Vilnius

Vilnius (Belarusian ??????, {{P-L}} ', Russian ???????, formerly ??????, German Wilna; see also cities' alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of over 540,000 in 2003. It is the capital of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the county seat of Vilnius County.

Geographic and population

Vilnius is situated in southeastern Lithuania ({{coor dm|54|41|N|25|17|E|}}) at the confluence of the Vilnia (also known as Vilnel?) and Neris Rivers. This non-central location can be attributed to the changing shape of the nation's borders through the centuries; Vilnius was once not only culturally but also geographically at the center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Initially it also formed the geographic center of Lithuanian settled areas, while the city's population was multiethnic through most of its history.

Related Topics:
Confluence - Vilnia - Neris - Grand Duchy of Lithuania

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Vilnius lies 312 km from the Baltic Sea and Klaip?da, the chief Lithuanian seaport. Other major Lithuanian cities, such as Kaunas (102 km away), ?iauliai (214 km away) and Panev??ys (135 km away), can be reached quickly and easily.

Related Topics:
Km - Baltic Sea - Klaip?da - Seaport - Kaunas - ?iauliai - Panev??ys

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The current area of Vilnius is 402 km². Buildings cover 20.2% of the city and in the remaining areas, greenery (43.9%) and waters (2.1%) prevail.

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According to the 2001 census by the Vilnius Regional Statistical Office, there were 542,287 inhabitants in Vilnius city municipality, 57.8% of which were Lithuanians, 18.7% Poles, 13.9% Russians, 4.0% Belarusians; the remaining have indicated other nationalities or refused to answer.

Related Topics:
2001 - Census - Vilnius city municipality - Lithuanians - Poles - Russians - Belarusians

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Vilnius County includes the Vilnius city municipality, Vilnius district municipality, ?al?ininkai district municipality, ?irvintos district municipality, ?ven?ionys district municipality, Trakai district municipality, Ukmerg? district municipality and Elektr?nai municipality, totalling up to 9,650 km².

Related Topics:
Vilnius County - Vilnius city municipality - Vilnius district municipality - ?al?ininkai district municipality - ?irvintos district municipality - ?ven?ionys district municipality - Trakai district municipality - Ukmerg? district municipality - Elektr?nai municipality

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