center is the town of Jõhvi, and the largest city by population is Narva.

Administratively, Ida-Virumaa consists of several municipalities that span urban centers and rural areas. The region is characterized by a varied landscape that includes coastal beaches, forests, and bogs, with the Narva River and Narva Bay forming notable geographical features near the border.

Economy and infrastructure have long been tied to oil shale mining, processing, and electricity generation, with major facilities located in Narva and the surrounding area. The Narva Power Plants are a prominent energy facility in the county. Since the Soviet era, the region has undergone economic restructuring, aiming to diversify beyond traditional industries and to strengthen cross-border trade and services. The county remains a key logistics hub due to its border position and highway connections.

Demographics reflect a mix of urban and rural communities, with a substantial Russian-speaking population and a cultural presence shaped by ongoing cross-border interactions with Russia. Ida-Virumaa has a history rooted in industrial development and has evolved through modernization and regional development programs to address economic and social transition.