Entered EU: 2004
Political system: Republic
Capital city: Vilnius
Size: 65 000 km²
Population: 3.3 million
Currency: Euro
Official EU language: Lithuanian
Klaipėda port is the only port in Lithuania.
Vilnius International Airport is the largest airport
Lithuania is the most southern, largest and most populous of the three Baltic states.
Lithuania was the first Soviet republic to break away from the Soviet Union and by the declaration of independence on 11 March 1990 restored it’s sovereignty.
The country is predominantly flat, with a few low hills in the west and east.
Lithuania has over 700 rivers, over 2500 lakes and 100 km of the Baltic Sea coastline, of which are most is devoted to recreation and nature preservation.
Vilnius is the capital city, very picturesque on the banks of the rivers Neris and Vilnia, and the architecture in the old part of the city is some of Eastern Europe’s finest.
The Lithuanian president is elected directly for a five-year term and is active principally in foreign and security policy. The Parliament has 141 members.
Cities
Vilnius 546,733
Kaunas 352,279
Klaipėda 183,433
Šiauliai 126,215
Panevėžys 112,619
Railways
There is a total of 1,998 route km of railways, of which:
1,807 km are broad gauge of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+5⁄6 in) – 122 km of which are electrified
169 km are narrow gauge of 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) – as of 2001
22 km are standard gauge of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Rail links with adjacent countries
Latvia – yes
Belarus – yes
Russia (Kaliningrad) – yes
Poland – yes – break-of-gauge 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+5⁄6 in) / 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Lithuanian road system
Highways
There is a total of 21,328.09 route km of highways (2006); 12,912.22 km are paved and the remaining 8,415.87 are unpaved.
Major highways
A1 highway (Lithuania) – connecting Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda
A2 highway (Lithuania) – connecting Vilnius, Ukmergė and Panevėžys
A5 highway (Lithuania) – connecting Kaunas and Suwałki
A6 highway (Lithuania) – connecting Kaunas, Ukmerge, Utena and Daugavpils
Samogitian Highway – old highway built in the interbellum years connecting Kaunas and Klaipėda
Aukštaitian Highway – old highway built in the interbellum years connecting Kaunas, Kėdainiai, Panevėžys and Biržai.
Via Baltica (E67)
Sea ports
Būtingė,
Klaipėda,
Šventoji
River ports
Kaunas
Rumšiškės
Nida
Juodkrantė
National parks
View from Ladakalnis HillAukštaitija National Park
Žemaitija National Park
Kuršių Nerija National Park
Dzūkija National Park
Trakai Historical National Park
[edit] UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Kernavė – a complex of historical hillforts and an archeological site, nicknamed “Lithuanian Troy”
Curonian Spit
Vilnius Old Town – the old capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, is among the largest in the Eastern Europe
Castles
Construction Date Location Current state
Baltadvaris Castle 16th century Baltadvaris Ruins
Biržai Castle 1586 Biržai Partially rebuilt
Dubingiai Castle 1412-1413 Dubingiai Ruins
Eišiškės Castle 15th century Eišiškės Ruins
