useful information

Republic

Capital: Riga

Surface area: 65 000km2

Population: 2,2 millions

Population/km2: 34

Member of the EU since 2004

National day: 18 November

National anthem: Dievs, Sveti Latviju! (God bless Latvia!)

• The famous route "from the Vikings to the Greeks" went from Scandinavia through present-day Latvia and on to ancient Russia and the Byzantine Empire

• 1/3 of the population live in the capital, Riga

• Latvia owes its name to the Letgal or Latvian tribes (an Indo-European people)

• Russia displaced many Latvians. They now represent only 50% of the population and 35% of the population is of Russian origin. This caused integration problems

• Latvia, like Estonia, is mainly protestant

• Latvian is a Baltic language of Indo-European origin, like Lithuanian

• The European bison is a rare sight these days, but a smattering of these majestic, one-tonne beasts still roam our little continent's forests. A good spot is Latvia, just get between a male and his lady during mating reason and start praying. 

Historical, cultural and natural treasures of Latvia are just beginning to be discovered by backpackers from around the world. The capital, Riga, offers spectacular architecture and bustling night life. Outside Riga, there are unspoiled beaches, vast forests and picturesque villages on offer.