Lithuania: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Lithuania

Lithuania is the southernmost of the three Baltic states, on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. It is mostly low and green, with forests, thousands of lakes and sandy dunes along the coast. It is known for basketball, amber and its historic capital.

About Vilnius

Vilnius sits where the Vilnia and Neris rivers meet in southeastern Lithuania. Its Old Town, full of Baroque churches, is one of the largest and best-preserved in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fun facts about Lithuania

1. The Curonian Spit, shared with Russia, has some of the highest drifting sand dunes in Europe and is UNESCO-listed.
2. In 1989, French scientists calculated that the geographical centre of Europe lies about 26 kilometres north of Vilnius.
3. Some linguists consider Lithuanian the most old-fashioned living Indo-European language, sharing features with ancient Sanskrit.
4. Lithuania has about 2,800 lakes larger than one hectare, plus many smaller ponds.
5. Aukštojas Hill, the highest point in Lithuania, is only about 294 metres tall.
6. Basketball is the most popular sport in Lithuania, and its national team has won several European championships.