Lithuania

Area: 65,300 sq km (25,212 sq miles).

Population: 3,462,553 (official estimate 2003).

Population Density: 53 per sq km.

Capital: Vilnius. Population: 553,373 (official estimate 2002).

GEOGRAPHY: Lithuania is situated on the eastern Baltic coast and borders Latvia in the north, the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation and Poland in the southwest, and Belarus in the southwest and east. The geometrical centre of Europe lies in eastern Lithuania near the village of Bernotai, 25km (16 miles) north of Vilnius. The landscape alternates between lowland plains and hilly uplands and has a dense, intricate network of rivers, including the Nemunas and the Neris. 1.5 per cent of the country’s territory is made up of lakes, of which there are over 2800. The majority of these lie in the east of the country and include Lake Druksiai and Lake Tauragnas.

Government: Republic. Gained independence from Russia/Germany 1918-1940, and then from the Soviet Union in 1990. Head of State: President Valdas Adamkus since 2004. Head of Government: Prime Minister Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas since 2001.

Language: Lithuanian is the official language. Lithuania has a large number of dialects for such a small territory, including High Lithuanian (Aukstaiciai) and Low Lithuanian (Zemaiciai).

Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic with Evangelical Lutheran, Evangelical Reformist, Russian Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim and Jewish minorities.

Time: GMT + 2 (daylight saving time GMT + 3 from 29 Mar to 26 Sep).

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are in use.

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 370. City codes: 2 for Vilnius, 7 for Kaunas, 6 for Klaipeda. Outgoing international code: 810. There are two kinds of payphone: rectangular telephones which take magnetic strip cards and rounded telephones which take chip cards. Phonecards are sold at kiosks and post offices. Plans are underway to introduce one type of phonecard, compatible with both phones.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 and 1800 networks in use. Network operators include Bite (website: www.bite.lt), Omnitel (website: www.omnitel.lt) and Tele2 (website: www.tele2.lt). Coverage extends all over the country. Roaming agreements are in operation.

Fax: Services in Vilnius are available in large hotels, at the Central Post Office, Gedimino 7, and at Faxsav and at a few other fax bureaux.

Internet: Public access is available at the Lithuanian National Library and increasingly at Internet centres and cafes in main cities and towns. ISPs include Aiva (website: www.aiva.lt) and Omnitel (website: www.omnitel.net).

Telegram: There are telegram facilities in main post offices in each town.

Post: Post to Western Europe takes up to six days. There is a variety of private companies offering express mail services.

Press: Newspapers are published in Lithuanian and some in Russian or Polish. The major dailies are Kauno Diena, Lietuvos Rytas, Respublika and Vakaro Zinios, plus the twice-weekly Valstieciu Laikrastis.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.