The largest and most populous of the Baltic states, Lithuania is situated on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, in northeastern Europe. The country is bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland to the southwest, and Kaliningrad, a territory of Russia, to the west. It has 60 miles of sandy coastline, of which only 24 miles face the open Baltic Sea. Lithuania's major warm-water port of Klaipeda lies at the narrow mouth of Kursiu Gulf, a shallow lagoon extending south to Kaliningrad. The Nemunas River and some of its tributaries are used for internal shipping. Situated between the 54th and 56th latitudes and the 20th and 27th longitudes, Lithuania is glacially flat, except for the hills (of no more than 300 meters) in the western and eastern highlands. The terrain is marked by numerous small lakes and swamps, and a mixed forest zone covers 30% of the country. According to some geographers, Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, lies at the geographical center of Europe. Lithuania has an abundance of castles, folk art, music and beautiful lakes and forests. The enchanting cities are reminiscent of medieval fairytales. As the largest Baltic State, Lithuania is becoming better known internationally and is making efforts to attract visitors. You’ll find hundreds of renovated baroque buildings that serve as modern hotels, shopping centers and cafes. Major attractions are the cultural and historical sites as well as the friendly culture. The most popular cities are Vilnius (the capitol), Kaunas, Nida and Klaipeda. Lithuania's fertile, central lowland plains are separated by hilly uplands. A total of 758 rivers, many navigable, and 2,833 lakes cover the landscape. The coastline is 90 km long.

Lithuanians are neither Slavic nor Germanic, although the union with Poland and the colonization by Germans and Russians has influenced the culture and religious beliefs of Lithuania. This highly literate society places strong emphasis upon education, which is free and compulsory until age 16. Most Lithuanians and ethnic Poles belong to the Roman Catholic Church; the Russian Orthodox Church is the largest non-Catholic denomination.

In spite of several border changes, Soviet deportations, a massacre of its Jewish population, and German and Polish repatriations, the population of Lithuania has maintained a fairly stable percentage of ethnic Lithuanians (from 79.3% in 1959 to 84.6% in 2007). Lithuania's citizenship law and constitution meet international and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) standards, guaranteeing universal human and civil rights.

The Lithuanian language still retains the original sound system and morphological peculiarities of the prototypal Indo-European tongue and, therefore, is fascinating for linguistic study. Between 400 and 600 AD, the Lithuanian and Latvian languages split from the Eastern Baltic (Prussian) language group, which subsequently became extinct. The first known written Lithuanian text dates from a hymnal translation in 1545. Written with the Latin alphabet, Lithuanian has been the official language of Lithuania since 1989. While Lithuania was a member of the U.S.S.R., Russian was the official language, so many Lithuanians speak Russian as a second language. The resident Slavic populace generally speaks Russian or Polish as a first language.

Quick Facts

• People
  • Nationality: Noun and adjective--Lithuanian(s).
  • Population (2008): 3,354,700.
  • Annual growth rate (2007): -0.7%. Birth rate--9.6/1,000. Death rate--13.5/1,000.
  • Population density (2007): 51.8 per sq. km.
  • Ethnic groups (2007): Lithuanians 84.6%, Poles 6.3%, Russians 5.1%.
  • Religions (2001 census): Roman Catholic (79%), Russian Orthodox (4.1%), Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) (1.9%).
  • Languages (2008): Lithuanian (official language) 84.6%, Russian, and Polish
  • Education: Years compulsory--10 (until the age of 16). Literacy--99.6%.
  • Health (2007): Infant mortality rate--6.9/1,000. Life expectancy--64.87 yrs. male, 77.20 yrs. female.
  • Work force (2008): 1.59 million: services 61.3%; industry 30.3%; agriculture 8.4%.
• Government
  • Type: Parliamentary democracy.
  • Constitution: On October 25, 1992, Lithuanians ratified a new constitution, which was officially signed on November 6 that year.
  • Branches: Executive--President (chief of state), popularly elected every 5 years; Prime Minister (head of government); Legislative--Seimas (141-member Parliament). Judicial--Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and Highest Administrative Court.
  • Administrative regions: 10 counties and 60 municipalities.
  • Principal political parties/coalitions (December 2008): Four-party governing coalition has 82 members plus the Speaker. Conservatives--45 seats; National Revival Party faction--17 seats (including two independent members of parliament, or MPs) and the Speaker; Liberal Movement--11 seats; Liberal and Center Union faction--9 seats (including 1 independent MP). Opposition has 58 members: Social Democrat faction--25 seats (plus 1 independent MP); Order and Justice Party faction--18 seats (including 3 Polish Electoral Action Party MPs); Labor Party--10 seats; non-affiliated faction--4 seats (including 3 Peasants Party MPs and 1 Social Liberal MP).
  • Suffrage: Universal adult (18 years of age).
  • General government budget (2008): $9.9 billion.
• Economy
  • GDP (2008, third quarter): $13.3 billion.
  • Annual growth rate (2007): 8.9%.
  • Annual inflation rate (November 2008): 10.9%.
  • Unemployment rate (2008, third quarter): 5.9%.
  • Per capita income (2007): $11,348.
  • Natural resources: Limestone, clay, sand, gravel, iron ore, and granite.
  • Major sectors of the economy (2007): manufacturing 20%, wholesale and retail trade 17%, transport and communications 13%.
  • Trade: Exports (January-September 2008)--$15.9 billion: mineral products 26.5%, machinery and mechanical appliances 10.4%, vehicles and transport equipment 10.5%, chemicals 10%. Major export partners--EU 61.1%, CIS 24.6%. Imports (January-September 2008)--$20.8 billion: machinery and equipment 14.1%, mineral products 30.5%, transportation equipment 12.5%. Major import partners--EU 56.5%, CIS 35.0%

History

Lithuania was once an empire spreading from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea, the largest nation in all of Europe. In the 1300s, Lithuania’s leader married a member of the Polish royal family, establishing an alliance between the two countries. As a result, they were able to control most of Eastern Europe. The Polish introduced Christianity to the pagan tribes of Lithuania, which also changed the culture.

The following centuries brought wars with Russia, Prussia (Germany) and Sweden. Lithuania lost a lot of territory through the wars and eventually became part of the Russian Empire. It wasn’t until 1918 that Lithuania regained independence. However, the freedom was short-lived and the country was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940.

The Soviets ruled Lithuania for five decades and deported thousands of citizens, established industrialization and immigrated Russians, Ukrainians and Slavs. Lithuania made a second effort towards independence in 1990 and three years later the last Russian troops left the country.

In 2004, Lithuania became part of the European Union and joined NATO. Today, Lithuania struggles to become prosperous.

See and Do

• The historic capital city of Vilnius was founded in 1323 and the city''s Old Town, a UNESCO World heritgage site is the biggest in Europe.
• Each year in February, Mardi Gras festivities are held in Lithuanian towns.
• The University of Vilnius received its charter in 1579.
• The medieval capital of Lithuania, Trakai, is situated on the shores of Lake Galve.
• Palanga and Kursiu Nerija, two seaside resorts, are known for their white-sand beaches and sand dunes.
• The Curonian Spit National Park , also a UNESCO World Heritage site is an excellent area for hiking and exploration..
• Lithuania's cities, small towns and villages offer a wide array of craft and cultural fairs throughout the year. Of special note is teh International Folklore Festival held each year in May in Vilnius. www.vilniusfestivals.lt.
  

Planning your visit

• Passport/Visa Requirements: Passports and proof of sufficient funds are required by U.S. and Canadian citizens. Tourists do not need visas.
• Population: 3,565,205
• Languages: Lithuanian, English, Russian, Polish
• Predominant Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox)
• Time Zone: 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 GMT)
• Voltage Requirements: 220 volts
• Telephone Codes: 370 (country code), 5 (Vilnius city code)

Climate

From May to September, day temperatures are around 70F/20-25C and 40-60F/4-14C at night. January and February are the coldest months and temperatures are around 20F/-7 to -1C (It can get as cold as -20F/-29C). With four distinct seasons, the climate is humid continental, with a moderating maritime influence from the Baltic Sea. January temperatures average -5ºC (23ºF); July, 17ºC (63ºF). The level of precipitation varies considerably from region to region: in the far west, average annual precipitation is 28-33 in., while in the central plain it is about 24 in.

Money

• Currency: litas
• ATMs are located everywhere.
• Credit Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
• Traveler’s checks can be exchanged at large banks.
• Tipping: 10%-15% (for good service)

Safety

Petty theft is an issue in large cities. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid dark, isolated areas. Do not flash around your valuables or money.

Other Tips:

• Many buildings are not well heated in the winter, so bring warm clothes.
• If you find a “boot” on your rental car and are not illegally parked, call the police. Con-artists place the boots on vehicles and demand a fine to remove it.
• Try not to speak in Russian unless it is your only way of communicating. Lithuanians prefer to speak English.