Fast Facts

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Fast Facts

• Capital Vilnius
• Population 3.4 million people
• Area 65,303 sq. miles
• Currency lita (US12.84 Lt)
• Famous for causing the collapse of the USSR
• Lifestyle wealthiest 10 spend 7.7xs more
  p/month than poorest 10

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Geography

• Terrain lowland, many scattered small lakes,
  fertile soil
  
• Elevation extremes lowest pt Baltic Sea (0m)
  and highest pt Juozapines Kalnas (293.6m)
  
• Natural resources peat, arable land, amber

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Government

• Government type parliamentary democracy
• Administrative divisions 10 counties (Alytaus,
  Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio,
  Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus)
  
• National holiday Independence Day (February 16)

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Economy

• GDP (purchasing power parity) 54.03 billion
• GDP (official exchange rate) 30.2 billion
• GDP (composition by sector) agriculture 5.5,
  industry 33.3, services 61.2
  
• Labor force 1.617 million people (agriculture
  15.8, industry 28.2, and services 56)
  
• Unemployment rate 3.7
• Pop. below poverty line 4

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Economy (conti.)

• Agriculture products grain, potatoes, sugar
  beets, flax, vegetables, beef, milk, eggs, fish
  
• Industries metal-cutting machine tools, electric
  motors, television sets, refrigerators and
  freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small
  ships), furniture making, textiles, food
  processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery,
  optical equipment, electronic components,
  computers, amber jewelry
• Industrial growth rate 7

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Economy (conti.)

• Exports 14.64 billion (mineral products 23,
  textiles and clothing 16, machinery and
  equipment 11, chemicals 6, wood and wood
  products 5, foodstuffs 5)
• Imports 18.25 billion (mineral products,
  machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
  chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals)
  

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Population

• Predominately urban 25 of pop. live in or
  around Vilnius (capital) and 40 live in the
  countrys five major cities
  
• Pop. density is about 52.2 people p/sq km (2005)
• About 83 Lithuanians make up the entire
  population (most ethnically homogenous of the 3
  baltic states)
  
• Russians make up 6.3 and Poles and Jews make up
  6.7 and .1 respectively
  

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Sports

• Basketball is huge national team is reigning
  European champions and won bronze in 3
  consecutive Olympic Games (92, 96, 00)
  
• Basketball schools in Vilnius and Kaunas
• First Lithuanian to play in the NBA was in 1989

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Religion

• Roman Catholicism is the majority, but much of
  its religious art, national culture, and
  traditions have pagan roots (last pagan country
  in Europe to convert to Catholicism in 1387)
• Other minorities include Orthodox, Lutherans, and
  Jews
  

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The Land

• The largest of the Baltic countries
• Dotted w/lush forests, 4000 lakes (1.5 of the
  country), and a 100 km-wide lowland centre
  
• Latvia neighbors Lithuania to the north, Belarus
  to the southeast, and Poland and Russia to the
  southwest
  
• Half of Lithuanians short (99 km) Baltic Coast
  lies along the Curonian Spit (the regions most
  breathtaking natural feature)
  

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Wildlife

• Home to 70 species of mammal (elks, wild boars
  and lynx) and birds (stork)
  
• The beaver, European bison, and the red deer have
  just been reintroduced
  
• Forests cover 30 of the country pine, spruce,
  and birch are the dominate trees (great source of
  pride for them)
  

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Environmental Issues

• Huge amt. of EU money is being spent on the
  environment E307.05 million in cohesion funds
  and E32.8 million in structural funds b/n 2004
  and 2006
• Main current issue is the Ignalina Nuclear Power
  Plant (120 km north of Vilnius) closed at the
  end of 2006 and final shutdown scheduled for
  2009. Big question is how to decommission it
  w/least cost to the environment (approx. E3.2
  billion)
• Generation of future energy is another big
  question only 3.7 of electricity is produced by
  renewable energy currently, but EU wants to
  increase it to 12 by 2010
• Oil extraction and transportation threatens the
  Curonian Spit and the Baltic Sea
  
• Contamination of soil and groundwater with
  petroleum products and chemicals at military
  bases
  

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History

• Lithuania goes back to at least 9000 BC
• Trade in amber started during the Neolithic
  period (6000-4500 yrs ago), providing the Balts a
  source of wealth when they arrived around 2000
  BC
• In 1009, Lithuania was mentioned for the first
  time in written sources as the place where an
  archbishop called Brunonus was struck in the head
  by pagans. Its 1000th anniversary will be
  celebrated in Vilnius, capital, where an entire
  palace is being rebuilt brick by brick to mark
  the event
• Then there was religious conflict

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History (conti.)

• Mindaugas was crowned king in 1253. In order to
  defuse the threat from the Teutonic Order, he
  accepted Catholicism, which neither conversion
  nor unity lasted long. Assassinated in 1263 and
  Christianity rejected.
• In 1290, Lithuania was reunified and borders were
  extended south and east to modern-day Belarus.
  
• In 1377, Jogaila made himself sole ruler of
  Lithuania. He was in a struggle between
  converting to Orthodoxy or Catholicism.

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History (conti.)

• In 1386, he wed a Polish princess to forge an
  alliance that lasted for 400 years. Last
  European country to accept Christianity
  
• In 1579, Polish Jesuits founded Vilnius
  University
  
• Poland and Lithuania joined in a formal union
  together, making Lithuania a junior role in its
  partnership
  
• Russia invaded 1654, weakening the commonwealth.
  Majority of Lithuania went to Russia and a small
  chunk went to Prussia

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History (conti.)

• In 1840, Russian law was introduced and its
  language used for teaching
  
• In 1861, Lithuanian and Russian peasants were
  emancipated national revival became the new
  trend in the 19th and early 20th century
  
• During WWI, Lithuania was occupied by Germany and
  continued to be until Feb. 16, 1918. Declared
  independence and that November, Germany
  surrendered to Western Allies and a Lithuanian
  republican government was set up
• 1920, Vilnius occupied and was annexed by the
  Poles making it an isolated corner while rest of
  Lithuania had independence

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History (conti.)

• Kaunas became capital during this interwar
  period
  
• 1939, Lithuania fell to the Nazis and soon after
  into Soviet hands
  
• Following Hitlers invasion of the USSR and Nazi
  occupation of the region in 1941, nearly all
  Jewish pop. (b/n 135,000-300,000) were killed
  (total of 475,000 Lithuanians were killed during
  WWII)
• September 6, 1991, the USSR recognized the
  independence of Lithuania
  
• 1995-96, the countrys banking system collapsed
  which led to a currency change from the talonas
  to the litas

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Current Events

• Making Lithuanias EU dream come true, Valdas
  Adamkus, an 80 yr. old Lithuanian émigré and
  former US citizen, was re-elected president for
  a 5-year term in June 2004
• November 2004, first of the 25 EU members to
  ratify the EU constitution (highlighted the
  nations eagerness for all things European,
  including the euro)
• Former President and current Prime Minister
  Algirdas Brazauskas was picked by the current
  president to form a government in late 2004
  
• Since joining NATO, Lithuania has been the first
  Soviet republic to host the military alliance
  (home to at least 4 F-16 military alliance jet
  fighters used to police the Baltic skies)

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Hill of Crosses (1st stop)

• Thousands upon thousands of crosses on a hill
• Variety of crosses large and tiny expensive and
  cheap wood and metal finely folk carved out
  masterpieces memorials tagged w/flowers,
  photographs, and momentos
• Located in the village of Jurgaicai

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Siauliai

• 4th largest city in Lithuania (next to the Hill
  of Crosses)
  
• Main centre of the northwestern Samogitia region
• TV sets, Black Panther bicycles, milk, and beer
  are the mixed bag of manufactured products in
  this town
  
• Main pedestrian street, Vilniaus gatve, is due
  for reconstruction while the transformation of
  its Soviet military airfield into a tourist
  attraction an interesting future for this town

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Sights in Town Centre

• St. Peter and Pauls Cathedral constructed b/n
  1595 and1625 from proceeds of the sale of 4 year
  old bulls donated by local farmers. St. Georges
  Church built for local Russian garrison in 1909
  but is Catholic today
• Mammoth sundial distinctive city landmark.
  Topped by a bronze statue of an archer in what
  has become known as Sundial Square. Built in
  1986 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the
  Battle of Saule (local Samogitians defeated the
  Knights of the Sword and founded the town)
• Eccentric museum collection Radio TV Museum,
  Museum of Cats, Photography Museum, Bicycle
  Museum
  

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Radviliskis

• A grim and grimy town of only a population of
  21,000 people (22km SE of Siauliai)
  
• Only notable as the central hub of the rail
  network
  

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Seduva

• A 16th century architectural monument 10km east
  of Radviliskis
  
• Large village w/a yellow and white baroque church
  framed by cobbled streets and small tannery
  
• Main attraction is a restaurant inside a windmill
  called Devils Mill
  

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Kaunas City

• Reputation as a sprawling urban city and hotbed
  of post-Soviet mafia
  
• 2nd largest city in Lithuania (415,800)
• Thriving cultural and industrial centre with an
  interesting Old Town
  
• Legend has it that Kaunas was founded by the son
  of tragic young lovers they were sentenced to
  death by vengeful gods, thus they fled to a cave
  and gave birth to Kaunas
• In the 15th and 16th centuries, it became a
  successful river-trading town
  
• It has a sizable student population,
  architecture, and museums
  

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Sights in Kaunas

• Old town Vilniaus gatve the main part of Old
  Town. Its eastern end is dominated by the
  former Presidential Palace of Lithuania, where
  the country was run b/n 1920-1939. The palace
  holds a great exhibition on independent
  Lithuania
• Nearby is the Folk Music Instrument Museum
• St. Peter Pauls Cathedral a single tower
  thats been reconstructed, but its 15th century
  gothic shape windows remain
  
• Rotuses Aikste the central square where its a
  Palace of Weddings where the brides and grooms
  say I do on Saturdays

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Sights in Kaunas (conti.)

• Squares southern side is dominated by the
  twin-towered St. Francis Church, college and
  Jesuit monastery and the late-Renaissance Holy
  Trinity Church fills the western side
• Southeast corner is the House of Perkunas. Built
  in red brick in the 16th century as trade offices
  on the site of a former temple to Lithuanian
  thunder god, Perkunas.
• Beyond that on the bank of the Nemunas River is
  the gothic style Vytautas Church
  
• Kaunas Castle reconstructed tower around which
  the town originally grew. Founded in the 13th
  century, it was an important bastion of
  Lithuanias western borders
• New Town expanded east from Old Town in the 19th
  century giving birth to the modern centre and its
  striking 1.7km pedestrian street, Laisves ajeja,
  also known as Freedom Avenue.

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Vilnius

• History legend says that Vilnius was founded in
  1320s when Lithuanian grand duke Gedimanas
  dreamt of an iron wold that howled with the
  voices of 1000 wolves-sure sign to build a city
  as mighty as their cry. In fact, the site had
  already been settled for 1000 years.
• In the 16th century, one of Eastern Eupopes
  biggest cities. Three centuries later,
  industrialization arrived railways were laid and
  it became a key Jewish city.
• Germany occupied it during WWI.
• During WWII, german occupation continued where
  there was a huge death toll of Jewish people
  
• Postwar ushered in immigrants from Russia and
  Belarus
  
• Late 1980s, the capital became the focus of
  Lithuanias push for independence from USSR
  

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Vilnius (conti.)

• Orientation sits on the south bank of the Neris
  River. The heart is the cathedral-studded
  Katedros aikste with Gediminas Hill rising behind
  it. Southward lies the cobbled Old Town, which
  as Pilies gatve as the main pedestrian street.
  East along the river is Uzupis Republic

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Vilnius (conti.)

• Sights Gediminas Hill is a 48m high hill that
  Vilnius was founded upon. Part of it that was
  destroyed during the Russian occupation was
  restored to house the Upper Castle Musuem.
  Theres the Royal Palace, a quadrangle of 4 wings
  enclosing a vast courtyard measuring 10,000 sq.
  meteres, but was also destroyed by Russian
  occupation. It is currently being restored and
  will be completed by July 6, 2009 to mark the
  millennium anniversary of the first mention of
  Lithuania in writing.

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Vilnius (conti.)

• Vilnius Cathedral a national symbol that was
  originally used for the worship of the thunder
  god, Perkunas. Later the Soviets turned it into
  a picture gallery. In 1989, it was reconstructed
  and Mass has been celebrated daily ever since.
  Its been redone so many times that it is hard to
  recognize its original form. Most important
  restoration was completed in 1801, when the
  outside was redone in todays classical style.
  The statues on the south side facing the square
  are Lithuanian dukes on the north side are
  apostles and saints the interior retains more of
  its original aspects except for the entrances to
  the side chapels that were redone in the 18th
  century.

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Vilnius (conti.)

• Old Town Eastern Europes old town
• Area stretches 1.5km and was built in the 15th
  and 16th centuries
  
• Consists of narrow winding streets, hidden
  courtyards, and old churches
  
• Pilies Gatve the Cobbled Castle Street- the hub
  of tourist action and main entrance to the Old
  Town
  
• Vilnius University Eastern Europes oldest
  university, founded in 1579.
  
• Has 22,500 students and Lithuanias oldest
  library holding 5 million books

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Dangers Annoyances

• Street wise is very important
• Dont hop into a taxi directly from the
  streetask hotel/restaurant/bar that youre
  leaving to call one for you
  
• Resident beggars are notorious for hassling
  tourists on Pilies gatve
  
• Better to drink bottled water than the tap water
  there