Basketball crazy

Lithuanians love basketball. This year European championship takes place in Lithuania so everything works and lives around basketball, even other businesses and advertising. It took me just a few hours to spot dozens of adverts in Kaunas and Panevezys that use basketball as a selling point. In fact, none but only one of these ads actually promote the championship itself. 
All photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Visaginas

Visaginas was established in 1975 as a town for workers in the Ignalina nuclear power station. Unlike Prypiat which was build too close to the plant (2km), Visaginas is 6 km from the plant. The population now has grown to over 33 thousand people and most of them are Russians. Even now the place resembles an ideal Soviet town with a lot of schools, kindergartens, wide alleys, leisure centres, playgrounds, parks, shops and a lake with small beach.

Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Ignalina nuclear power station

The Ignalina nuclear power plant is the only atomic station producing power in the Baltics. It is located in Northeast Lithuania, about 30 km from the Latvia's second biggest town Daugavpils. It's structure is similar to the infamous Chernobyl plant and thus will be closed at the end of 2009 due to safety requirements from EU.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus