The Baltic states are the three countries in northern Europe on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. While the indigenous populations of Latvia and Lithuania are known as Baltic people, those of Estonia are Finnish people. The term "Baltic" dates back to the 11th century and essentially means white. The Baltic states have historically been in the Swedish, Polish, German, Danish, and Russian spheres of influence, which has left a great legacy in terms of a heritage that merits to be visited.