Welcome to Latvia Welcome to LatviaGeographyThe...

Welcome to LatviaWelcome to Latvia

Welcome to Latvia Geography The State Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport

Latvia is located on the East coast of the Baltic Sea.It is the central country of the Baltic States. ><


><Area 64,589 sq. km (twice the size of Belgium)Time zone: EET (UTC+2), EEST (UTC+3)


><

The name “Latvia” comes from the ancient Latgallians, one of four Indo – European Baltic tribes who formed the ethnic core of today’s Latvian people.

Latvia has one of the oldest flags in the world that dates back to the 13th century.

Freedom Monument


><

The Republic of Latvia was founded on November 18, 1918.

After a 50 years’ presence of Soviet and Nazi occupational powers (1940-1990), Latvia declared independence in 1990 and regained full sovereignty in 1991.

A mass demonstration for independence in 1991


><Latvia joined the United Nations in 1991.Latvia joined NATO and the European Union in 2004.

President Andris Bērziņš and General Secretary of NATO Anders Fog Rasmusen


>< The State President is elected by the parliament (Saeima) for a four year term to be re-elected once.

President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš


><

Presidents of LatviaJānis Čakste (1922 – 1927)Gustavs Zemgals (1927 – 1930)Alberts Kviesis (1930 – 1936)Kārlis Ulmanis (1936 – 1940)

Guntis Ulmanis (1993 – 1999)Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (1999 – 2007)Valdis Zatlers (2007 – 2011)Andris Bērziņš (2011)


><

• Constitution of 1922 (Satversme).• Parliamentary democracy:

• One chamber parliament (Saeima) of 100 members;• Proportional general elections for a four year term;• General suffrage from 18 years, to be elected from 21 years.

Saeima (The Parliament)


><

The official language is Latvian.Latvian is:•A baltic language;•A member of the Indo-European family of languages;•A non-slavic and non-germanic language.Most common foreign languages are English, Russian and German.


><


><2003 – 2007 Rapid economic growth, causing overheating of the economy.2008 Financial crisis, considerable drop in economy (25%).2009 – 2011 Stabilisation and revival of the financial system, return to growth.

Riga Commercial Port


><


><

Latvia is a busy transit corridor between Europe and Asia, at the crossroads of major East-West and North-South transport routes.

Transport and transit trade account for 16 % of GDP.

Main trade partners - Lithuania, Estonia, Russian Federation, Germany, Poland.


><

Rīga is the capital of Latvia:•Founded in 1201;•Home to 700 107 residents – one third of Latvia’s population;•Centre of finance and economy;•Popular tourist destination well connected with other European cities;•Diverse cultural and entertainment scene.


><Rīga is the largest city in the Baltic States:•Listed on UNESCO World Cultural Sites;•Rigas’s Old town silhouette is a European Heritage Label site;•Art Nouveau (Jugendstill) architectural capital of the world.

House of Blackheads and St. Peters church


><

Daugavpils – population – 102, 870 (2011):•The second largest city in Latvia;•Centres in the „thousand lake” region of Latgale;•American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was born in Daugavpils.

Daugavpils from above


><

Liepāja – population – 83, 061 (2011):•The third largest city in Latvia (after Rīga and Daugavpils) and an important ice-free port;•Known as the city „where the wind is born”;•Latvia’s rock and roll capital;•Site of a sprawling 18th century Tsarist naval port.

The Square of Roses and University of Liepāja


><Ventspils – population – 42, 734 (2010):•Latvias’s largest and busiest ice-free port;•Major transit point for oil products, liquid chemicals and mineral resources from Russia, Khazakstan, Ukraine and other Eurasian countries.

Ventspils port


><

Cēsis castle

Roofs of Kuldīga

Beach of Jūrmala

Cēsis castle


><

Latvia’s population in 2011 was 2,229,641 people:•Urban 68%, rural 32%;•Latvians are the historical people of Latvia;•Livs are the indigenous minority of Latvia.


><

The Latvian State guarantees free primary and secondary (high school) education.More than 90% of children attend state schools.The State finances ethnic minority schools or classes for Belorussian, Estonian, Hebrew, Lithuanian, Polish, Roma, Russian and Ukraininan children.


><

Latvia has 466 students for every 10 000 inhabitants, one of the highest ratio in the world.Latvia has a long history of a vibrant academic life and about 60 higher education institutions.


><

37 % of Latvians associate themselves with an organised religion.Latvia’s prevalent religion is Christianity. The largest groups in 2011 were:•Roman Catholic, 37 %;•Lutheran, 34 %;•Eastern Orthodox, 27 %.Strong pre-Christian traditions prevail when celebrating Latvian seasonal holidays.


><

Latvian cultural heritage dates back well over a thousand years.

Latvian traditions, costumes, decorative designs and world views are closely tied to the land and nature and are passed down from generation to generation.

Alsunga dress from Kurzeme, 19th century

Ancient Latgallian dresses of the 11th-12th centuries


><

For Latvians, the four most popular holidays are Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter and Jāņi.

The celebration of the summer solstice, or Jāņi, is one of the oldest and most popular pre-Christian traditions in Latvia.

The celebration of the summer solstice


><For Latvians, singing is something that unifies:•It has brought Latvians together as a nation, and led to the creation of the state;•A ‘singing revolution’ was instrumental in restoring independence in 1991.


><The Song and Dance Celebration is a unique cultural phenomenon that has thrieved for 135 years:•Included in UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity list;•More than 30,000 singers, dancers and musicians participated in the 2008 Song and Dance Celebration.

Mežparks open-air stage with singers


><

The Latvian National Opera


><

E.Garanča in the opera “Carmen”

The pop group “Brainstorm”

E.Siliņš in the opera “Carmen”


><Latvia’s rich architectural traditions thrive on imagination and innovation:• Exquisite, centuries-old wooden buildings are complemented by examples of European

Gothic, Baroque, Classicism and Art Nouveau architecture;• More than 8500 objects have been listed as protected monuments.


><

While renovating the old, Latvia is boldly exploring the new:• Modern building incorporate hi-tech styles and avante garde approaches in commercial

and private residence structures throughout the country;• Major projects of the 21st century are the Latvian National Library, the new Riga Concert

Hall, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

National Library of Latvia


><Latvia can truly be viewed as one huge nature park – white sandy beaches, green forests,

clean air, water and soil, and an ecosystem barely touched by civilization:• A place for tourists who seek to experience a land where nature and tradition have

coexisted in harmony from time immemorial.


><Lush forests cover nearly one half of Latvia’s teritory:• The longest beach in Europe – 500 km of sandy coastline;• 2 256 lakes and 12 500 rivers;• Latvian rivers are the largest spawning ground for salmon in the Eastern Baltics.


><Approximately 27 700 species of flora and fauna have been registered in Latvia:• The Wild Boar is a typical inhabitant of Latvian forests;• Latvia has one of the largest white stork populations in the world.

Wild Boar White Stork


><

Latvia is home for variety of species, including many extinct in other parts of Europe:• 10% of the world’s black stork population nests in Latvia;• Although endangered elsewhere, beavers and lynxes thrive in Latvia;• Yes, there really are “blue cows” in Latvia!

European Lynx


><

Ice Hockey and basketball, as well as bobsleigh and luge are extremely popular sports. The Latvian ice hockey team regularly plays in World Championships and the Olympics.Latvian professionals play in the NHL, KHL and NBA. Other popular sports stars:•Māris Štrombergs – BMX driver, first ever Olympic BMX champion;•Martins Dukurs – skeleton racer, Winter Olympics silver medalist, World and European champion•Ernests Gulbis and Anastasija Sevastova – professional tennis players;•Ineta Radēviča – athlete, European champion, World Championships bronze medalist.

Skeletonist M.Dukurs

Beach Volleyball players M.Pļaviņš and J.Šmēdiņš

Athlete I.Radēviča


><

Latvians have successfully competed and won medals in the Olympics since 1924:•2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics;•15 Gold, 22 Silver and 9 Bronze while performing for Soviet teams from 1956 until 1988; 2 Gold, 11 Silver and 4 Bronze since 1992;•Afanasijs Kuzmins (shooting) has competed in 8 Olympic games;•Māris Štrombergs is the first Olympic Champion in BMX (Beijing 2008).

BMX rider M.Štrombergs

Luge racers A.Šics and J.Šics

Weightlifter V.Ščerbatihs


>< www.latvia.eu

Where proud heritage is building a better future…


http://www.latvia.lv/

<

The Latvian Institute promotes knowledge about Latvia abroad. It produces publications in several Ianguages on many aspects of Latvia

Photo credits:L.Balodis; „Baltijas Koks” archives, J.Bērziņš – Soms (magazine „Sports” archives), Cēsis Town Council archives, Daugavpils Tourism Information Centre archives, J.Deinats, A.Eglītis, JSC Grindeks archives; J.Krūmiņš (Press Department of the President’s Chancery), Kuldīga Town Council archives, Liepāja Tourism Information Centre archives, Latvian National Opera archives; M.Kudrjavcevs, A.Liepiņš (Ministry of Defence of Latvia), LIAA archives; LU Press centre, The National Library of Latvia archives, A.Meiers, Parliamentary Chancellery archives, popgroup „Brainstorm” archives, I.Prēdelis, FIVB archives, A.Tenas (Fotocentrs), I.Urtāns; Ventspils Tourism Information Centre archives; The New Three Brothers archives; Z.Zālmanis (Latvian Olympic Committee), I.Znotiņš (Latvian Olympic Committee).

For further information please contact the Latvian Embassy or Consulate in your country, or the Latvian Institute:Pils iela 21, Rīga, LV 1050, LATVIAPhone: +371 67503663Fax: +371 67503669E-mail: [email protected]: www.latvia.eu


Welcome to Latvia Welcome to LatviaGeographyThe...

Documents

Transcript of Welcome to Latvia Welcome to LatviaGeographyThe...