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INFORMATION
Full name: Republic of Latvia
Capital City: Riga
Language: Latvian (official), Russian (other)
Currency: Lat (Ls)
Religion: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
National Anthem: Dievs, sveti Latviju! (God, bless Latvia!)
Newspaper: The Baltic Times, Baltische Rundschau, Business & the Baltics
Places to Visit: Riga, Sigulda, Aglona Basilica, Latvian Occupation Museum, Museum of Horns & Antlers, Museum of Horns & Antlers
Transport: Several international flights connect Riga with Berlin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Helsinki, Kiev, London, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Stockholm, Tallinn, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw and Zurich. Avail the bus route that link Riga with Denmark, Germany, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Russia, Belarus, Estonia and Lithuania. Take a ferry ride to Riga from Travemünde and Stockholm.
Shopping: Riga, Sigulda, Aglona Basilica , Latvian Occupation Museum , Museum of Horns & Antlers
INTRODUCTION
Get a mystic touch of the Latvian countryside unscathed with architectural possessions of Gothic, Baroque and Classism buildings where one can catch up with coastlines swarming with pine trees, pre war towns that still carries the essence of the Soviet supremacy, the silent shores along the Baltic State, the picturesque castles and the mesmerizing river valleys.
LOCATION OF LATVIA
Latvia is nestled in Northern Europe, sharing common borders with the two Baltic States. It is engulfed by Estonia towards the northern region, Lithuania towards the southern end, while with Russia and Belarus towards the eastern end, while the western end is marked with Sweden.
PHYSICAL MAP OF LATVIA
Latvia is enclosed within dense forest covers, with about 12,000 miniature rivers and over 3,000 meandering lakes passing through the province.
Latvia has low-lying fertile plains bordered by hilly terrains towards the eastern end, where Gaizinkalns stands as the country's highest point stretching to about 1,020 ft high.
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Latvia is divided into two historic regions namely:
The Western Dvina (Daugava) River (in north) comprising of Vidzeme and Latgale.
The southern region of Dvina, which consist of Kurzeme and Zemgale that once related to the duchy of Courland.
Along with the shallow waters of Gulf of Riga, the Baltic Sea bay even passes through the northwesterns part of the country. The state's capital city being Riga is positioned on the shoreline of Baltic Sea bay, which is connected with the River Daugava. Daugavpils is one of the chief states, which is streamlined upriver, with Liepaja lying along the Baltic coast.
Latvia is separated into five distinct regions, namely: Kurzeme (western part), Zemgale (central), Vidzeme (Middle land), Latgale, (northern) and Selija (eastern).
CLIMATE OF LATVIA
Get a maritime climatic condition while traveling to Latvia. Jaunt to Latvia during the month of May to September, stretching from spring to summer months, which is supposedly the best moment of the year to vacation. The daytime temperature in Latvia usually ascends to 16°C, while the months of July and August attracts several visitors during this period. January and February experiences the chilly wintry conditions with a temperature falling to about - 4°C especially during the daytime.
FLORA AND FAUNA OF LATVIA
There are about three basic national parks that preserve the country's natural heritage of flora and fauna within the region. Several plants, lichen, mushroom, along with animal species and bird communities thrive along the region.
The western region of the forested area of Latvia is famous for the presence of low shrubs filled with cross-leafed heath, while the eastern region is filled with broad leafy cinna, while the northern and southern region are known for the flying squirrel and the fat dormouse.
Catch up with plants like the age-old pine trees, black alder mires, linden, oak and ash forests that are placed along the steep ravines within the state.
Animals like the black storks or the Ciconia nigra; cliff eagles; lady's slippers, lichens, mosses, seems to exist within the area.
The black stork, the common black bird that has a white belly, a common version of the white stork was found within the region. Among the animals mention can be made of the wild boar, Eurasian beaver, and brown bear that are cozily placed in the region.
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