Lithuania Geography
What is the terrain and geography like in Lithuania?
Overview
Lithuania, covering an area of 26,173 square miles, is the largest of the three Baltic States, slightly larger than West Virginia. The country lies on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea at approximately the same latitude as Denmark and Scotland. Lithuania's neighbors are Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, and Poland and the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation to the south and southwest. Lithuanians believe that the geographical center of the European continent lies 20 kilometers north of Vilnius, the capital.A country known for its agrarian and wooded beauty, Lithuania is characterized by flat plains and rolling hills. The highest hill, Kruopine, is only 900 feet above sea level. Roughly one-fourth of the territory is covered by woodlands, consisting mainly of pine, spruce, and birch. One of the oldest oak trees in Europe, found in eastern Lithuania, is said to be about 1,500 years old. The forests are home to a variety of animals including elk, foxes, and wild boar; hunting is a popular pastime. Lithuanians especially enjoy mushroom collecting and berry picking.
More than 700 rivers and creeks crisscross Lithuania. The largest river, the Nemunas, was once a strategically important shipping route through Lithuania. Its banks are dotted with castles and fortresses. There are numerous lakes, especially in eastern Lithuania, where the Aukstatija National Park is located. This region is home to the Ignalina nuclear power plant, which exports electricity to other countries in the region.
Geography - note
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial depositsLithuania Use of Natural Resources
| Geographic Location | Europe |
| Total Area |
25,212 Square Miles 65,300 Square Kilometers |
| Land Area |
24,201 Square Miles 62,680 Square Kilometers |
| Water Area |
1,012 Square Miles 2,620 Square Kilometers |
| Land Boundaries |
978 Miles 1,574 Kilometers |
| Irrigated Land |
5 Square Miles 13 Square Kilometers |
| Border Countries | Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km |
| Coastline |
56 Miles 90 Kilometers |
| Geographic Coordinates | 56 00 N, 24 00 E |
| Terrain | lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil |
| Highest Point | 292 Meters |
| Highest Point Location | Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m |
| Lowest Point Location | Baltic Sea 0 m |
| Natural Resources | peat, arable land |
| Time Zone | UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
| Daylight saving time | +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |