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Welcome to Lithuania
Did you know that Lithuania lies in the geographical center
of Europe? That's according to geographers, who in 1989
calculated that Europe's center lies 15 miles (25 km) north
of Vilnius, Lithuania's capital.
Lithuania led the Baltic push for independence and with
the collapse of the USSR, it became fully independent in
1991. Today the country is thriving and with its entrance
into the European Union in 2004 has set the course firmly
toward Europe.
Located south of Latvia, Lithuania is in many ways the most
vibrant and individualistic of the Baltic trio. Even though
a small city, Vilnius has a lively, international flair
with an eccentric artist community, a beautiful UNESCO World
Heritage baroque old town, a skyline of church spires, narrow
cobbled streets and a magnificent array of Central European
architectural styles.
The country's most fascinating geographical feature is the
Curonian Spit (Neringa) - Europe's highest sand dunes. This
2.5-mile (4 km) wide and 197-foot (60 m) high sand bar that
stretches 60 miles (98 km) north from near Kaliningrad.
It is composed mainly of sand and pine forests, where you
can hire jet skis, paddleboats, go ice fishing (only in
winter) or try some freshly smoked fish.
Go cross-country skiing or canoeing in the Aukstaitija National
Park, fishing on the Baltic Sea, or even skydiving, which
can be arranged in Vilnius. Lithuania is mostly flat, so
get a bike and explore the countryside the quiet, laid-back
way. Bird-watchers gather around Lake Zuvintas, a breeding
ground for water birds, where you can observe many different
species.
Palanga is a popular seaside resort featuring a nice sandy
beach, which is backed by sand dunes and pinewoods. And
if you want to forget about the world and just relax, Druskininkai
is the place to go. This resort is famous for its mineral
springs, which are known to have curative powers. |
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