Latvia

Latvia is a country in northeastern Europe. Latvia is located between Lithuania and Estonia on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Latvia’s picturesque landscape features gently rolling hills and thick forests interspersed with numerous rivers, lakes, and marshes. Ethnic Latvians constitute a slight majority of the population, while Russians make up the largest minority group. Riga is Latvia’s capital and the major city, as well as its chief port.

Latvia lies within the great East European Plain. The country’s low-lying plains and rolling hills were sculpted during the most recent ice age. Fertile lowlands occupy about three-fourths of the country. Latvia is a land of numerous rivers, lakes, and wetlands. About 2,550 sq km of the country’s area or roughly 4 percent is inland water. The country has more than 12,000 rivers and streams, although only 17 are longer than 100 km. The Daugava is Latvia’s largest river in terms of water volume, as well as one of the principal rivers of the Baltic drainage area. It originates in Russia and passes through Belarus before entering Latvia.

Latvia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The 100-seat unicameral Latvian Parliament, the Saeima, is elected by direct, popular vote every four years. The president is elected by the Parliament, also every four years.