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AREA and LOCATION
Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika) is a Northern European country, one of the three Baltic states (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia). It is located along the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea and borders with Latvia, Belarus, Poland and the Russian exclave Kaliningrad. To the west, across the Baltic Sea, is Sweden and Denmark. Lithuania extends over an area of 65,200 square metres.
Since 2004, it is a member of EU
BORDERING COUNTRIES
Belarus (680 km), Latvia (576 km), Poland (91 km), Russia (Kaliningrad 227 km)
THE CAPITAL CITY and MAJOR CITIES
Vilnius is the country’s capital as well as the largest city with approximately 537,152 (in 2013) inhabitants. Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture in 2009 (together with Linz). Other large cities include Kaunas (352,279 inhabitants), Klaipéda (183,433 inhabitants, the city is famous for its summer festivals), Šiauliai (126,215 inhabitants) and Panevéžys (112,619 inhabitants).
CLIMATE
Lithuania has a mild climate with maritime and continental influences. Average coastal temperatures are -2.5 C in January and 16 °C in July. In the capital, Vilnius, the average temperatures are -6 °C in January and 16 °C in July.
AREA CODE
+370
CURRENCY
Since 2015, EUR
DISTANCES
Vilnius is situated 169 km from Minsk, 393 km from Warsaw,
259 km from Riga and 613 km from Helsinki.
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
General emergency line 112
Police 02
Ambulance 03
Fire Service 01
Toll-free telephone numbers in Estonia begin with 800
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
Vilnius International Airport
http://www.vilnius-airport.lt/en/
Šiauliai International Airport
http://www.siauliai-airport.com/
Palanga International Airport
http://www.palanga-airport.lt/en/
LANGUAGE
The official language is Lithuanian – there are about 2.96 Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and 170 000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language (related to Latvian, albeit not mutually intelligible).
MOBILE OPERATORS
Bite http://www.bite.lt
Omnitel http://www.omnitel.lt
Tele2 http://www.tele2.lt/?1147873621
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (2010)
1 Jan New Year’s Day, 16 Feb Restoration of the State Day (1918), 11 Mar Restoration of Independence Day (1990), 2 Apr – 5 Apr Easter, 1 May International Labour Day, 2 May Mothers’ Day, 24 Jun Jonines (St John’s Day/Midsummer’s Day), 6 Jul Anniversary of the Coronation of King Mindaugas, 15 Aug Assumption Day, 1 Nov All Saints’ Day, 25 Dec Christmas Day, 26 Dec Boxing Day.
POLITICAL SYSTEM
Semi-presidential republic, since May 1, 2004 – part of the European Union, independence from Russia 11 March 1990
POPULATION
2,870,966 (2016)
POWER NETWORK
230 V/50 Hz, Two round pins plug
PRESIDENT
Gitanas Nauseda
RAIL TRANSPORT
Lithuanian Railways
http://www.litrail.lt/wps/portal
ROAD TRANSPORT
BUS:
TOKS
Eurolines
RENT A CAR:
Sixt
http://www.sixt.com/car-rental/lithuania/
SMOKING
As of January 2007, smoking has been banned in restaurants, bars, places where food is served, clubs (except for special cigar and pipe clubs), and nightclubs. Smoking on public transportation is prohibited except on long-distance trains with designated facilities.
TAXIS
It is considerably cheaper to order a taxi by phone than hailing one in the street (especially at bus and railway stations and airports). As of spring 2009, taxi prices in Vilnius have dropped.
Kartikas – phone 2771111
http://www.infotaxi.org/lithuania_taxi/vilnius_taxi/kartikas.htm
Ekipijas taxi – phone 1446
TIME
Standard time zone: Easter European Time (EET), UTC/GMT + 2 hours, Summer (DST) – EEST (UTC + 3)
