Period 1: Central Europe & Northern Eurasia

Fun Facts

Albania

• Albanians nod their head up and down to mean ‘no’, and shake it from side to side for ‘yes’
• Albania has never won a medal at the Olympics
• For about 10 years (1968-1978), Albania’s only ally in the world was China. After China, Albania had no allies and was basically a more isolated European North Korea until 1991.
• Sometimes Albanians add an extra zero to the end of numbers for currency(lek)

Berat Castle

• a fortress overlooking the town of Berat
• dates mainly from the 13th century and contains many Byzantine churches in the area and Ottoman mosques

Bulgaria

Moldova

Krushuna Falls

Fun Facts

Sunny Beach

• waterfall

Lake Skadar

• largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula
• named after the city of Shkodra in northern Albania
• one of the largest bird reserves in Europe, having 270 bird species

• Bulgarians shake their heads rather than nodding
• one third of Bulgaria covered in forest
• one of the world's biggest wine makers
• Bulgarians invented the first electronic computer, digital watch and car air bag

• picturesque landscape and formed by many travertines
• cave

• biggest seaside resort

on Bulgarian Black Sea

coast

• stay at the beach, horse-

riding, go-carting, mini

golfing

• Independent since 1991.
• Moldavian language.
• 93.34% Orthodox.
• 78.2% Moldovan/Romanian.

Fun Facts

• Almost entirely surrounded by mountains.
• Second highest death rate for cancer in the EU (after Hungary).
• Over 2,000 Castles, they keep all their ruins leaving their land one of the highest densities in the world (After Belgium and France).

Padurea Domneasca

Romania

Fun Facts

• Royal forest reserve.
• 6,032 hectares.
• Scientific reserve.

Czech Republic

• Independent since 1989.
• Czech is the official language.
• 63.7% Czech.
• 10.3% Roman Catholic.

National Museum of History

• 12th among the top world wine exporters.
• Largest underground wine cellar in the world.
• Russia still has 2,000 troops and 22,000 tons of ammunition in Transnisria.

Merry Cemetery

• famous for tombs crosses colorful naive paintings representing scenes from the life and occupation of persons buried
• the only humorous cemetery existent in the world, for Romanian culture is known for its irony

Katerinska Jeskyne

• Catherine Cave.
• "Prehistorical outgoing water cave".

Castle Hukvaldy

• Construction started around the mid 13th century.

• 263,000 Exhibits.
• "A place of important history of Moldova put together in one place".

Bran Castle

• according to a legend, the castle used to be the place where Dracula, the character of Bram Stoker's book lived in
• situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia

Fun Facts

• Romania is Europe's richest country in gold resources
• the traditional sport of Romania is Oin which is unique but similar to baseball. However, regular basketball and football are the most popular.
• colors of the nation's flag are red, yellow, and blue which represent the blood of the people, grains which feed the people, and the sky
• The main mineral resource is oil, but the primary resource is agriculture.

Fun Facts

• the oldest and the largest Baltic State
• Lithuanians are the first in the world invented way to make vodka from corn.
• Lithuania is the first in the world by the number of hot air balloons per resident.
• Lithuania is the only country in the world having national perfume.

Lithuania

Trakai Castle

• located in the lake district of the picturesque landscape.
• In the Trakai Historical Museum visitors can see interesting old armament collections.

Vilnuis Old Town

• included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
• among the 20 world's most remarkable cities that should definitely not be missed by tourists.

Central Europe & Northern Eurasia

Period 1

Latvia

Liepaja

• ancient city on the Baltic Sea
• people have been living for more than 750 years
• city of music and culture

Cesis Old Town

• the most beautiful town
• dominated by ruins of medieval castle and surrounding park

Fun Facts

• The capital of Latvia, Riga is the largest city in the Baltic States.
• The official languages of Latvia are Latvian, and the second most common language is Russian.
• The longest river in Latvia is the Daugava
• Latvia is known by the name Lettland.
• The natural resources are limestone, peat, dolomite and hydropower, amber, wood and arable land.

Fun Facts

• the least religious country in the world with only 14% of the population claiming any religious beliefs
• Almost 50% of Estonia is covered by forest
• with a population of 1.3 million, it is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Europe

Estonia

Valaste Waterfall

• highest waterfall in Estonia
• situated between Ontika and Valaste in the Kohtla Parish of the Ida-Viru County

Talinn Zoo

• the only zoo in all of Estonia
• housed 13,336 animals representing 548 species.
• Since 2009, it has been the most visited zoo in the Baltic states.

Fun Facts

• Arsenalnaya Metro Station, located in Kiev, is the deepest in the world
• Fifth most drinking nation
• world's largst manganese ore reserve
• Ukrainians wear a wedding ring on the ring finger of their right hand

Ukraine

Crimea

Carpathian Mountains

Kaitlyn Allen ~ Rachel Chung

Lina Ito ~ Erica Kim

• peninsula
• one of the largest and most famous health resorts

• "Green pearl of Ukraine"
• popular resort
• tourist center
• natural areas, forests, meadows

Fun Facts

• The most popular name for a dog in Poland is Burek which translates to: "brownish-grey color".
• Youngest in European Union.
• 17 Noble prize winners. including 4 Peace prizes, and 5 Literature.

Poland

• Independent since 1989
• Polish language
• 91% Catholic
• 94%polish

Wielicza Salt Mine

• Dates back to the 13th century.
• Only mine in the world to work uninterruptedly since the middle ages.

Teutonic Castle

• Built by Teutonic knights.
• construction in the late 13th century.
• Built to shelter the king.