Where is Lithuania located?
If you think that Lithuania is somewhere in South America, please reconsider. So where is it located? It is in the center of Europe. In 1989 using gravitational central methods, France’s national geographic institute determined the center of Europe is Lithuania. It’s only a few hours to fly from any European capital. It’s easy to ride a bus or train or even sail to Lithuania. Therefore, Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the epicenter of Europe.
By the Baltic Sea
We live by the Baltic Sea. Even though the sea can be cold or hot, Lithuanians could not imagine living without the Baltic Sea. These days, the sea is full of fishermen, sailboats and even cruise ships. Tourists who arrive on cruise ships have plenty to see: Europe’s largest moving dunes, UNESCO protected Kursiu national park, the incredibly beautiful fauna and flora.
Lithuanians love to relax by the seaside. They organize traditional sea festivals, sailing regattas, yacht races and musical festivals. Sometimes they like to just relax and feel the white, fine Baltic sand between their toes or find little chunks of amber reflecting on the passing of time.
Vilnius Our Capital
Of all the legends that mention our beloved capital, the favorite one tells the story of Lithuania’s Grand Duke Gediminas’ dream of the Iron Wolf that howled with a hundred voices, indicating that this was the spot to build a mighty city. Now days, no one can really say if the Duke’s dream really helped establish Vilnius, but we do know that the Grand Duke Gediminas brought many tradesmen, merchants, soldiers and priests to this location.
With the passing of time, very little has changed in the historical Vilnius sitting on the Vilnius riverbank. UNESCO has included Vilnius with its white churches and red tiled roof of the old town, as a heritage site.
Today our Capital is modern and contemporary but retaining its cozy and hospitable feel. There is a lot of culture and creativity. There are many interesting sculptures, concerts, and delicious restaurants to enjoy. There are canoe rides on the river, hot air balloons to ride, and wooded parks in the center of the city to leisurely walk through. There are hills to climb to star gaze and think about the legend of the iron wolf.
Global Lithuania
Throughout history many Lithuanians have been uprooted from their homes and dispersed all over the world. Some ran from war and landed in Germany, USA, Australia, Canada, and South America. Others were taken from their homes, put on Soviet trains in animal cars and taken to Siberia.
Today we freely travel all over the world. We are full of happiness and wonder. We are found in NASA laboratories, in world theaters, in musical venues, and in business skyscrapers. Calculations tell us there are 1.3 million Lithuanians living outside of our borders. Many of these people belong to Lithuanian communities that have existed for more than forty years. They nurture Lithuanian language and traditions. They participate in world sports as well as song and dance festivals. It doesn’t matter where you have landed in this world, your roots are here in Lithuania.