Latvia
- 1. LATVIA
- 3. NAME AND CAPITAL The capital of Latvia is Riga: is the largest city of the Baltic states. one of the largest cities in Northern Europe. is considered a global city.
- 4. Year of entry in the EU independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 EU: 2004
- 5. Political system Latvia is a unicameral parliamentary representative democratic republic. The unicameral parliament of 100 seats Latvia, the Saeima, is elected by direct voteevery four years and popular. The election for President were held separately in the Saeima also every four years.
- 6. Political system People's Party of Latvia (Tautas Partija) Party of the New Era ( Jaunais laiks, JL) Union of Greens and Farmers (Zaļo un Zemnieku Savienība )
- 7. Total area 65.000 km2 Coastline: 531 km Elevation extremes: - lowest point: Baltic Sea 0m -highest point: Gaiziņkalns,312 m
- 8. Population Latvia has a population of 2,254,653 people. The Latvian-born population is just over half the population of the country and is a minority inRiga, the capital. Other groups include ethnic Russians (27.6%), Belarusian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian and Polish. The population growth is the lowest in the world (-1.5% annually).
- 9. Population Most extended belief is Christianity, divided among the following churches: Latvian Orthodox Church (35%), Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church (25%), Catholic(20%), with no affiliation (15%), Jewish community (3%), a small number of Muslims (1%), beliefs pagan and spiritualist (1%)
- 10. CURRENCY The Latvian Lat (LVL) is the official currency of Latvia The Lat was first introduced in 1922 when it replaced the Latvian ruble
- 11. CURRENCY A reversion to the Lat as the official currency took place in 1993, when Latvia regained its independence. It has been recently speculated that Latvia will adopt the Euro sometime around the year 2008.
- 13. Food and Drink
- 16. Traditions The four most popular holidays are Christmas, New Year, Easter and Jāņi (summer solstice) The last one is the most significant one: Most Latvians celebrate it in the open field The evening light a huge bonfire on the top of a hill Special Jāņi food Girls and boys are decorated Traditional songs.
- 18. Music and anthem Highlights traditional folk songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-99VOCqTcU A rock opera Rock & roll bands http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEzhmYA6iyk&feature=related Latvia won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2002 with the song "I Want" by Marie N http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBRWcn9mFrU The anthem The national anthem "Dievs, Sveti Latviju" ("God bless Latvia!") Was officially proclaimed Latvia's national anthem in 1920, but also played an important role in leading to Latvia's independence in 1918. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxjdcvraOSM
- 19. Geographical features Is located in northeastern Europe North: Estonia South: Lithuania East: Russia and Belarus West: Baltic Sea
- 20. Weather The medium annual temperature in Latvia is among the 4.3 ° C and 6.5 ° C. July, the warmest month of the year, the temperature varies between 16.3 ° C to 17.1 ° C, and in February, the coldest month between -3.5 ° C and -7.6 ° C. The medium rainfall are from 568 mm per year, the highest rainfall fall at the end of summer, autumn and winter.