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About Lithuania       »  About Vilnius       »  About Kaunas       Environment       Lithuania is the biggest of the three Baltic States and covers an area roughly the same size as Ireland. It borders Latvia in the north, Belarus in the southeast, the Baltic Sea in the west and Poland and Kaliningrad Region of Russia in the southwest. It is a mostly flat country and its highest point, Juozapinés, measures only 294m (964ft). Lithuania's Baltic coast extends about 100 km (62 mi), half of which lies along the tremendous Curonian Spit - a pencil-thin 98 km (61 mi) long sandbar that's up to 66 m (216 ft) high.       Over one quarter of Lithuania is forested, in particular the southwest of the country. Elk, deer, wild boar, wolf and lynx inhabit the forests, though you are unlikely to bump into any without some guidance. Lithuania also has about 2000 otters, and Lake Zuvintas, in the south, is an important breeding ground and migration halt for water birds. There are five national parks in Lithuania and a number of nature reserves, the highlight being Kursiu Nerija National Park, a special environment of high dunes, pine forests, beaches, lagoon and seacoasts.       The Lithuanian climate is temperate. From May to September daytime highs vary from about 14°C to 28°C (57°F to 82°F), but between November and March it rarely gets above 4°C (39°F). July and August, the warmest months, are also wet, with days of persistent showers. May, June and September are more comfortable, while late June can be thundery. Slush under foot is something you have to cope with in autumn, when snow falls then melts, and in spring, when the winter snow thaws.       Any country that gives pride of place to a memorial statue of singer Frank Zappa has got to be worth a visit. Lithuania is the most vibrant Baltic state, shown not only by its antiestablishment statues but also more deeply by its daring and emotional drive for independence in 1990-91.       Basic facts       Full country name: Republic of Lithuania       Area: 65,200 sq km       Population: 3.39 million       Capital City: Vilnius       People: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Byelorussian 1.6%       National Language: Lithuanian       Religion: Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical Christian Baptist       Government: Parliamentary Democracy       Head of State: President       Head of Government: Prime Minister       Member of EU: Yes       Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2       Dialling Code: +370       Electricity: 230V, 50Hz       Weights & measures: Metric       Money and costs:       National currency in Lithuania is Litas (Lt). Local payments are made in national currency – litas and centas (1 litas equals to 100 centas), 1 euro is 3.4528Lt. Paper notes are 10, 20, 100, 200, and 500 Lt bills and 1, 2, and 5 Lt coins, whereas centas are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 denominations.       Meals:       »  Budget: EUR 3-7       »  Mid-range: EUR 5-15       »  High: EUR 20+       Lodging:       »  Budget: EUR 10-25       »  Mid-range: EUR 25-75       »  High: EUR 75+