Lithuania

Official name: Lithuanian Republic Political system: Presidental Republic Geographical location: in the Notrth-Eastern Europe Area: 65,2 thousand sq. km Population: 3,7 million people (2001), Lithuanian - 81,3%, Russian - 8,4%, Polish - 7% Capital: Vilnius - 600 thousand people (2001) Major cities: Kaunas - 381,3 thousand people, Klaipeda - 194,4 thousand people (2001) Main languages: Lithuanian (official), Russian, Polish Religions: Catholics, Orthodox, Jews Climate: transitional from sea to continental Average temperature: -5C in January, +17C in July Monetary unit: lit Local time: GMT+2 National holidays: February, 16th - the Statehood Reestablishment Day (1918); March, 11th - the Independence Reestablishment Day (1990) Major tourist sights: Juvintas preserve, national park on Kurisches spit, Palanga sea resort; in Vilnius: Upper Castle (14-15 centuries), Old Town, Bernardins Monastery (16 century), Cathedral (18 century), Town Hall (18 century), Centre of Europe Park; in Kaunas: Castle ruins (14 century), St. Vitautas's Church (15 century), Devils Museum, Mikalojus Chiurlionis Arts Museum; Gothic Castle (14-15 centuries) in Trakay, Amber Museum in Palanga, Tomas Mann Cottage Museum in Nida