Baltic Holidays
The Baltic Countries ( also known as the Baltic States ) are located in the northeast corner of Europe, perilously close to the Russia 'bear'. They consist of three countries: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Historically, the Baltic States have often been "clustered" into one, but the three countries are fiercely independent. Under Soviet rule till 1989 when the Wall fell, these jewels of the East only became officially independent in 1991. Estonia has close linguisitic links with Finland, Latvia more to the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark with Lithuania less dependent on other countries, having once been part of the largest state in Europe, the Polish/Lithuanian Commonwealth, which at its peak in the early 17th Century covered over 1 million square kilometres and held a multi-ethnic population of approximately 11 million.
The Baltic Countries, as defined, encompass the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which all were constituent republics of the former Soviet Union from 1940 until regaining their independence in 1991.
The countries all have coastlines to the Baltic Sea to their West. The Baltic Sea is possibly the largest body of brackish water in the world. As it is an inland sea, between Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland and the Baltic States, the waterflow between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea is small, meaning the countries around it are in a position to reduce pollution and make it a cleaner Baltic Sea.
Attractions & activities
in The Baltics
More about Baltic Holidays
More about each country:
Estonia:
Is a democratic, parliamentary republic consisting of 15 counties with over 1500 amazing islands and a superb capital in Tallinn, also the largest city. With a population of 1.3 Million, Estonia is one of the least populated members of the EU, Eurozone and NATO and uses the EUR currency. Estonia is located between Latvia to the South, Russia to the East and Finland to the North. Virtually more than half of the teritory is covered by forest and reforestation has been occurring on a large scale since independence.
Latvia:
Latvia is nestled between Estonia to the North, Russia to the East and Lithuania to the South. Latvia has a population of 2.1 Million and originally became independent in 1918. Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union after the Second World War until its official independence in 1991. Latvia is a member of both the European Union and NATO and uses the Euro currency. Its capital, Riga, is the biggest city in the Baltic States.
Lithuania:
Lithuania also has a parliamentary democracy and is based to the South of Latvia, with Russia to the East and Poland and Belarus to the South. Lithuania has 3.2 Million inhabitants with Vilnius as its capital. Lithuania was the first country to declare independence from the Soviet Union. They are today members of the EU, NATO, the Council of Europe and also use the Euro as their currency.