Latvia in brief
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Republic of Latvia, abbreviated: Latvia
Latvian: Latvija
Lithuanian: Latvija
Estonian: Läti
German: Lettland
French: Lettonie
Spanish: Letonia
The name "Latvia" originates from an ancient Baltic (Indo-European) tribe - the Latgalians (in Latvian: latgali), who formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people.
Country code: LV
The Republic of Latvia was founded on November 18, 1918. It has been continuously recognised as a state by other countries since 1920 despite occupations by the Soviet Union (1940-1941, 1945-1991) and Nazi Germany (1941-1945). On August 21, 1991 Latvia declared the restoration of its de facto independence. (more...)
Symbols
The flag of the Republic of Latvia
The coat of arms of the Republic of Latvia
Geography
Latvia is the central country of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). On the world map Latvia is to be found in North-eastern Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. The landscape of the country is marked by lowland plains and rolling hills. Most of the countryside is less than 100 metres above sea level. There are thousands of rivers and lakes in Latvia.
Area: 64,589 sq.km or 24,937 sq.miles.
Regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, Latgale.
Total national border length: 1,862 km.
Length of Latvia’s Baltic coastline: 494 km.
Largest lake: Lubans, 80.7 sq.km.
Deepest lake: Dridzis, 65.1 metres.
Longest river within Latvian territory: the Gauja, 452 km.
Largest river to flow through Latvian territory: the Daugava, total length 1,005 km, of which 352 km within Latvian territory.
Highest point: Gaizinkalns, 311.6 metres.
(Map of Latvia)
(1 km = 0.62 mile; 1 m = 39.37 inches)
Borders with other countries: Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania.
Latvia is situated on a trading cross-roads and has long since served as a bridge between Western Europe and Russia. The famous "route from the Vikings to the Greeks" mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from Scandinavia through Latvian territory along the Daugava River to the ancient Russia and Byzantine Empire.
Climate
Latvia’s weather is governed by a moderate oceanic climate, with pronounced cyclone activity and a considerable amount of precipitation.
Summer: June - August.
Winter: December - February.
The average temperature in summer is 15.8°C (in the capital 16.1°C), the average temperature in winter is –4.5°C (in the capital –3.8°C).
The warmest month - July, the coldest - January.
The average precipitation amount in summer is 195 mm, in winter - 116 mm.
Nature
Latvia is situated in a nature zone between the vegetation of Northern and Central Europe. Latvia is a country of splendid and diverse natural landscapes. Forests cover 44 percent of the territory. The larger forest tracts are to be found in the northern part of Kurzeme. Here it is still possible to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of nature untouched by man.
Latvia distinguishes itself with a large variety of flora and fauna (total aprox. 27.7 thousand species).
Latvia’s fauna is typical for a region with mixed forests. Latvia has the largest otter population in Europe, and there is a much greater chance of seeing the rare black stork in Latvia’s forests than in any other European country. (more...)
Language
Official language: Latvian.
Hi - Sveiks!
Goodbye – Uz redzeshanos!
Yes – Ja!
No – Ne!
Thank you – Paldies!
Please – Ludzu!
Sorry – Atvainojiet!
The Latvian language is a Baltic language, which belongs to the Indo-European family of languages. The Latvian language is considered one of the oldest of the Indo-European (European) languages. It is a non-slavic and a non-germanic language, similar only to Lithuanian. (more...)
Most common foreign languages: English, Russian, and German.
Government
Type of government: democratic, parliamentary republic.
Legislative power is in the hands of a single chamber parliament - the Saeima, consisting of 100 deputies. Parliamentary elections take place every 4 years.
The country’s head of state is the President, who is elected by the Saeima for a period of 4 years. The President signs laws, chooses the Prime Minister (who heads the government) and performs representative functions.
Electoral system: proportional representation. There is universal suffrage for Latvian citizens over 18 years of age.
Memberships
Latvia is a member of United Nations Organisation, Council of Europe, World Trade Organisation, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of the Baltic Sea States, Euro- Atlantic Partnership Council, etc.
Strategic goals
Since the restoration of independence in 1991, Latvia plays an active role in world affairs. A key foreign policy goal is full membership in the European Union and NATO. (more...)
Population
Population in 2002: 2,351,400
Ethnic composition (2000):
57.6% Latvian,
29.6% Russian, [Hey!- less Russians
]
4.1% Belorussian,
2.7% Ukrainian,
2.5% Polish,
1.4% Lithuanian,
0.4% Jewish,
1.7% other nationalities.
Latvians are the indigenous people of Latvia.
The ethnic mix of the population of Latvia is largely the result of massive post-war immigration, which resulted in a decline in the share of ethnic Latvians from 77% in 1935 to 52% in 1989.
Education
The state guarantees free primary and secondary (high school) education. More than 90% of children attend state schools which provide free education. 9 years of primary education are obligatory. The most of the students attend state-universities. Apart from state-financed educational institutions, there are also private schools and private universities in Latvia. Latvia also has state- financed ethnic minority schools or classes where courses are presented in Belorussian, Estonian, Gypsy, Hebrew, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian.
Religion
Largest religious confessions: Evangelic Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox.
Since the Reformation movement in the 16th century, the Lutheran church has played a leading role in Latvia.
Cities
Nearly one third of Latvia’s population (788 thousand) lives in the capital city Riga. Riga, the oldest still existing medieval city, was founded in 1201. The value of Riga’s cultural and historical significance has been recognised by the fact that its old city centre has been included in UNESCO’s list of the world’s most important cultural and natural sites.
Largest towns and cities: Riga, Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Ventspils, Rezekne, Valmiera and Jekabpils.
Today, 77 towns and cities are located within Latvia’s borders. 23 cities have a population of over 10,000.
Ports
Latvia’s three major ports are Ventspils, Riga and Liepaja.
Ventspils is the busiest port in the Baltic Sea region and is among the 15 leading European ports in terms of cargo turnover. (more...)
Production
The most prospective production sectors: information technologies, electronics and mechanical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, wood processing, food processing industry, textiles industry.
Special economic zones: Ventspils Free Port, Liepaja Special Economic Zone, Rezekne Special Economic Zone. Incentives in special economic zones include 80-100% reduction in corporate, property and land taxes, full exemption from VAT and customs duties upon the import of goods into the zone from abroad.
The largest trade-partner: the European Union.
Currency
Latvian national currency is the lats (LVL), 1 lats consists of 100 santims. The Latvian currency has remained strong and secure since its inception in 1993. The stability of lats is a result of covering the supply of the national currency with gold reserves, hard currency reserves, and investments in a diversified collection of foreign currencies.
National holiday
November 18, the date of the proclamation of Latvia’s independence.
Most important traditional festival
The annual celebration of the summer solstice, known as Jani is generally viewed as the most important Latvian holiday. Jani is celebrated on June 23 and 24. These days of celebration mark the summer solstice with a colourful array of ancient traditions whose origins date back thousands of years. (more...)
© Text: Raimonds Ceruzis