2. Latvia is in north east Europe.
It is the 124th largest country in the world
by area with 64,589 square kms.
3. The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of
four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian
people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.).
In 2004 Latvia joined NATO and the EU. Latvia suffered badly in the
recession of 2009. However Latvia recovered and became
prosperous.
Today the population of Latvia is 2 million.
Latvians are proud of their language and hold contests to celebrate
its proper use.
Mainly Christian, Latvia still celebrate some pagan traditions.
4. The Latvian flag is one of the oldest in the world.
Dating back to the 13th century, it is said to have
originated when a Latvian chief was wrapped in a
white sheet after been wounded in battle.
The sides of the sheet were slained with blood
while the centre remained white.
5. Riga is the secret treasure of the Baltic region.
Riga the capital city is renowned for its Art
Nouveau UNESO buildings.
Ryanair fly
Dublin to Riga
6. Only one third of the population is of Latvian descent, a
legacy of the Soviets under Stalin.
Since the end of the Cold war the resurgence of Latvian
identity and cultural life especially in Riga has been revived.
In 2014 Riga became the European Capital of Culture.
Today more than half of the most visited sites in Riga are
located in the old city of Riga.
The first merchants came to small settlement at the mouth of
the Daugava river around 1158.
The founder of the city was Albert von Bekeshovede.
Population 731,700
7. The Latvian cuisine originated from the peasant culture and is
strongly based on crops that grow in Latvian maritime,
temperate climate.
Rye or wheat, oats, peas, beets, cabbage, pork products and
potatoes are the staples.
Meat features in most main meal dishes. Fish is commonly
consumed due to Latvia's location on the east coast of the
Baltic Sea: smoked and raw fish are quite common.
The Latvian cuisine offers plenty of varieties of bread and
milk products, which are an important part
of the Latvian diet.
8. Latvian (official) 56.3%,
Russian 33.8%,
other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and
Belarusian)
unspecified 9.4%
(2011 est.)
9. In the 12th century AD some of the last pagans in Europe
lived in Latvia. The Pope decided to convert them to
Christianity - by force! They landed at a fishing village on the
site of Riga and built a fortified settlement there. So Riga
became the capital of Latvia.
From their base in Latvia the Germans marched inland and
took the land from the native people.
The Germans made themselves a feudal ruling class in Latvia.
The Latvians were made second-class citizens.
10. In1558 the increasingly powerful country of Russia sought
access to the sea and they invaded Latvia in 1558.
In 1561 the Poles invaded Latvia from the south and they
conquered the Latgale region in the Southeast. They ruled
that area until the late 18th century.
In 1621 the Swedes conquered Riga and Northeast Latvia.
The Russians captured Riga in 1710 and all Swedish territory
in Latvia came under Russian control.
At the end of the 18th century Russia, Prussia and Austria
divided up Poland between them. As a result the Polish held
parts of Latvia came under Russian control. From then on all
of Latvia was ruled by the Tsar.
In the 18th century there was still a German elite and native
Latvians were still second class citizens.
11. In the 19th century nationalism in Latvia and interest in Latvian
culture revived. Krisjanis Barons collected Latvian folklore. The first
Latvian newspaper was published in 1862.
In 1905 the Tsarist government brutally suppressed the
demonstrations and imprisoned the leaders of the Latvian
nationalists.
In 1918 Russia collapsed and much of her territory was taken by the
Germans - including Latvia. The Germans surrendered in November
1918. The Latvians then declared their independence.
The Russians finally recognised Latvian independence by a treaty
signed on 11 August 1920.
In 1921 Latvia joined the League of Nations.
12. In 1939 the Nazis and the Communists agreed to divide Eastern Europe.
Latvia was assigned to the Soviet Union. In July 1940 the Red Army
occupied Latvia and in August 1940 Latvia was made part of the Soviet
Union. Thousands of Latvians were deported to Siberia or shot.
In June 1941 the Germans invaded the Soviet Union and within weeks
they were in control of Latvia. The Nazis then began rounding up
Latvian Jews and murdering them.
The Russians captured Riga in October 1944. In the last stages of the
war many Latvians fled to the west. After the war tens of thousands of
Latvians were deported or killed.
By 1987 Communism was starting to crumble and demonstrations
began in Latvia. In 1988 the Popular Front of Latvia was formed. In 1989
the Popular Front demanded full independence for Latvia. Then in March
1990 the Front won a majority in the Latvian Supreme Council. The
council issued a declaration of restored independence.
The last Russian troops left Latvia in 1994.
13. Uljana Semjonova
the 7th tallest woman
in the world 2.1m (6’ 11”)
Latvia basketball star
She led the Soviet Olympic
basketball team to a gold
medal victory in 1976 & 1980
She never lost an official
International Competition
14. A Latvian Jewish Tailor invented
the jeans (Levi Strauss backed him
financially.
Jacob Davis partnered with
Levi Strauss to bring his invention
to the Denim-Clad masses.
15.
16. The most popular sport is ice hockey.
Lativa have an international soccer team.
Basketball is big too!
17. In 2002 Latvia won the Eurovision Song Contest. In
2003 the competition was held in Riga.
18. Over 50% of Latvia is covered by forest and its one
of the most environmentally friendly countries on
the planet, ranking 2nd in the environmental
Performance index.
19. Latvia declared its independence in 1991.
Following the collapse of Communism the Latvian economy improved.
In 1993 a new currency the Lat was introduced.
Completely free parliamentary elections were held in 1993.
Latvia joined the World Trade Organisation in 1999.
Latvia joins the Euro zone in 2014
20. Latvia holds one of the largest song and dance
festivals in the world (with over 40’000 participants).
Latvia also has one of the largest collections of
Traditional Folk songs in the world , numbering over
300’000.
Choir singers and
conductors are
celebrities in Latvia.
21. In Latvia there are Wild Boar, Elk and Red Deer.
In Latvia there are Wolves, Lynx and Racoon
Dogs.
Latia has many animals which are common in
Ireland such as bats, hares, foxes and seals.
22. die 7.12 years sooner
be 27.41% less likely to be unemployed
make 53.75% less money
be 3.3 times more likely to be in prison
be 3.2 times more likely to be murdered
be 2.1 times more likely to die in infancy
spend 78.63% less money on health care
use 43.91% less electricity
