LITHUANIALITHUANIA

The The Republic of Republic of Lithuania Lithuania is the is the country in country in Central Central Europe,Europe, by the by the Baltic Baltic SeaSea.. Lithuania Lithuania bborderorders withs with Latvia, Belarus, Latvia, Belarus, PolandPoland and and Russia. Russia.

LithuaniaLithuania

Area - 65.2 thousandArea - 65.2 thousand km ² km ² Population - 3,555,179Population - 3,555,179 Capital – Vilnius. Capital – Vilnius. Language - Lithuanian Language - Lithuanian - - 82%, 82%,

8% 8% -- Russian, 5.6% Russian, 5.6% - - Polish, Polish, 4.44.4% - other languages% - other languages. .

The The LLargest argest CCitiesities of of Lithuania Lithuania

Vilnius, Vilnius,

Kaunas, Kaunas,

Klaipėda,Klaipėda,

Šiauliai. Šiauliai.

The PThe Presidentresident of of Lithuania – Lithuania – Dalia GrybauskaitėDalia Grybauskaitė

Our country is Our country is democratic democratic country with the country with the president and president and parlament. Our parlament. Our president Ms president Ms Dalia Dalia Grybauskaite is Grybauskaite is the first woman the first woman to have this post to have this post in all history of in all history of Lithuania.Lithuania.

Lithuania became the Lithuania became the member of NATO on the member of NATO on the 2929thth of March, of March,20042004

We started the We started the membership in EU on the membership in EU on the 11stst of May, 2004 of May, 2004

These two facts are very These two facts are very important for our countryimportant for our country

TThe first written recordhe first written record of the of the name of our name of our country was in 1009country was in 1009. Lithuanians . Lithuanians were were later later conquered conquered by the by the neighboring landsneighboring lands..

TThe Kingdom of Lithuania he Kingdom of Lithuania was was establishestablisheded in the 13th century. The Grand Duchy of in the 13th century. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania remained independent Lithuania remained independent and and dominating country in Europe. It dominating country in Europe. It was was alsoalso one of the last Europeone of the last Europeanan countriescountries to adopt to adopt Christianity. Christianity.

In the 15th century Lithuania became the In the 15th century Lithuania became the largest state in Europe, merging largest state in Europe, merging with with Poland and formingPoland and forming Polish-Lithuanian Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthCommonwealth..

In 1795, however, Lithuania was erased In 1795, however, Lithuania was erased from the political map from the political map afterafter the Partition the Partition withwith Poland. Poland.

LithuaniaLithuania was included by force into the was included by force into the Soviet Union after the World War II and Soviet Union after the World War II and regained the independence only in 1991.regained the independence only in 1991.

Here you can see some historical facts. As you can see Here you can see some historical facts. As you can see we celebrated one thousand years anniversary we celebrated one thousand years anniversary when Lithuania was first mentioned. Just take a when Lithuania was first mentioned. Just take a

look at some more events.look at some more events.

Vilnius is the Vilnius is the largest city of largest city of Lithuania. Vilnius Lithuania. Vilnius population population is is aboutabout 530 530 000 000. It . It is the political, is the political, economical, economical, scientific and scientific and culturculturalal centre centre of of the countrythe country..

You can see Vilnius – our capital city. You can see Vilnius – our capital city. It is very beautiful you should visit it It is very beautiful you should visit it one day.one day.

As our country is on the As our country is on the crossroads of the East and crossroads of the East and the West, in the course of the West, in the course of history, we suffered history, we suffered invasions of different armies invasions of different armies such as Polish, Russian and such as Polish, Russian and German.German.

Our Way to IndependenceOur Way to Independence

The Baltic Way - 650 The Baltic Way - 650 km long human chain km long human chain (people holding each (people holding each others’ hands through others’ hands through three neighbouring three neighbouring countries – Lithuania, countries – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia)Latvia and Estonia) August 23August 23,,19891989.. Our Our way to independence way to independence was very difficult and was very difficult and unusual because we unusual because we fought without any fought without any weaponsweapons.. This act This act symbolised friendship symbolised friendship among countries and among countries and the wish to be free the wish to be free from the Soviet Union.from the Soviet Union.

Some photos from this time. In 1991 people stood in Some photos from this time. In 1991 people stood in front of Russian tanks without guns. We are happy to be front of Russian tanks without guns. We are happy to be independent now and be here with you, travel where we independent now and be here with you, travel where we

wantwant and and talk what we wish.talk what we wish.

We want to present you the beauty We want to present you the beauty of our country nature. of our country nature.

We don‘t have mountains but we are proud We don‘t have mountains but we are proud of our hills, plains and watersof our hills, plains and waters.. Lithuania Lithuania hashas about about 30003000 rivers and lakes. The largest rivers and lakes. The largest river river isis the Nemunas the Nemunas..

You can see our seaside, the You can see our seaside, the dunes and dunes and thethe beach. beach.

Lithuania is well known for its amber. Lithuania is well known for its amber. We make a lot of nice jewellery from We make a lot of nice jewellery from

it.it.

Here are some of historical sites. Grand Here are some of historical sites. Grand Duke Gediminas founded Vilnius Duke Gediminas founded Vilnius in thein the1313thth

centurycentury

Trakai castleTrakai castle Trakai Island Castle Trakai Island Castle

waswas built in the built in the second half of the second half of the 14th century14th century by the by the other Grand Duke other Grand Duke Kęstutis. The Kęstutis. The construction of Trakai construction of Trakai Island Castle was Island Castle was related to the related to the expansion and expansion and strengthening of the strengthening of the Trakai Peninsula Trakai Peninsula Castle. Kęstutis Castle. Kęstutis moved his main moved his main residence and his residence and his treasury to the Island treasury to the Island Castle. Castle.

The Hill of CrossesThe Hill of Crosses

This is a unique This is a unique hill with hill with thousands of thousands of crosses not only crosses not only from Lithuania from Lithuania but also from but also from other countries other countries of the world.of the world.

Unesco Unesco HeritageHeritage There are some There are some

objects included in objects included in the the list of UNESCO list of UNESCO heritage. (Vilnius old heritage. (Vilnius old town,dunes, Kernavė town,dunes, Kernavė prehistoric hills. prehistoric hills.

Basketball - the Second Religion of Basketball - the Second Religion of LithuaniaLithuania