65 Facts About Latvia

Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in Northern Europe's Baltic region.

Its landscape is defined by long beaches and dense, sprawling forests.

Riga, Latvia's capital, is notable for its wooden and art nouveau architecture, a sprawling Central Market, and a mediaeval Old Town with St. Peter's Church.

The Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, which showcases local crafts, food, and music, is one of Riga's museums.

It covers an area of 64,589 square kilometres.

Riga is the country's capital and largest city.

Latvian is the country's official language.

Its official currency is the Euro (€) (EUR).

Estonia, Russia, Belarus, and Lithuania are its land neighbours.

Latvians and Livs are the indigenous people of Latvia.

During an excavation project in Latvia, a very old oak tree dating back to the reign of Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, was discovered. "OAK TRUNK: Found during excavation work for Riga's new Town Hall," a small plaque near the Oak tree reads. It grew on the shores of Daugava 3500 years ago, around the time Pharaoh Tutankhamen ruled Egypt."

A secret Soviet bunker built in 1982 with a surface area of 213,000 square feet could house 250 people for three months. The bunker was built beneath layers of dirt, cement, and metal, and was armed with enough supplies to last months. However, as of 2003, the bunker is a tourist attraction.

Latvians are said to be very proud of their country. Yes, so when you first visit the country and meet a Latvian, don't forget to compliment them or their country. You might be surprised to learn that Latvians are also amusing.

Despite the fact that the majority of Latvians speak Russian, do not mistake them for Russians. Latvians are a distinct ethnic group.

Latvia's forests are often referred to as "green gold." This is primarily due to the fact that the country's forests contribute significantly to the country's economy.

The country is home to many deciduous tree species such as oak, aspen, birch, black and white alder, and others. There are also many coniferous tree species in the area, such as pine and fir. In recent years, the country has also been actively involved in tree plantations.

Giant hangars built in the early twentieth century to house German-made airships in the centre of Riga are now home to 3,000 trade stands. Today, the location is Europe's largest market bazaar.

Latvia is also said to have the highest rate of fashion models, and its women are said to be the tallest among women all over the world.

You might be surprised to learn that Latvia has a shortage of women. There are fewer women than men in the country.

In Latvia, there is a museum dedicated to Hieronymus Karl Friedrich Freiherr von Münchhausen, the world's greatest liar. Yes, you read that correctly! He was known at the time for telling many false stories about his moon travel and his outstanding service during the Russo-Turkish War. A museum dedicated to their hero is now bringing in big bucks for the country. In 2005, Latvia issued a commemorative coin to mark the legend's 285th birthday.

During the early 13th century, Germans ruled over large parts of what is now Latvia. Between the 13th and 20th centuries, the country was under foreign rule.

The four rivers that flow through Latvia and into the Baltic Sea are the Gauja, Daugava, Lielupe, and Venta. The Baltic Sea receives a total of 29 rivers from eight European countries, including Latvia. However, the Baltic Sea does not retain this water because it drains into the Atlantic Ocean.

Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald is Latvia's only Nobel Prize winner. In 1909, the scientist received the prestigious Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on catalysis, chemical equilibria, and reaction velocities.

In addition, Latvia is the first country to produce citric acid from molasses, a byproduct of sugar production. Previously, the acid was made from lemons, and Italy held the production monopoly.

Latvia is home to over 12,000 rivers. However, only 17 of these rivers are more than 100 kilometres long.

Forests cover more than one-third of Latvia's land area. Because forests cover the majority of the country, timber and wood products are the most important products.

Thousands of years ago, forests covered 90% of Latvia.

Because of the high prices paid by European timber buyers, wood from Latvia is illegally sold to the rest of Europe.

During the Second World War, when Latvia was occupied by the Soviets and the Germans, a large number of Latvian Jews were killed. According to legend, the majority of these deaths were caused by Nazi forces.

Latvia had the lowest birth rate of the Baltic States and one of the lowest life expectancies in Europe at the turn of the century.

Venta Rapid (Latvian: Ventas rumba) is a waterfall on the Venta River in the Latvian town of Kuldga. It is Europe's widest waterfall, measuring 249 metres (817 feet) and rising to 270 metres (886 feet) during spring floods. The waterfall's height varies according to the river's water level.

The country also produced the world's first spy camera, the "Minox." Between 1937 and 1943, it was manufactured by the Latvian factory VEF.

During WWII, Latvia saw over 250,000 of its citizens flee the Soviet occupation.

The modern denim jean, which is worn by people all over the world, was invented by Jacob W. Davis, a Latvian-Jewish tailor and American immigrant. Davis invented it in 1870 while living in the United States.

Migratory bird flights pass through Latvia along the Black Sea and over the country.

Acid rain, which is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air, is causing widespread forest destruction in the country.

Latvia is ranked 46th in the Human Development Index.

On January 1, 2014, the Euro replaced the Latvian lats as the country's currency.

Latvia is a developed nation. The United States provided Latvia with $67 million in military assistance in 2014.

A treaty exists between the United States and Latvia to prevent double taxation.

Latvians do not need a visa to visit the United States for up to 90 days. Individuals can travel to the United States for both leisure and business purposes.

Latvia is ranked seventh in the Akamai Q4 2015 Global Average Connection Speeds Rankings, followed by Switzerland and preceded by Hong Kong.

Latvians have a strong sense of space and prefer to stand at least a few feet apart from the other person.

Making eye contact with Latvians can indicate your interest in them. If Latvians feel at ease with you, they will reciprocate by making eye contact.

Latvians do not or use gestures sparingly when communicating. For them, a lot of gesturing can be annoying or distracting. It is considered impolite to point or wave a pointed index finger at someone.

The oak and lime trees represent men and women, respectively.

Riga, Latvia's capital, has over 4,000 standing wooden buildings.

Riga is also well-known for its architecture around the world. Even the United Nations has acknowledged that Riga has Europe's best collection of art nouveau buildings.

Riga, Latvia's capital, was named European Culture Capital in 2014.

The Latvian flag is one of the world's oldest. This flag has been around since the 13th century.

Latvia has 498 kilometres of coastline.

Gaizina Kalns, at 312 m, is the country's highest point.

According to the 2016 Global Peace Index, Latvia is the 32nd most peaceful country in the world.

Latvia was a Polish territory between 1562 and 1629, and a Swedish territory until 1721.

The Russians took over the country until 1918. In 1994, the last Russian troops left Latvia.

Latvia receives a large amount of electricity from Estonia and Lithuania.

Latvia banned the sale of energy drinks (containing caffeine or other stimulants) to people under the age of 18 in 2016.

Agriculture has long been a dominant industry in Latvia.

Latvians use 2.72 times more electricity than Vietnamese people.

Lettland is another name for Latvia, which was named after the Letts or Lettish people.

The capital of Latvia is the largest city in the Baltic States.

While Latvian is the country's official language, Russian is also widely spoken.

Some of the native Latvian animal species include wild boar, Eurasian beaver, and brown bear.

The most popular sport in Latvia is ice hockey, followed by basketball.

Latvia's shape is similar to that of the lungs.