KALININGRAD, Russia — Alexander Kolesnichenko fished pieces of so-called "Baltic ... raw amber. Equipped with pumps and shovels and clad in swamp boots and shabby clothes, thousands of men ...

Collecting amber ... rush for Baltic gold, which sometimes sells for more than the real thing , has been driven by consumers in China, where it is mainly used as jewellery for both men and women.

Since about 3000 BCE, amber found its way out of the Baltic Coast region to greater ... Other items on display include amber household items and jewelry. Inside the Amber Museum in Gdansk.

From severing energy ties with Russia to making waves in Hollywood and redefining luxury cuisine with its coveted Baltic amber, Lithuania is proving that country size is no barrier to influence.