2. Lithuania Nature has been generous to Lithuania. Althrough there are no mountains or great forests, the country’s beauty lies in the diversity of its landscape. This is a place of rolling hills and gentle plains: of quietly folowing rivers and of lakes wich reflect the blueness of the sky.

3. Lithuania The beginning of the Lithuanian State dates back to the 13th century. Up to these days, the confines of Lithuania have reduced almost three times: once even the capital city Vilnius had been given off(with the period 1919-1939). Our neighbours Poland and Russia interpret some historical facts differently even now. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Lithuania was the largest State in Central and Eastern Europe. In 1918 Lithuania became an independent state.

4. Lithuania – Kaunas One of the biggest city in Lithuania is Kaunas. It is in the middle of our country. You can see it in the picture on the right.

5. Kaunas Kaunas is the city located at the confluence of the two rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris. Kaunas is the second largest city of Lithuania. In the begining of the 20th century, became temporary capital of Lithuania. This is the reason why the most important features of the Lithuania culture fostering the cosmopolitan developmen of Kaunas formed in this city.

6. Kaunas Today Kaunas is the leader in education, technology and sports spheres of our country. Famous citizens glorify the name of the city all over the world by their achievements. As the Neris flows into the Nemunas and disgorges its waters into the Baltic Sea, Kaunas, the city that went through development rises and declines, leaves its trace not only in the Lithuanian history, but world history as well.

7. For the first time the name Kaunas was mentioned in the Chronicles in 1030. The origin of the city name is related to the word "kaunasi"(fighting). The whole history of the city is related to battles between Eastern and Western Europe; thus, battles with Crusaders, Swedes, and the army of Napoleon, Russian and hitlerian armies were inevitable. Kaunas

8. In 1944, the strongest basketball players of Kaunas city united into a team that later became Kaunas Žalgiris team. From first years, Žalgiris team started to thrust its way into that day Soviet Basketball elite. As early as 1947, for the first time the team became a winner of the gold medals in the Soviet Union Basketball Championship. In 1998, for the first time in the history of the Lithuanian basketball Žalgiris inscribet in golden latters: Žalgiris –the winner of the European Club Cup. Kaunas - Zalgiris

9. There is a little town near Kaunas called Karmelava Kaunas - Karmelava

10. Karmelava Karmelava is one of the oldest settlements of Lithuania. The name of Karmelava is also mentioned in the 14th- century Crusaders’ description of roads. Karmelava Estate was mentioned since the late-15th century. These ancient things were found in Karmelava

11. Three hundred years ago in Karmelava was build first school in Karmelava. Karmelava - school

12. Balys Buracas secondary school The school is called by name of a teacher, etnographer, photographer Balys Buracas

13. Our school participat in projects: “Netd@ys”, “UNESCO ASPnet”, “Home to Home”, “The Brick Project”, “Socrates Comenius 1.1”, “Socrates Comenius 1.2” Balys Buracas secondary school More information at http://www.buraco.kaunas.lm.lt