When people hear about the Baltics they may think of Russia? Or Europe? Or the EU? Well, in fact the Baltic states are everything and more. There may be a lot of discussion about this area in the news, so learn more about this part of Europe.
The Baltic countries or states are located in the northeastern region of Europe.
In summary, the Baltic countries contain Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. All of the Baltic countries are in the European Union i.e. the EU.
Learn more about the Baltic countries. These countries are developing and emerging in this changing and ever challenging landscape and whirlwind of change in Europe and Asia.
Where are the Baltic Countries located and what place make it up
The Baltic states are an entity in itself. By definition, the Baltic states are bounded on the west and north by the Baltic Sea. The countries are made up of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
As well, in terms of information, the Baltic region is bordered by the east with Russia. While on the southeast by Belarus, and on the southwest by Poland. There is even a random and interesting slice of Russia amid the Baltics.
Also, what is good to know, theBaltic Sea is a body of water in northern Europe. The Baltic sea is linked to the Atlantic Ocean through the Danish Strait. The Baltic Sea includes the countries of the following: Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and more.
back to menu ↑The Baltic countries have a link to Russia and Europe
When people think of the Baltics or Baltic countries they may not know what to think about first. However, all of the countries from Estonia to Latvia to Lithuania have a connection to Russia.
Each country has a history and border with Russia.
Estonia has a border with Russia, which is on the eastern side of the country. There are even reminders of Russia at the border like the Ivangorod Fortress. Finally, Latvia also has a border with Russia. Latvia is also between Estonia and Lithuania and faces a lot of various influences.
Lastly, the Russian language is spoken throughout every part of the Baltics. And, especially the strongest Russian link is the Kaliningrad Region. This is an area that is controlled by Russia. .
back to menu ↑Not all of the languages are the same but all Baltic countries speak Russian
Each Baltic country has a different native language. However, there is a common thread among each country in the Baltics. The thread is the Russian language among all the countries.
For example, for Estonia, you have the Estonian language. This language is spoken by the Estonian and Livonian people of this region. The Livonian people are essentially Finnic peoples, which are people from Finland.
The Latvian language is also known as Lettish. This language is an Eastern Baltic language. Latvian is an Indo-European language family. The Lithuanian language is an Indo-European language. This language in this part of the Baltics is closely linked to Latvia. The Latvian language is spoken in Lithuania.
back to menu ↑The Baltic Sea has a link to both World Wars
The sea that is common to all the Baltic countries is the Baltic sea. These seas had relation to both big wars of the last 100 years. So, both World War I and World War II had a significant effect on human history.
Sadly, it was one sea or place that figured a lot in this traumatic war in human history. It is with some coincidence or not that the Baltic Sea is connected to both world wars. Why? Because the Baltic was the setting for these wars.
Infamously, most of the war battles of World War I were fought and set on the Baltic sea. Moreover, Germany occupied and conquered the Baltic States including Poland. This area also included the eastern shore of the Baltic sea in World War II.
back to menu ↑The Baltic country of Lithuania is the geographical center of Europe
Some people may incorrectly assume that the Baltics are Eastern Europe or even farther east. To think that the Baltics is referred to as part of Eastern Europe is not but completely wrong. There is evidence from cartographers and more that the geographical center of Europe is in Lithuania.
The center of Europe would be considered a place near the capital of Lithuania. The town itself is 26 kilometers north or about 15 miles north of Vilnius. The center of Europe itself is basically a smaller town called Purnuskes. Check out this spot in Europe in the Baltics for a unique piece of geographical history.
In 1997, a stone was placed to mark the geographical center of Europe. And in 2004, there was a monument made of a white granite to make this a special place to visit. This area of Baltics is as well including Lake Girija, the Bernotai Mound, and nearby forest and other areas.
back to menu ↑There is a part of Russia in the middle of the Baltics near Poland
The Kaliningrad Region is a part of Russia that is separate from Russia. This stretch of land is a territory separate from the mainland. This part of Russia is between Lithuania, Poland, and the Baltic Sea.
What makes this odd is that this part of Russia is separate from the rest of Russia and in Europe. In summary, the Kaliningrad Region permits Russia to have an unexpected and important presence near Western Europe. Unfortunately, the Baltic region feels pressure about this strip of land.
The Baltics are near Kaliningrad. These countries, especially Lithinut, are squeezed between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad. Even other EU European countries like Poland are near Kaliningrad.
back to menu ↑The Oldest flag in the world is located in the Baltics in Latvia
Latvia in the Baltics has the oldest flag in the world. Some may think that Denmark may have the oldest flag or country with ancient origins like Italy. Other countries like Austria have also claimed the same as well. However, it is Latvia, a country many may overlook or not even know.
The story of the flag begins in 1279. In the city of Cesis in Latvia is where the legend of the oldest flag originates. It was when this town was under attack by enemy and invading tribes that the story begins.
There is a legend that an arrow from the invaders killed and struck a Latvian chief. The reaction to the death led to angry supporters of the chief to wild reactions. Taking off their white shirts, supporters of the chief put on the shirts with the blood of the chief. The resulting combination of colors is what led to the flag. Therefore, in the end, the battle flag has a red and white stripe on the flag.
back to menu ↑The Baltic countries and this part of Europe is very flat
If you want a mountainous area of Europe then look elsewhere. The Baltics are flat and very uninteresting geographically for anyone seeking hiking or skiing adventure. Whether an area of flat land is good is purely subjective.
In general, mostly if all the Baltic countries are very flat. In summary, for the whole region, the highest Baltic mountain is in Estonia. The highest point in the Baltic states is Suur Munamägi, at 318 meters or nearly 1100 feet. This is the highest peak anywhere in the area until some 300 or 400 miles southward.
Instead of these countries in the Baltics, these countries have numerous lakes and wetlands, and mixed forest areas. In Latvia, Around 98% of the whole country is under 200 m or 656 feet in elevation. So, this is a very flat part of the world.
back to menu ↑Estonia was the most westernized part of the former Soviet Union
Because of its proximity to Finland, Estonia was able to tap into Western European culture and more. The distance between Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia is only 50 miles, so things can travel between both places very quickly.
An organization actually researched and analyzed the 14 countries of the Post-Soviet zone to determine this. The categories to determine this point of westernization were based on political, economic, and legal ramifications. As well, language and cultural westernization, and of course westernization of lifestyle.
Also, what makes the Baltic states unique is the history. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia had a western folklore tradition, culture, cuisine, religion, and similar architecture to other western European countries. In summary, Estonia is the most westernized of the post Soviet Union zone, with Lithuania and Latvia following respectively.
back to menu ↑Latvia has a small population but is larger than many European countries
Not many would realize that Latvia is bigger than many or most bigger European countries. For example, Latvia is larger than Switzerland, Slovenia, Belgium, Montenegro, Cyprus, Croatia, Albania and more! This is a real shock considering many know about Switzerland.
Latvia may seem like a small country with a land size of 64,559 km2 or around 24,926 square miles, but it is bigger than many countries in the EU. In terms of its land, Latvia is more than a third covered by forests.
In comparison, to countries just a bit bigger; Austria is 1.30 times as big as Latvia. So, it tells you that Latvia is quite large. However, the population of Latvia is only around 1.8 million so it is very sparsely populated compared to more densely populated countries like Belgium or Switzerland.
