1. Geography
Latvia is located in the middle of three Baltic countries  (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). On the world map, it is situated in the north-west of Europe, on the Baltic coast. Its landscape is dominated by patterned contours consisting of hills and flat lands. A large share of its territory is at an altitude which does not exceed 100 m above sea level. It accounts for more than a thousand rivers and lakes.

Surface: 64 589 km²
Regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, Latgale
Length of coatline: 494 km
Length of territorial border: 1862 km
Neighbouring countries: Estonia, Russia, Belarus and Lithuania. 

Latvia is situated on the crossroads of ancient European trade routes and continues to serve as a bridge between Western Europe and Russia. The famous road "from the Vikings to the Greeks", described in old chronicles, began in Scandinavia and passed through current-day Latvia, along the river Daugava, and led into ancient Russia and the Byzantine Empire.

Local time = GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) + 2

2. Climate
The sea climate is mild with variable cyclones and there is major atmospheric precipitation.

Summer: June - August
Winter: December - February
Average summer temperature: +15,8°C ; average winter temperature: -4,5°C
Average rainfall: 195 mm in the summer and 116 mm in the winter.

3. Nature
Latvia is situated on the intersection of the major green regions of Northern and Central Europe. It is a country with wonderfully varying nature and landscapes. 44% of its territory is woodland and the main forest regions are located in the mid-north of Kurzeme. It is still possible in Latvia to admire the beauty of wild nature, which has yet to be disturbed by man. Latvia also distinguishes itself by way of its uniquely diverse fauna and flora (27,700 different species).

The animal life of Latvia is typical of regions which have mixed forests. It possesses the largest population of otters in Europe. In addition, it still offers one the opportunity to observe some of Europe’s rarest birds, for example, the black stork.

4. Language
The official language is Latvian.

Hello = Sveiks
Goodbye = Uz redzešanos
Yes = Ja
No = Ne
Thank you = Paldies
Please = Ludzu
Excuse me = Atvainojiet

The Latvian language belongs to the family of Baltic languages, which in turn makes up part of the Indo-European family. It is considered to be one of the oldest languages in this category. Latvian is neither a Slavic language nor a Germanic language, and only resembles Lithuanian. The most commonly spoken foreign languages in Latvia are English, Russian and German.
To learn more, visit the following website: http://ai1.mii.lu.lv/valoda/contents.htm

5. Political system
Latvia is a parliamentary republic. As the constitution states, the executive power lies in the single chamber of parliament, which consists of 100 members who are elected every four years. The parliament elects the president of the Republic for a period of four years. The president signs laws, nominates the prime minister (who leads the government) and also has representative functions.
The electoral system is based on proportional representation and all citizens over the age of 18 are entitled to vote.
On the international front, Latvia is a member of international organisations such as UNO, the European Council, International Trade Organisation, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, NATO and others.

6. Population
2,351,000 in 2002

Latvia has a well-mixed ethnic population due to mass immigration after World War II, which has decreased the number of Latvians from 77% (of the total population) in 1935 to 52% in 1989.

7. Religious faiths
The main religious faiths are the Lutherian, Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches. After Reformation in the 16th Century, the Lutherian faith became dominant in Latvia.

8. Capital
The capital city of Latvia is Riga, which has 788,000 inhabitants (in 2002). Founded in 1201, it is the oldest city in Latvia. Its cultural and historic value is highly appreciated and has been recognised by UNESCO, who added the historical center of Riga to the list of world heritage sites.

Riga is also considered to be the cultural heart of Latvia because, in this city alone, one finds countless objects of cultural, artistic and scientific interest. The range of opportunities, diversity and amusements is also very broad, because cultural activities are prevalent in so many walks of life.

Other important Latvian cities include Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne and Ventspils.

9. Ports
Ventspils, Liepaja and Riga are the main ports in Latvia. Ventspils is the main port for Baltic Sea freight traffic and is one of the top 15 ports in Europe, in terms of cargo traffic.

The main industrial sectors are IT, electronics, mechanical engineering, industrial chemistry and pharmacology, wood processing, food and the textile industry. Its most important trading partner is the European Union.

10. Currency
The national currency is the lats (LVL). One lats is made up of 100 santims. The Latvian currency has been strong and stable since it was introduced in 1993. Its stability is guaranteed by the country’s gold reserves, strong foreign currency reserves and diverse investments.

11. Festivities
The National Holiday is 18 November, the date on which the Republic of Latvia declared its independence. The most important traditional feast is Saint-John (Jani) or the feast of the summer solstice. It is considered to be biggest feast of the year in Latvia and takes place during the public holidays. Jani is celebrated on 23 and 24 June, and gives Latvians an opportunity to display the many old colourful costumes and traditions which have been observed for thousands of years.

12. The greatest historic figures

• Rainis (Janis Pliekšans, 1865-1929) is the most recognised Latvian writer, political figure and author of numerous classics.
• Andrejs Jurjans (1856-1922) and Jazeps Vitols (1863-1948) are the founders of Latvia’s  national style of instrumental music.
• Janis Rozentals (1866-1916) and Vilhelms Purvitis (1872-1945) are the most famous Latvian painters.
• Davids Hieronims Grindelis (1776-1836) was the first Latvian researcher in nature, chemistry, pharmacology and medicine.
• Janis Lusis (1939), the only sporting Latvian (javelin) who has won three Olympic medals (gold, silver and bronze)
• Uljana Semjonova (1952), very famous, the tallest female basketball player in the history of the Olympic games; Olympic champion and triple world champion.

13. Tourism

a) Transport :

• http://www.airbaltic.com/public/22520.html?language=1&doc_id=22661 (air)
• http://www.ldz.lv/en/sarakstsi.htm (train)

The well-developed travel network in the Republic of Latvia allows easy passage, of people and goods, to all neighbouring countries. The total length of this network, consisting of city roads, country roads and motorways, is approximately 58,500 kilometers, of which 20,332 Km are major, national and secondary roads. All public roads are the property of the state.

• hiring a bike: http://www.ezi.lv/frameset_1024.html
• public transport: http://www.ttp.lv/main.php?PHPSESSID=403011e455457032e5612c4fa0ae064d&xLang=en
• boats: http://www.rigasealine.lv/en/rezervesana/anketa/index.asp
• trams: http://www.ttp.lv

b) Cultural events:

• general schedule : http://www.rigathisweek.lv/index.php?&p=2
• museums : http://www.muzeji.lv

c) Accommodation :

•  country houses, cottages, boarding houses: http://www.country.holidays.lv/meklesana_en.html
• youth hostels: www.hihostels.com
• http://www.kontakti.lv/en/catalog.php?code=237
• http://www.liepaja.lv/en/liepaja/turisms/YouthHostels.html

To find accommodation which meets your needs, you may approach local organisations. However, municipal services in the larger cities are sometimes unable to help in finding suitable accommodation.

As a matter of fact, you probably have a better chance of finding a house or apartment to rent or buy, by consulting small specialised advertisements in local and regional publications, or by contacting a private real estage agency, or also by searching the Internet.

Renting or buying prices for individual houses and apartments are relatively higher in the Riga area of Latvia, than any other region.

d) Discount passes

EURO<26: http://www.euro26.lv/euro26/index.php?id=atlaides_latvija.html

Marc Bregoli, CIJ Luxembourg