Rasa ButrimienėAnglų k. mokytoja

Kauno “Varpo” gimnazijaVarpo g. 49, 3031 Kaunas

Tel. 8-37-380448LithuaniLithuaniaa

Major factsMajor facts

• Official name: Republic Official name: Republic of Lithuaniaof Lithuania

• Official language: Official language: LithuanianLithuanian

• Area: 65,200 square Area: 65,200 square kilometreskilometres

• Population: 3,700,000Population: 3,700,000• Religion: Roman Religion: Roman

CCatholic mostlyatholic mostly• Major cities: VilniusMajor cities: Vilnius-the -the

capital citycapital city, Kaunas, , Kaunas, KlaipKlaipeedada

• Unit of currency: LitasUnit of currency: Litas,, coconsistingnsisting of 100 of 100 centascentas

• Neighbours: Latvia, Neighbours: Latvia, Belarus, Poland, Belarus, Poland, Kaliningrad Province Kaliningrad Province (Part of Russia)(Part of Russia)

• Climate: variable Climate: variable conditions, marine conditions, marine influences, hot or influences, hot or cooler summers, mild cooler summers, mild or freezing winters, or freezing winters, rainy autumnsrainy autumns

HistoryHistory

Lithuania was first Lithuania was first mentioned in mentioned in historical records historical records at the beginning of at the beginning of the 11th century.the 11th century.

Major factsMajor facts

• Official name: Republic Official name: Republic of Lithuaniaof Lithuania

• Official language: Official language: LithuanianLithuanian

• Area: 65,200 square Area: 65,200 square kilometreskilometres

• Population: 3,700,000Population: 3,700,000• Religion: Roman Religion: Roman

CCatholic mostlyatholic mostly• Major cities: VilniusMajor cities: Vilnius-the -the

capital citycapital city, Kaunas, , Kaunas, KlaipKlaipeedada

• Unit of currency: LitasUnit of currency: Litas,, coconsistingnsisting of 100 of 100 centascentas

• Neighbours: Latvia, Neighbours: Latvia, Belarus, Poland, Belarus, Poland, Kaliningrad Province Kaliningrad Province (Part of Russia)(Part of Russia)

• Climate: variable Climate: variable conditions, marine conditions, marine influences, hot or influences, hot or cooler summers, mild cooler summers, mild or freezing winters, or freezing winters, rainy autumnsrainy autumns

Vilnius – the capital cityVilnius – the capital city

• the largest city in Lithuania the largest city in Lithuania

• Was first mentioned in 1323Was first mentioned in 1323

• found by the only king of Lithuania – found by the only king of Lithuania – Mindaugas.Mindaugas.

VilniusVilnius

• The The population of population of 600,000 600,000 inhabitants. inhabitants.

• The Gediminas The Gediminas CastleCastle and the and the Cathedral are Cathedral are itsits major symbols.major symbols.

VilniusVilnius

• TheThe capital city capital city with a population with a population of 600,000 of 600,000 inhabitants. inhabitants.

• The Gediminas The Gediminas CastleCastle and the and the Cathedral are Cathedral are itsits major symbols.major symbols.

KAUNASKAUNAS

• the second largest city in Lithuaniathe second largest city in Lithuania

• a former temporary capital of a former temporary capital of LithuaniaLithuania

• first mentioned in 1361first mentioned in 1361

• Has Has the only zoo in whole Lithuaniathe only zoo in whole Lithuania

Kaunas castleKaunas castle

Kaunas Kaunas Our Our NNative ative TTownown

• Population: Population: 400,000 400,000 inhabitants.inhabitants.

• TThe second largest he second largest cultural, economical cultural, economical and political centre and political centre in Lithuaniain Lithuania

• FFirst mentioned in irst mentioned in historical sources in historical sources in 13611361

KaunasKaunas In In the the oldold town town of of

Kaunas oneKaunas one can can see see perfectperfect Gothic Gothic and Baroque and Baroque examples.examples.

Kaunas CathedralKaunas Cathedral

Kaunas Town HallKaunas Town Hall

KlaipėdaKlaipėda• Klaipėda is Klaipėda is

Lithuania’s Lithuania’s gateway to the gateway to the sea.sea.

PalangaPalanga

• FFavourite summer avourite summer seaside resortseaside resort

• Sandy beach, Sandy beach, dunes, large dunes, large botanical gardenbotanical garden

Curonian SpitCuronian Spit The Curonian spit is so unique that it is worth seeing especially if The Curonian spit is so unique that it is worth seeing especially if

youyou want to give your soul a wonderful sight.want to give your soul a wonderful sight. (V.Humboldt) (V.Humboldt)

• It is 98 km long dry land strip between the It is 98 km long dry land strip between the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon formed by sea Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon formed by sea wawavves and wind more than 5000 years agoes and wind more than 5000 years ago

• In 2000 it was included into UNESCO World In 2000 it was included into UNESCO World Heritage Heritage SiteSite

The Museum of Amber The Museum of Amber in Palanga in Palanga

It It holds the largest holds the largest collection of rare collection of rare pieces of amber in the pieces of amber in the worldworld

ŠiauliaiŠiauliai• TThe Hill of he Hill of

Crosses in Šiauliai Crosses in Šiauliai serves as a serves as a monument to monument to Lithuanians’ Lithuanians’ attachment to attachment to their religiontheir religion

• In 1993 Pope John In 1993 Pope John Paul II visited this Paul II visited this famous placefamous place

TrakaiTrakai

• Trakai is a town on Trakai is a town on water water

• Trakai Castle is theTrakai Castle is the only castle only castle on on water water in Eastern in Eastern Europe.Europe.

LithuaniaLithuania’’s s SSportport

• Basketball in Basketball in Lithuania is as a Lithuania is as a 2nd religion. 2nd religion.

• Arvydas Sabonis-Arvydas Sabonis-the most famous the most famous basketball playerbasketball player

Folk artFolk art

• FFabrics, ceramic, abrics, ceramic, wood carvings, wood carvings, metalwork, metalwork, colourfulcolourful Easter Easter eggs – “marguciai” eggs – “marguciai”

• Folk music traditionFolk music tradition

Traditional Lithuanian foodTraditional Lithuanian food• Cepelinai Cepelinai – meat – meat cooked cooked

inside a inside a ball of ball of potato potato dough, served with a dough, served with a special saucespecial sauce

• ŠaltibarščiaiŠaltibarščiai – – cold soup cold soup prepared of beetroot, prepared of beetroot, cucumber and sour cucumber and sour creamcream