Latvia

Republic of Latvia

• The Republic of Latvia was founded on November 18, 1918. The name "Latvija" comes from the ancient Latgallians, one of four Indo-European Baltic tribes, who along with Couronians, Selonians and Semigallians formed the ethnic core of today’s Latvian people.

Place in Europe

• Latvia is the central country of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and is located in North-eastern Europe on the east coast of the Baltic Sea.

Latvian Language • Latvian language is formal European Union

language.

National Symbols

The Flag

The AthemThe Coat Of Arms

Monument of Freedom

Latvian Money

• At present, banknotes with nominal values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 lats, as well as coins with nominal values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 santims and 1, 2 and 100 lats are in circulation.

Coins with special design

Rīga - The Capital• Rīga has developed into an important economic, political and cultural

centre since the Middle Ages. Rīga became the capital in 1918. Today more than a half of Latvia's population lives in Rīga, as well as the country's largest manufacturing concerns, as well as central government and administration boards.

Architecture

Opera House

National costumes

Folkdance festival

Latvian Food

• In Latvia, food is healthy, tasty and ecological.

Cheese

Small pies with smoked ham and onions

Black bread

You can meet four seasons in Latvia. Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Nature Latvia is a land of diverse terrain where plains

alternate with hillocks and river valleys. It is stately forests, broad mires and clear waters. It is meadows, fields, groves, gardens and parks.

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31Foto: Ojārs Griķis

ANIMALS, BIRDS AND INSECTS

Cranes

Stork

Wagtail

Ladybird

Rooster

Vild sow

An elk

A hare

Hares in our woods

A lynx

Thanks!