Baltic

Baltic refers to a broad set of topics connected to the Baltic Sea and its surrounding region, most commonly the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The term is used in geographic, linguistic, cultural, and historical contexts to describe this part of Northern Europe and its connections to the wider European area.

Geography and environment: The Baltic Sea is a shallow, brackish sea bordered by Scandinavia to the north and the Baltic states to the south, with coasts also touching Poland, Germany, Russia (Kaliningrad), and Lithuania’s Curonian Spit. The sea supports major ports and shipping routes, fishing, and varied ecosystems. The coastline features a mix of beaches, dunes, forests, and numerous islands.

Language and people: The Baltic language group is a branch of the Indo-European family, with surviving languages including Latvian and Lithuanian; Old Prussian is extinct. The term Balts also denotes the ethnic and cultural groups of the Baltic states, as well as their diaspora.

History and politics: The Baltic region has seen influence from medieval trade networks, the Hanseatic League, and rule by Denmark, Sweden, Poland-Lussia, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declared independence after World War I, endured occupation during World War II, and regained independence in 1991. They joined the European Union and NATO in 2004; Estonia and Latvia adopted the euro in 2011 and 2014, while Lithuania joined in 2015.

Culture and heritage: The Baltics are noted for medieval and wooden architecture, folk traditions, and a vibrant music culture. UNESCO World Heritage sites include the historic centers of Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius, as well as the Curonian Spit.