Lithuania

INTRODUCTION:

The State of Lithuania is an independent and democratic republic.
From the cartographic point of view, Lithuania is a Central European rather than an Eastern European country, as is sometimes groundlessly claimed. Located in the centre of Europe, Lithuania is situated at one of the largest crossroads of the continent. It is divided by a straight line connecting Paris and Berlin with Moscow via Vilnius, whereas another straight line, connecting Helsinki with Athens, also crosses the centre of Lithuania.

Lithuania is part of the economic region, known as the Baltic Republics, extending along the Eastern coast of the Baltic sea.

Lithuania borders are:

• on Latvia in the north (610 km of the border line),
• on Byelorussia in the east and south (720 km),
• on Poland (110 km)
• on the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation (303 km) in the southwest.

The total length of the mainland borders is 1747 km, with the sea coastline extending for another 99 km. From east to west the country stretches 373 km, and the distance from the southern end of the country to the northern one is 276 km.

  

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Capital: Vilnius ( pop. 553,038)

Area: 65,300 sq. km

Coastline: 90km

Population: 3,462,533

Ethnic composition: Lithuanian - 83,5%; Russian - 6,3%; Polish - 6,3%; Belorussians - 1.2%; other - 2.1%.

Major cities: Kaunas (368,917), Klaipėda (190,098), Šiauliai (131,184), Panevėžys (117,606), Alytus (70,774),

Language (s): Lithuanaian (official), polish, Russian

Religion (s): Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish

Highest hill Juozapines 293.6 m

Longest river: Nemunas 937 km (475 km within Lithuania)

Largest lake: Druksiai 4,479 ha

Forests: 30 % of the country's territory.

  

CLIMATE:

The climate is maritime/ continental. In August the average temperature is +16.2° C. Absolute maximum temperature - 36°C was registered on 6 August 1992 and -2.9°C stands for absolute minimum temperature, registered in August, 1966. The average August precipitation is 75.6 mm.

  

TIME:

Local time is in Central European Time Zone: GMT + 2hrs. The day light saving is applied.

  

LANGUAGE:

The state language is Lithuanian, which belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo European family. All correspondence and official communication is conducted in Lithuanian.

  

NATIONAL CURRENCY OF LITHUANIA:

"Litas" (Lt) is the national currency unit since June 25, 1993.In 2002 Litas is pegged to the Euro at the rate 3.4528 LT to 1 EUR.

The denomination of currency is : 500, 200,100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Lt (Litas). Coins: 5 Lt, 2 Lt, 1 Lt, 50, 20, 5, 2 and 1 Ct (Centas).

  

DISTANCES FROM VILNIUS:

Copenhagen:    810 km

Berlin:              820 km

Brussels:          1470 km

Helsinki:           580 km

London:            1750 km

Moscow:            790 km

Oslo:                1030 km

Paris:                1700 km

Prague:             910 km

Riga:                 310 km

Stockholm:       680 km

Tallinn:             500 km

Warsaw:           420 km

  

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN VILNIUS AND OTHER LITHUANIAN CITIES

Kaunas             103 km

Palanga            333 km

Klaipeda          312 km

Druskininkai     132 km

Siauliai            226 km

Trakai              27 km

  

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:

January 1                  New Year's Day

February 16               Independence Day (1918)

March 11                   Restoration of Independence (1990)

Easter                       (Sunday and the following Monday)

May 1                        Labour Day

June 24                     Midsummer Festival

July 6                        Coronation of Mindaugas, King of Lithuania

August 15                  Assumption Day

November 1               All Saints' Day

December 25-26         Christmas

 

MEASURING SYSTEM

The European metric system is applied to all weights and measurement.

 

ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

The electricity supply is 220 V, AC, 50 Hz. European two-pin plugs are the norm.

  

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER:

112 - Dial this number from all public telephone networks anywhere in Lithuania. Calls to this number are free of charge at any time of the day, from any service provider, mobile or fixed line. Dial this number to report criminal offences, life-threatening conditions, health, safety or environmental hazards, and call respective emergency services.

Fire: 01

Police: 02

Ambulance: 03