History
The state of Lithuania was founded in the beginning of XIII century, when great duke Mindaugas united different Baltic tribes living in the territory of recent Lithuania. Mindaugas has been crowned as Lithuania’s king in 1253 and is the only king of the country ever. As the time passed, the country faced various wars, participated in different unions and was occupied by Russia. On 16th February, 1918 the Lithuanian Council unanimously passed the resolution for the re-establishment of the Independent State of Lithuania. But the Second World War again made its changes in the world’s political map and Lithuania appeared under occupancy of the Soviet Union. The second time independence has been declared on the 11th March, 1990. Since that time Lithuania is identified as sovereign country by world countries
Geography
Lithuania is the southernmost country of three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). Country is located in the Northeastern part of Europe, on the east coast of Baltic Sea, and is in the very geographical centre of Europe.
Lithuania has borders with five neighbouring countries. In north there is a 588 km long borderline with Latvia, in east and south - 660 km borderline with Belarus. In southwest Lithuania borders with Poland (length of the borderline - 103 km) and Russian Federation (273 km)
Area 65 302 km2
Regions Aukstaitija, Zemaitija, Dzukija, Suvalkija
Population 3.4 millions
Time zone G+2
Length of Baltic coastline 90.60 km
Highest point 294 metres, Juozapines hill, Vilnius district
Largest lake Druksciai, area 44,8 km2
Longest river Nemunas, 937 km (in Lithuania’s territory – 475 km)
Biggest cities: Vilnius (555 ths.inhabitants), Kaunas (379 ths.), Klaipeda
Cities
Vilnius city is the capital of Lithuania. There lives 555 ths. inhabitants, or 16% of total population. Vilnius city was firstly mentioned in the written sources in 1323. The city stands on the rivers Neris and Vilnia. The most famous city‘s monument is Great Duke Gediminas Castle, which stands on Gediminas Hill. The myth tells, that Great Duke Gediminas saw in his dream an iron wulf standing and roaring on this hill. He asked a powwow to explain his dream. The man cleared out that the iron wulf means that the castle on that hill has to be built and wulf‘s roaring means that the sound about the country will be heard far away of its territory and it will be known by all the world. This was done and more or less the powwow‘s words came true in 15th century when Lithuania‘s territory was expanded till Black Sea.
Bigger cities:
Vilnius - Kaunas - Klaipeda (port)-Siauliai - Alytus Panevezys
Port
Lithuania has the only port in the third largest city Klaipeda. From the old times the city was lived by germans and the roots of the city are dated in the year 1252, when German Livonian ordin built Memelburg castle here. Klaipedas port is the most north ice-free port on the eastern Baltic sea coast. Being the link between East and West, the port takes in around 7 ths. ships from more than 45 countries annually (read more).
Climate
From the point of view of climatic variety Lithuania is described as being located in the northern part of the climatic zone of middle latitudes. According to classification of climate Lithuania belongs to the southwestern sub-zone of the Atlantic continental forest zone. Only the climatic region of the Baltic seashore is closer to the climate of Western Europe and can be classed to a separate sub-zone of the South Baltic climate.
Summer: June-AugustWinter: December-February
The average annual air temperature in Lithuania is +6.2° C, in summer it is around +17° C, but in winter - 4.9° C. Regarding the precipitation amount, country is in its excess zone. On average the annual precipitation amount is 661 mm.
Nature and landscape
The contemporary landscape of Lithuania has been determined by the last glacial periods, though not even them could hide the traces of geological derivatives that had appeared millions of years ago. Deep land is the richest in granites, though we could find gneiss and marble in East Lithuania, and crystalline slates - in West Lithuania.
According to the data of the state record of forests of 1 st January, 2004, forested lands in Lithuania cover the area of 2,069.1 thousand ha. Forest coverage of the country is 31.7%. The largest forest tracts are found in the South and Southern-east part of Lithuania. Pine trees and spruce are the dominant species in Lithuania’s forests, totalling to 36% and 23% of total forest area respectively.
The land fund of Lithuania totals 6,530 thousand ha, and more than a half of it is suitable for agriculture. Agricultural landed property cover 52% of all the area of the country's land.
Hunting economy in Lithuania is managed following the Law on hunting of the Republic of Lithuania No. IX-901 passed on May 23, 2002. The list of game breeds, hunting terms, methods, and safety requirements in hunting are indicated in the instructions of the „Shootings in the Territory of the Republic of Lithuania“. Hunting grounds are comprised of private and state lands. Hunters who belong to clubs, circles, or as private persons can hunt there
Language
Official language: Lithuanian. The Lithuanian language is a Baltic language, which belongs to the Indo-European family of languages. The Lithuanian language is considered one of the oldest of the Indo-European (European) languages. It is a non-slavic and a non-germanic language, similar only to Latvian. Most common foreign languages: English, Russian, and German.
State system
The State of Lithuania is an independent and democratic republic. The powers of the State are exercised by the legislative arm Seimas, the executive body Government and President of the Republic, and the Judiciary (read more).
Seimas
The Seimas consists of 141 Seimas members, representatives of the People, elected directly or by secret ballot for a four-year term. Any citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who is 25 years of age or over can be elected a Seimas member. Electoral system: proportional representation.
Government
The Government consists of the Prime Minister and ministers. There are 13 ministries. The ministers are responsible to the Seimas, the President, and directly subordinate to the Prime Minister. When more than half of the ministers are changed, the Government must be re-invested with authority by the Seimas, otherwise, the Government must resign.
President
The President is the head of State. Any person who is a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania by birth and who has reached the age of 40 may be elected President of the Republic. President is only elected by the citizens of the country by secret ballot for a term of five years. The same person may not be elected President for more than two consecutive terms.
Valdas Adamkus born on 3rd November, 1926 in Kaunas. At the beginning of World War II, he took part in the resistance struggle against the Soviet occupation. He withdrew to Germany, finished there a Lithuanian high school, and then studied natural sciences at Munich University. In 1949 he moved to the USA. In 1960, he graduated from Illinois University having acquired a speciality of construction engineer. Valdas Adamkus has been elected as president in 1998 for five years term. In 2003 the new President Rolandas Paksas came to force, but in 2004, when Seimas dismissed Rolandas Paksas from the President‘s duties, Lithuania‘s citizens vote for President Valdas Adamkus for the second time. His cadency ends in 2009.
Memberships
Lithuania is a member of European Union, NATO, United Nations Organisation, Council of Europe, World Trade Organisation, as well has international agreements with World Bank, OECD, Western Europe Union, NEFCO and other.
Strategic goals
Since May 2004 Lithuania is a full member of European Union, what was the goal of country‘s governments for last decade. The recent targets of Lithuania‘s authorities are associated with the smooth integration into European alliance and sustainance of gains of membership in the long future
Economy
The end of the second millenium might be characterized as fast recovery and modernization of Lithuania economy industries after the Split of Soviet Union. The market principles were established, industries were liberalized and restructured, investments flew to different sectors resulting in modernization of technologies and increased productivity. The well managed economy, business liberalization and new markets penetration led Lithuania to be one of the fastest growing economies in European Union.The most perspective sectors are information technologies, textiles, food processing, chemical and pharmaceutical, electronics industries as well as different services’ sectors.The recent purpose of Lithuanian economical policy is a steady macro-economical setting - a low level of unemployment, well-established prices, and fast growth of economy, as states Long-term (up to 2015) Development Strategy of Lithuanian Economy.
Currency
Lithuanian national currency is litas (LTL) and it consists of 100 cents.The national currency was managed with the model of currency board and previously (till 2002) it was fixed to US dollar. But the changing patterns of international trade forced Lithuanian authorities to react properly and starting from February 2002 litas was pegged at the stable rate to euro – 3.4528 LTL per 1 euro.
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