About Lithuania

Background

For mush of the twentieth century Lithuania helped to make up the Baltic Republics of the USSR. However, in 1990-91peaceful demonstrations reached a climax bringing Lithuania’s plight to the forefront of European affairs, and subsequently enabling Lithuania to re-establish its independence.  In May 2004, Lithuania will become a Member State in the European Union.

Lithuania’s complex past has resulted in the development of a rich culture and heritage with a diversity of dialects, traditions, arts and cuisine.  The total population stands at around 3.6 million, of which most have settled within the countries major cities: Vilnius (capital), Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys.

Lithuania has an area of 65 000 km². It is bordered to the north by Latvia, east by Belarus and to the southwest by Poland and Russia (Kaliningrad District).  The Baltic Sea forms the western boundary.  Half of the 99km stretch of coast overlooks the Curonian Spit, which can be accessed via Klaipėda.  The Curonian Lagoon and Spit together make up one of the most amazing parts of Lithuania’s landscape.  The country is separated into four enthnographic regions: Aukštaitija (the Highlands), Žemaitija (the Lowlands), Dzūkija and Suvalkija.

Lithuania has a temperate climate that averages +23˚C in the summer and -4˚C in the winter. Temperatures can get as low as -30˚C during winter months.

Lithuania’s Countryside

Lithuania lacks any real ‘highlands’, its highest hill reaching 293 metres above sea level.  There are over 4000 lakes within the country, with the largest (Drūkšiai) covering 4,200 hectares. Thirty percent of the country’s land area is described as forest, most of which is composed of dry coniferous forests.  Coniferous forests tend to be concentrated in the southern and eastern areas of the country and deciduous forests in more central and lowland areas.  Deciduous forests are mainly composed of oak, ash, black alder, aspen and birch.

Land reclamation in the past two decades has had subsequent detrimental effects on the wetland systems of the countryside.  Many areas have been safeguarded through designations, but actual levels of protection vary with status.

Lithuania’s Birds

In total Lithuania has 345 recorded species of birds, with 220 being known breeders. Seven of these species are globally threatened: Ferruginous Duck, Steller’s Eider, White-tailed Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Corncrake, and Aquatic Warbler.  In addition to these species, Lithuania boasts a large Corncrake population, flocks of migratory crane, nesting White Storks and Black Storks, Lesser-spotted Eagles and White-tailed Eagle, Hazel Grouse, Black grouse and all woodpecker species.  Interesting passerine species include the Icterine Warbler, Thrush Nightingale, Marsh Warbler, River Warbler, European Serin, Wood Lark, Penduline Tit, Common Rosefinch, Gold Oriole and Nutcracker.

In March the first of the years migrants arrive, with numbers peaking between the 1^th and 20^th April with hundreds of thousands of shorebirds, waterfowl and passerines flooding into the country.  The coast is an ideal spot to watch this spectacle from, and is where much of the country’s bird ringing happens. Some years as many as 100 000 birds can be ringed each year. These summer migrants begin to leave the country in August and September, with huge flocks leaving throughout the night and day.  The last of the migrants tend to leave in November, including Blackbirds, Redwing, Blackcaps and finches.  Each year the odd rarity finds its way into the country. This has included the Richard's Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler, Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Pallas' Leaf Warbler.