Global - Technology - Review

Once Europe’s largest country, today Lithuania has shrunk to a small but proudly independent country between Latvia and Poland on the Baltic. Much of the short coastline is sheltered by the hundred kilometre Curonian sand peninsula, half of which lies in Lithuania. The countryside is mostly low lying and consists largely of lakes, wetlands and forest, home to the endangered brown bear. Since independence much of the capital, Vilnius, has been renovated. The Old Town is a World Heritage site, while the Castle complex houses the former Royal Palace and National Museum. Perhaps the most impressive of the country’s many medieval castles is Trakai Island Castle in Lake Galve. The national cuisine has much in common with Poland’s, popular dishes including dumplings, doughnuts and crepes, stuffed potato, rye bread and beet soup. There is a strong tradition of folk tales and legends dating from the pre-Christian era. Near Vilnius is the point which was recently determined to be the Geographical Centre of Europe, now marked by a monument. Formerly the region was the centre of production of amber artefacts, many of which can be seen at the Palanga Amber Museum.