| Page Views: 12,741 Last Visit to Lithuania: - I Used To Live Here | Country of diversities - Lithuania by Raimix - last update: Jan 2, 2007 |
Location, statistics | © Lithuanian State Department of Tourism |
Lithuania (in Lithuanian language "Lietuva") is a country located in northern Europe. It is the largest of the three Baltic States, has the borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland and the Russian exclave of the Kaliningrad Oblast to the southwest.
In Lithuania live about 3,5 million people, 83.5% of the Lithuanian population are ethnic Lithuanians, major minorities are Poles (6.7%), Russians (6.3%), and Belarusians (1.2%).
The main five cities, their populations and size of it is here:
1. Vilnius 541 824 and 401 km˛
2. Kaunas 360 637 and 157 km˛
3. Klaipėda 187 316 and 98 km˛
4. Šiauliai 129 037 and 81 km˛
5. Panevėžys 115 315 and 52 km˛
Lithuania is one of the fastly growing economically country in Europe.
Joining NATO and European Union shows great performance of this country.
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| Trakai - island's gothic castle |
Why "country of diversities"? Country of diversities - as you can find here places, influenced by different people, nations, religins.
Lets say, Vilnius is barocco town, had influence from Poland, lot of churches are designed by Italian architects, and the mix of cultures.
Kaunas and Klaipeda - the influence of German gothic.
Kedainiai - architecture of XVI-XVII century Lutherans.
Trakai - some places remain from Karaites culture.
Nida - Lithuanian "sachara" and so on :)
What is more, Lithuania consists of the four historical and cultural regions, you can find some differences in language, culture and old village houses architecture as well:
Aukštaitija — literally, the "Highlands", more hilly area, historical most significant in Lithuania. Free first capitals of Lithuania located here: Kernave, Trakai, Vilnius.
Žemaitija — literally, the "Lowlands". It is an area of Western Lithuania, near the sea, so such famous places are here as Klaipeda, Palanga, Nida.
Dzūkija - the south of Lithuania, area of forests and old wooden house villages and lot of mushrooms. One most famous resort located here - Druskininkai.
Suvalkija - a part of Western-Southern area, having borders with Žemaitija and Dzukija, it is a land of Nemunas river and people, who are stereotipically called "counting every cent". |
| Vilnius - pearl of barocco style |
Places and actions, inscribed to UNESCO list Lithuania's three touristic spots were inscribed to UNESCO World Heritage list and I really suggest to visit them when coming to Lithuania. these places are:
Vilnius historic centre;
Curonian Split;
The Kernave Archaeological Site.
There are two other things in UNESCO list, but they are not natural-architectural spots, but valuable human actions, it is:
1. An art to carve crosses from wood (different crosses, small chapels, wooden carvings of wailing people). The best exaples of it are Hill of Crosses (near Siauliai city) and Ciurlionio Kelias (road from Varena to Druskininkai).
2. Song Festival, when really much people gather together to one placr to sing national and all other songs - it is common with Latvia and Estonia. |
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| Pros: | "Lot of to see, gloriuos history, diversities in sightseeing" | | Cons: | "Big differences of life standarts in some places" | | In A Nutshell: | "beautiful cities, green forests, blue rivers and lakes" |
Raimix's Lithuania Travel Tips
 Comments for Raimix about Lithuania | | | | |
Jim_Eliason Tue Aug 28, 2007 13:46 UTC
great page, how ridiculous of a question everyone knows Lithunia is in South America! LOL! | Kristina1701 Fri Jan 26, 2007 17:40 UTC
what a beautiful country | sue_stone Wed Dec 6, 2006 09:47 UTC
Thanks for the tour of Lithuania! Looks like a really interesting country : ) | King_Golo Sun Dec 3, 2006 09:33 UTC
your lithuania pages are very helpful! |
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