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General Information
Country name: (conventional long form) Republic
of Latvia, (conventional short form) Latvia
Area: 64 589 sq km
Population: 2 306 306 (July 2004)
Capital: Riga
Population: 764 328
Administrative divisions: (26 counties (singular - rajons) and
7 municipalities*) Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,
Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons,
Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*,
Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons,
Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*,
Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons,
Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Map of Administrative Divisions
Ethnic groups: Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%,
Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)
Government: Parliamentary democracy.
Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991
Head of State: President Vaira Vike-Freiberga since 1999
Head of Government: Prime Minister Indulis Emsis since 2004
Language: Latvian is the official language.
It is an Indo-European, non-Slavic and non-Germanic language and is similar
only to Lithuanian. Russian is the mother tongue of over 30 per cent of the
population and is understood by most people. English and German may also
be understood
Religion: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Time Zone: GMT + 2
(GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October)
Electricity: 220V AC, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Visas: Many nationalities require a visa, and a few
require an invitation as well. Citizens of Andorra, Belgium, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK,
Australia and the USA can travel visa-free for stays of up to 90 days;
citizens of many countries do not require a visa if they already have one
for Estonia or Lithuania
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Economy
Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the
1998 Russian financial
crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual
reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade
dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate
have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a
few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization
in February 1999. The current account and internal government deficits remain
major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in
revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)composition by sector:
agriculture 4.5%, industry 20.9%, services 74.6% (2002)
Labor force(by occupation): agriculture 15%,
industry 25%, services 60% (2000)
Unemployment rate: 8.7% (2003)
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars,
synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers,
washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods,
textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Agriculture - products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes,
vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports - commodities: wood and wood products,
machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners: Germany 15.3%, UK 14.4%,
Sweden 10.4%, Lithuania 8.2%, Estonia 5.9%, Russia 5.8%, Denmark 5.6%,
US 4.3% (2002)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment,
chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners: Germany 17.2%, Lithuania 9.8%,
Russia 8.8%, Finland 8%, Sweden 6.4%, Estonia 6.2%, Poland 5%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
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Money
Currency:The national currency of the Republic of
Latvia is the lats consisting of 100 santims. At present, banknotes
with nominal values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 lats, as well as coins with
nominal values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 santims and 1, 2 and 100 lats are
in circulation
Currency exchange: Bureaux de change are found all
over main towns, including inside shops, hotels, post offices and train stations.
These tend to close at 19.00
Exchange rate indicators: £1.00=0.98 lats,
$1.00=0.545 lats
Website:
http://www.bank.lv/eng/main/finfo/calculat/
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00. Some banks are
open Sat 09.00-13.00
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History
While human habitation in the region dates
back to at least 9000 BC, the
first forebears of Latvia's present inhabitants were Finno-Ugric hunters
who probably reached the area between 3000 and 2000 BC. The ancestors of
the modern Latvians, known as Balts, probably showed up around 2000 BC.
In the first few centuries AD the tribes of the region traded with
Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire. Later, they traded with and fought
against Vikings and Russians. By the 12th century the Finno-Ugric and Balt
peoples were split into a number of tribal groups, all practising nature
religions. Following papal calls for a crusade against the northern
heathens, Germanic missionaries arrived in the area but achieved little
until the 13th century. The Knights of the Sword (later known as the
Livonian Order), an order of crusading knights whose white cloaks were
emblazoned with blood-red swords and crosses, forcibly converted the
region by 1290. Latvia was subject to continuous foreign rule from the
13th to the 20th century.
Protestant Sweden and Catholic Poland-Lithuania settled down in 1592 to
fight each other in the Baltic lands. Most of eastern Latvia, including
Riga, ended up in Swedish hands. The period of Swedish rule is looked back
on fondly as a relatively enlightened episode in the country's long
history of oppression. The 17th-century Swedish kings raised Latvian
peasants from serfdom and introduced universal education. The liberation
of the serfs triggered a Latvian national revival by allowing native
people to move into trades, professions, commerce and intellectual
circles. Slowly, Latvia emerged as a political entity in its own right,
despite the unpopular and oppressive process of Russification towards the
end of the 19th century.
Latvia was subject to German occupation during WWI, but on 18 November
1918, just 7 days after Germany surrendered to the Allies, peasant,
middle-class and socialist groups declared independence, and Karlis
Ulmanis, head of the Farmers' Party, formed a government. However,
fighting continued between nationalists, Bolsheviks and Baltic Germans
until 1920, when Soviet Russia signed a peace treaty with the
parliamentary republic of Latvia, recognising its independence in
perpetuity.
By the early 1930s Latvia had lapsed into authoritarianism, and on 23
August 1939 (when Nazi Germany and the USSR signed a nonaggression pact)
Latvia was placed in the Soviet sphere of influence. By August 1940 the
nation had been placed under Soviet military occupation, communists had
won 'elections', and Latvia had been 'accepted' as a republic of the USSR.
Nationalisation and purges began, and within a year 35 000 Latvians had
been killed, deported or had fled the country. Germany invaded the USSR
and occupied Latvia in 1941.
Though many Latvians considered the Nazis liberators and enlisted in
German military units, Latvia's 90 000-strong Jewish population was
virtually wiped out. A large number of Latvians fled to the West in 1944
and 1945 to avoid the Red Army's reconquest of their country, but Latvia's
total losses during WWII were still around 450 000. Under Stalin, another
175 000 Latvians were killed or deported between 1945 and 1949.
The first signs that the harsh Soviet rule of Latvia was relaxing came in
the late 1980s, when Mikhail Gorbachev started to encourage glasnost
(openness) and perestroika (restructuring). Decades of pent-up bitterness
emerged along with mass demands for self-rule. In 1988, Latvian government
members joined public meetings and rallies, while a popular front pressing
for democratic reform won a huge following. In spring 1990 nationalists
won a large majority in the Latvian parliament and reinstated the pre-WWII
constitution but declared a transition period for full independence. In
early 1991 a referendum resulted in a large majority favouring secession
from the USSR, and on 21 August, two days after a coup attempt against
Gorbachev in Moscow, Latvia declared full independence. This was
recognised by the West and, finally, by the USSR on 6 September 1991.
Latvia joined the United Nations less than 2 weeks later. The last Russian
troops pulled out in 1994.
Formal Russian recognition of Latvian independence was acheived in 1996 in
exchange for Latvia reluctantly conceding the Abrene (Russian: Pytalovo)
region - a sliver of country running down its northeastern border. Latvia
began to look towards Europe, courting EU membership by scrapping a law
requiring those those in political office to speak Latvian.
Latvia joined the EU in May of 2004 and NATO in the summer of 2004.
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Culture
Few Latvian artistic figures or works are
internationally known. The country's literature was kickstarted in the 19th
century with the writing of a national epic poem called Lacplesis
(The Bear Slayer) by Andrejs Pumpurs, which was based on traditional folk tales.
The giant of Latvian literature is Janis Rainis, whom Latvians claim might
have enjoyed the acclaim of Shakespeare or Goethe had he written in a
less obscure language.
Latvian verses known as dainas are often short and poetic and have been
compared to the Japanese haiku. In the 19th century, great collections of
folk lyrics and tunes were made by Krisjanis Barons. In fact, over 1.4
million folk lyrics and 30 000 tunes have been written down in Latvia.
The first major Latvian painter was Janis Rozentals, who painted scenes of
peasant life and portraits in the early 20th century. Vilhelms Purvitis
and Janis Valters were the outstanding landscape artists of the time.
Karlis Rudevics, a leading figure in Latvia's Gypsy community, is known
for his translations of Gypsy poetry and his striking paintings inspired
by Gypsy legends.
Latvian is one of only two surviving languages of the Baltic branch of the
Indo-European language family, and speakers of Latvian regard it as an
endangered species. Just over half the people in the country speak it as
their first language. The language spoken in east and west Latvia has
dialectical differences from the standard Latvian spoken in the central
portion of the country.
Latvians are descended from tribes such as the Letts (or Latgals),
Selonians, Semigallians and Cours. In each of the country's seven largest
cities, Latvians are outnumbered by Russians. Over 200 000 Latvians have
emigrated, mainly to Australia, Canada, Germany, the UK and the USA.
Smoked foods - particularly fish - are popular in Latvia, as are dairy
products, eggs, potatoes and grains. Smoked flounder, eel, herring and
pilchards are staples of the country's diet, while specially preserved
lampreys are a Latvian delicacy. Soups and sausage are also popular. In
summer and autumn, fresh berry pies and tarts are abundant. Latvia's
leading beer is Aldaris, but the concoction that prompts the most
curiosity is Riga Black Balsam, a thick, jet-black, 45-proof mixture that
tastes downright revolting. It's been produced only in Latvia since 1755.
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Environment
Latvia is the middle child of the Baltic
family, both in geography and in area. It's larger than Estonia to the
north and smaller than Lithuania to the south, while all three Baltic
States are dwarfed by their eastern neighbours, Russia and Belarus.
Latvia borders the Baltic Sea to the west and north-west. The Gulf of Riga,
a thumb-shaped inlet of the Baltic Sea, pokes into Latvia's northern coast.
The Vidzeme Upland in eastern Latvia boasts the country's highest point,
Gaizina kalns, which rises to a dizzy 311m (1020ft).
About 40% of Latvia is forested, and elk, deer, wild boar, wolves, lynx
and brown bears are prominent forest inhabitants. Beavers and otters live
in the inland waterways and seals along the coast. Latvia is also home to
6500 pairs of white stork (six times as many as the whole of Western
Europe). Latvia's sole national park, situated in the Gauja river valley
east of Riga, has great scenery, walking trails, castles and a wildlife
centre. There are a number of nature reserves, three of which are situated
in the Kurzeme region in western Latvia.
From early November until the April thaw, temperatures rarely rise above
4°C (39°F) and the sun shines only a few hours a day. June to August
daytime highs are normally in the 14-22°C (57-71°F) range. July and August
are the warmest months but are prone to persistent showers.
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Geology
Geological structure. The territory of Latvia is located in the
northwest of East European platform within Baltic syneclise and the northern
slope of Byelorussian anteclise. The thickness of the Earth’s crust varies from
45 to 60 km, which is characteristic of ancient stable platforms.
The Earth’s crust is divided into the crystalline basement and the sedimentary
cover. The crystalline basement occurring at depths of 300 – 400 m in northeastern
area and up to 2000 m and deeper in southwestern area is composed of granite,
gneiss, amphibolite, anorthosite, and crystalline schists of the Archean and Lower
and Middle Proterozoic (from 1.2 to 2.4 milliard years). The sedimentary bed
whose thickness reaches 2000 – 2200 m for the most part is composed of carbonaceous
and terrigenous deposits of Valdai series (the Upper Proterozoic), of the Cambrian,
Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic and
formations of the anthropogen age.
Geological Map
The uneven surface of Paleozoic and
Mesozoic rocks is overlain by Quaternary deposits represented mostly by glacial
and fluvioglacial types (moraine, gravel, sand and others) as well as marine, l
acustrine and alluvial sediments of a thickness of several tens of meters.
Geological crustal section across Baltic countries
Natural resources. Iron ores are known to occur in
the crystalline basement at a depth of 700 m
(Limbazhsky area). In Cambrian and Ordovician deposits, Kuldigskoe small oil field
was discovered in 1965. Deposits of gypsum stone, of quartz, foundry and glass
sands, dolomites, and various clays are confined to Devonian deposits.
Limestone is associated with Permian deposits; brown coal of no commercial
significance and quartz sand are associated with Jurassic deposits. Clays,
sands, sand and gravel formations used as construction material are abundant
in anthropogenic sediments as well as large deposits of peat. Amber locally
occurs on the seashore of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. There are mineral
springs.
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Getting Around
Large towns (with population): Riga (736 000),
Daugavapils (113 000), Liepaja (86 676), Jurmala (58 975), Ventspils (44 000)
Riga's airport is at Jurmala, 14km (8mi) west of the city centre. The
airport is connected to the capital by bus and taxi.
Buses and, to a lesser extent, trains go just about everywhere in Latvia,
although services are less frequent to off-the-beaten-track destinations.
Both are cheap and slow. Riga has a comprehensive network of trams,
trolleys and buses.
Driving and bicycling in Latvia are popular, as the main roads are good
and distances aren't great. Most of the major car rental agencies have
offices in Riga and at the airport. Driving is done on the right side, and
there are 24-hour petrol stations along all the major roads. The Tourist
Club of Latvia offers a nine-day cycling itinerary round Vidzeme and
Latgale (eastern Latvia) plus three days in and around Riga.
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Accommodation
Hotels:
Latvia enjoys a good range of modest accommodation, left over from
the pre-independence days, including large hotels and smaller pension-type
establishments
Website: http://www.allhotels.lv
Camping:
Most of Latvia’s campsites are located along main highways and the Gulf of Riga,
especially the resort of Jurmala
Rural Accommodation:
Advice on farm holidays, bed & breakfast and self-catering cottages may be
obtained from the Latvian Country Tourism Association
Website: http://www.celotajs.lv
Youth Hostels:
There are 10 hostels in the network. Information on youth accommodation is
available from Hostelling Latvia
Website: http://www.hostellinglatvia.com
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Further Reading
- History of Latvia. Brochure, Published by the Latvian Institute, Riga, Latvia,32 pages.
- Grigialis A.A. et al. The geological structure and oil and gas presence of Baltic
countries. Nedra, Moscow, 1970.
- Geological map of Eurasia. NILZarubezhgeologia, Moscow, 1972.
- History of Latvia - Latvijas Vesture. CD-ROM Encyclopedia. Published in Latvia.
- Valentins Silamikelis. With the Baltic flag Through three occupations.
Published by Jumava, 316 pages, In English.
- Tour map of Latvia. In Latvian and English. Scale: 1:550 000.
- Baltic States and Kaliningrad region Road Atlas. Road atlas of the Baltic states and
Kaliningrad.72 city and town plans and place name index is included. Jana Seta,
152 pages.
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