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LITHUANIA
von Donatas Saulenas (Europäischer
Freiwilliger in Tirol)
General information:
Territory: 65 303 km2
Capital: Vilnius
Biggest cities: Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Panevezys,
Siauliai, Alytus.
Neighbour countries: Latvia, Byelorussia, Russian Federation,
Poland.
Population: ~3,48 mln. (81,8 % Lithuanians, 8,1 % Russians,
6,9 % Polish, and 3.2 % of other descents)
Climate: average winter temperature - 4.9°C, average summer
temperature +17.0°C
State language: Lithuanian
Currency: Litas
Major religion: Roman Catholics
Lithuania has: 816 rivers longer than 10 km
2,834 lakes larger than 0.5 ha
Highest point: Juozapine Hill (293,6 m)
The largest river : Nemunas (937 km, 475 km in the territory
of Lithuania)
The largest lake: Druksiai (42,26 km2)
There are 4 cultural regions in Lithunia, having their unique
culture, language, food: Dzukija, Suvalkija, Aukstaitija, Zemaitija.
More information:
Lithuanian official site:
 http://www.lietuva.lt
Lithuanian State Department of tourismus:
http://www.tourismus.lt
The official Lithuanian travel guide:
http://www.travel.lt
VILNIUS
General information:
The capital of the Republic of Lithuania is VILNIUS. Naturally,
it is the largest city in the country: according to the data of 2001
the population of Vilnius is 542.287. Of them 57.8% are Lithuanians,
18.7% Poles, 14% Russians, 4% Byelorussians, 0.5% Jews and the
remaining 5% comprising some other nationalities.
Current area of Vilnius is 392 square kilometres. Buildings cover
20.2% of the city and the remaining area is prevailed with the
greenery (43.9%) and waters (2.1%). The County of Vilnius covers the
regions of Vilnius, Elektrenai, Šalcininkai, Širvintos,
Švencionys, Trakai, and Ukmerge totalling to 965,000 ha.
The Old Town, historical centre of Vilnius, is one of the largest in
Eastern Europe (360 ha). The most valuable historic and cultural
heritage is concentrated here. The buildings in the old town - there
are about 1.5 thousand of them - were built in a number of different
centuries, therefore, it is a mixture of all European architectural
styles. Although Vilnius is often called a baroque city, here you
will find some buildings of gothic, renaissance and other styles.
The main sights of the city are the Gediminas Castle and the
Cathedral Square, symbols of the capital. Their combination is also
a gateway to the historic centre of the capital. Because of its
uniqueness, the Old Town of Vilnius was inscribed on the UNESCO
World Heritage List.
Vilnius is also the largest administrative centre in Lithuania with
all major political, economic, social and cultural centres.
More information:
More about Vilnius, photos of the city, practical information:
http://www.vilnius.lt
Tourismus information about Vilnius(LT/EN/RUS):
http://www.turizmas.vilnius.lt
Accomodation:
Vilniaus jaunuju turistu centras / Young Tourists Centre. Polocko
g. 7. Tel.: +370 5 2613576
Fax: +370 5 2627742. E - mail: vjtc@delfi.lt. Price of one room: 24
Lt (apr. 7 euro)
Elektros tinklu statyba. Šv. Stepono g. 11. Tel.: +370 5
2160254. Fax: +370 5 2329079. Price of one room: 24 - 72 Lt (apr. 7-
21 euro)
More information on accomodation in
Vilnius:
http://www.turizmas.vilnius.lt/
Information on other biggest lithuanian cities:
http://www.kaunas.lt
http://www.klaipeda.lt
http://www.panevezys.lt
Varena
Short description:
Varena district is in the southern part of Lithuania, in sandy
Dainava plains, Dzuku highland and Eisiskes plateau. There are 160
lakes, many streams and rivers in Varena district. The bigger part
of Varena district is covered by forests. They occupy about 65,7
percent of area. The third part of the area of the Varena district
is covered by Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai State Reserve. The
biggest swamp complex of Lithuania and the woods surrounding it are
reserved in the Cepkeliai State Reserve. There are many cranberries
in Cepkeliai. There are 72 protected landscape objects and 12
landscape reserves in the Varena district.
Climate is more continental than in other parts of Lithuania. Max
temperature in January is - 40 0C, max temperature in July is +37
0C. There are early and late frosts here.
District borders on Belarus. There is a very explicated road net,
and there is a railway in Varena district.
Population. Presently there are 30 998 inhabitants in Varena
district. 20 243 live in villages, 10 755 - Varena town.
Varena`s region is popular for ist nature beauty, clean water (there
are a lot of sand, that is natural filter), honey, berries and
mushrooms. Mushrooms are picked from summer till late autumn. For
Varena district people picking mushrooms is hobby and aditional sort
of income - lots of people are involved in mushroom and berries
business. There is even a Mushroom fest held every autumn. Also lots
of people from all over Lithuania come to Varena district to pick
berries and mushrooms, take a breath of clean and fragrant forests
weather, take a swim in the lake or cold river.
Near Varena we have Grutas park - the museum of Soviet heritage in
Lithuania - it is one of the biggest attraction for lithuanian and
foreign guests.
More information:
http://www.grutoparkas.lt
Accomodation
There are no Youth Hostels in Varena region, but it is not
expensive to spend night in Hostels.
Hostels:
Varsta". V.Kreves g. 14, LT-65204 Varena. Tel. +370 310 5 12
07. 5 twoplace rooms, price of one room: 60-70 Lt(apr. 20 euro);
UAB "Ekoratas". Vasario 16-osios g. 5, LT-65188 Varena.
Tel. +370 310 5 11 4 4, +370 699 60444 , 3 twoplace rooms, price of
one room - 80 Lt (apr. 30 euro).
Village tourism farmsteads:
Prices starts from 50 Lt (apr. 14 euro)
" Evaldas Kakarieka, Liskiava village, Merkine area, ph. +370
310 4 42 09,
" Sergejus Lavrenovas, Margionys village, Marcinkonys area, ph.
+370 310 4 46 40,
" Arturas Svernelis, Zervynos village, Marcinkonys area, ph.
+370 310 5 27 20,
" Pranas Susmara, Milioniskes village, Merkines area, ph. +370
310 4 76 10,
" Nijole Cepiene, Mardasavas village, Merkine area, ph. +370
310 5 75 50,
" Ruta Siauciuliene, Puvociu village, Marcinkonys area, ph.
+370 686 71 883,
" Ruta ir Saulius Sakalai, Marcinkonys village, Varena district.,
ph.: +370 6 87 4 6614, e-mail: marcinkonys@centras.lt, website:
http://marcinkonys.infoseka.lt ,
" Valentina Uckuraniene, Burokaraistis village, Merkine area,
ph. +370 310 3 92 63,
" Ausra Blediene, Lavysas village, Marcinkonys area, ph. +370
612 55435,
" Angele Raulusaitiene, Trakiskiai village, Marcinkonys area,
ph. +370 687 91053 (tourist camp),
" Lina and Egidijus Cerniauskai, Kapiniskiai village,
Marcinkonys area, ph. +370 310 4 46 29,
" Algirdas Rimkus, Aukðtakalnis village, Jakenai area, ph.
+370 310 4 67 78,
More information about Varena district -
accomodation, leasure time etc.:
http://www.varena.lt
More information about tourism farmsteads in Varena district and all
over Lithuania:
http://www.countryside.lt
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