Latvia Wikitravel. Latvia. Error creating thumbnail Unable to save thumbnail to destination. Location. Flag. Quick Facts. Y2aul4_qHK4/hqdefault.jpg' alt='Watch Stag Online Facebook' title='Watch Stag Online Facebook' />Capital. Riga. Government parliamentary democracy. Currency euro EUR. Area 6. 4,5. 89 sq km. Population 2,2. 23,0. October 2. 00. 9 est. Language. Latvian official, Russian widely spoken, especially in Riga and Daugavpils, English widely spoken in Riga, others. Religion Lutheran, Catholic, Muslim, Russian Orthodox, Jewish. Electricity 2. 20. V5. 0Hz European plug. Country code 3. 71. Internet TLD. lv. Time Zone UTC2. Latvia Latvija is a Baltic state in Northern Europe. Latvia is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus on the south east, and the Baltic Sea on the west. The most famous travel spot is the capital Riga, a World Heritage Site. There are also many other great places to see, both urban and rural, such as Liepaja with its unique former secret military town of Karosta and a magnificent beach. Kuldiga with Europes widest waterfall and Cesis with its medieval castle ruins are also interesting. Tourists can also enjoy the wild beauty of Latvias unspoilt sea coast, which is 5. Forests, which cover approximately a half of Latvias territory, offer many nature trails and nature parks. UnderstandeditLatvia is a famous ancient trading point. Watch Stag Online Facebook' title='Watch Stag Online Facebook' />The famous route from the Vikings to the Greeks mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from Scandinavia through Latvian territory along the river Daugava to the Kievan Rus and Byzantine Empire. Across the European continent, Latvias coast was known as a place for obtaining amber. In the Middle Ages amber was more valuable than gold in many places. Latvian amber was known in places as far away as Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. In the 1. 2th century, German traders arrived, bringing with them missionaries who attempted to convert the pagan Finno Ugric and Baltic tribes to the Christian faith. The Germans founded Rga in 1. Watch The Thirteenth Chair IMDB'>Watch The Thirteenth Chair IMDB. Baltic Sea. After independence in 1. Latvia achieved considerable results in social development, economy, industry and agriculture. On June 1. 6, 1. 94. Vyacheslav Molotov presented the Latvian representative in Moscow with an ultimatum accusing Latvia of violations of that pact, and on June 1. Soviet forces occupied the country. These Welsh blokes accidentally went on a stag at the G20 in Hamburg. It became clear when their flight landed at the same time as Air Force One. As the worlds leading society of music professionals, the Recording Academy is dedicated to celebrating, honoring, and sustaining musics past, present, and. Mansfield Town Official Away Kit 201718 Mini Kits, Juniors, Adults 35. Elections for a Peoples Saeima were held, and a puppet government headed by Augusts Kirhenteins led Latvia into the USSR. The annexation was formalized on August 5, 1. During the time of the Iron Curtain, Latvia was a province of the Soviet Union, but the concentration of heavy industry was enormous. Contacts with the West were regulated. The Baltic region had the reputation of being the most urbanized and having the highest literacy rate in the Soviet Union. Season 6 Of Friends. Latvia gained independence on September 6, 1. Between 1. 99. 1 and 2. My Fighting Season Online Free. However, the global recession and the banking crisis hit Latvia brutally, and severe economic contraction and destructively high unemployment returned. The economy has recovered during the last few years, even reaching fastest growth in EU for some periods. Because of a tribal past and divisions between occupying nations, there are regional differences between parts of Latvia which are interesting to explore. ClimateeditThe best time to travel to Latvia is from June to mid September, when it is warm and plenty of local food is available. January and February are the coldest months. October and November have autumn rains and daylight is short. GeographyeditHalf of Latvia is covered with forests which are rich with wildlife. There are many lakes, especially if you go to Latgale region. There are deep river valleys with some sections having sand cliffs on their banks. Heavy industry halted a long time ago, so most places are ecologically clean. The highest point in Latvia is Gaizinkalns3, at 3. Watch Stag Online Facebook' title='Watch Stag Online Facebook' />Madona. RegionseditThere are some cultural and social differences between regions, for example, traditional dress is different from region to region. The Latgale region has its own unique culture and language Latgalian. Error creating thumbnail Unable to save thumbnail to destination. Error creating thumbnail Unable to save thumbnail to destination. Statue of Rolands, Riga Old Town. Riga the capital city with more than 8. Jrmala right by. Daugavpils second biggest city in Latvia. Features many factories and other industries. Jurmala. Kuldga Kuldga is the pearl of Kurzeme, Latvias western region. Liepaja city of music on the Baltic sea coast, which is always windy. Latvians believe that the wind starts in the city and well known Latvian musicians come from there. There is a very interesting former secret military town called Karosta, between a lake and the sea. One of the worlds largest pipe organs. Famous summer event Baltic Beach Party in July. Fantastic unspoilt, white, soft sandy beach. Madona a small scenic town in eastern Vidzeme, surrounded by hills, forests and lakes, capital of winter sports. Sigulda popular town with many interesting castles and historic places. Most popular attraction outside Riga for foreign tourists. Valka. Ventspils hosts one of busiest ports in Europe. It is possible to observe incoming ships. Other destinationseditLatvijas Etnografiskais Brivdabas Muzejs open air museum of the traditional culture of Latvian tribes, near Riga. Livu Akvaparks the biggest water attraction in Northern Europe. Karostas cietums true Soviet prison experience with live prison show as well as night in prison. Based in the Karosta suburb of Liepaja. Open Air Art Museum modern art and installations in nature park, near Sabile in Kurzeme region. Around Latvia tours Local tour operator in Latvia. Tours all around Latvia from Riga, Terbatas 8. Riga, LV 1. 00. 1, 3. Latvian Tour Guides One day tours to Jurmala, Sigulda, Rundale palace, Ligatne, Valmiermuiza and Liepaja, 3. Latvia is a member of the Schengen Agreement. There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented this treaty the European Union except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen members are part of the European Union. This means that there may be spot customs checks but no immigration checks travelling within Schengen but tofrom a non EU country or you may have to clear immigration but not customs travelling within the EU but tofrom a non Schengen country. Please see the article Travel in the Schengen Zone for more information about how the scheme works and what entry requirements are. By planeeditError creating thumbnail Unable to save thumbnail to destination. Riga International Airport is the only airport in Latvia that services commercial flights. For more information on flying tofrom Riga, see RigaGetin. Alternatively, you can fly to Kaunas in Lithuania and take the Flybus to Riga. By traineditSJSC Latvian Railways4 operates trains to Riga from Moscow or Saint Petersburg, Russia with stops at Rezekne and Jekabpils, as well as trains tofrom Tallinn, Estonia via change in Valga. In addition, trains to Daugavpils and Rezekne are available from Saint Petersburg, Russia and Vilnius, Lithuania.