Everything You Need to Know About Latvia

Latvia is situated in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. The country received its Independence on the 18th of November 1918, and since has been referred to as one of the Baltic States.

Latvia has one of the oldest National Flags in the world which was first used in the year 1279.

It is the 121st largest country in the world based on landmass with a total surface area of approximately 64,490 Sq.km of which 42% falls under the forest area.

Latvia has 12,000 rivers and 3,000 small lakes. Latvia’s Venta Rapid in Kuldīga is the widest waterfall in Europe – stretching up to 270 meters depending on the season.

The White Wagtail is the national bird of Latvia.

The City of Riga is the capital of Latvia which consists of about one-third of the total population. It is also the largest city in the Baltic States. The World Heritage Site, Historic Centre of Riga is known for its Art Nouveau architecture.

Since independence in 1991, the official language of Latvia has been the Baltic language of Latvian, a language closely related to Lithuanian. The ethnic population of Letts is the one that most commonly uses the language.

The other spoken languages are Russian, German and English.

Climate : Humidity is very high in Latvia. The skies are usually cloudy and the sun shines only for about 30 to 40 days per year.

Folk music and dance traditions are a part of the Latvians' everyday life. They are big fans of classic and modern music, theatres and museums.

Considered as a "singing country," it hosts the biggest Baltic Song and Dance Festival which brings together more than 20,000 singers once every four years. Famously known for their choir traditions, a huge number of Latvians are part of different amateur choirs.

The most popular components of the Latvian Food are meat, fish, potatoes and dairy products.

The top five tourist attractions in Latvia are the Capital City of Riga, Historic Town of Sigulda, Coastal Resort Jurmala, Ventspils Port and the Rundale Palace.

Don't wait, plan a trip soon and explore this beautiful country!