Official Country Name: The Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republika)
Country name in other languages:
Lettland (german, Deutsch),
Lettonie (french, Français),
Letonia (spanish, Español),
Letónia (portuguese, Português)
Population (2002): 2 351 400
Area: 64,589 sq. km
President: Valdis Zatlers,
Prime Minister: Valdis Dombrovskis
Government: Parliament (Saeima)
Capital:
Rīga
Largest cities:
Rīga
Daugavpils
Liepaja
Ventspils
Jelgava
Language(s):
Latvian (official),
Russian (widely spoken),
English (common foreign language)
German (sometimes this works, too ;))
Neighbouring countries:
to the north - Estonia,
to the south - Lithuania,
to the east - Belorussia, Russia,
Ethnic Groups (2000):
Latvian (57,6%),
Russian (29,6%),
Belorussian (4,1%),
Ukrainian (2,7%),
Polish (2,5%),
Lithuanian (1,4%),
other (2,1%)
Currency: Lats (abbreviation: Ls or LVL)
Exchange Rate: 1 USD=0,59; 1 EUR=0,69; 1 GBP=1,01 LVL (See current rates at Bank of Latvia)
Telephone Code: +371
Time Zone: +2 GMT
Electricity: 220V / 50Hz
Weights & Measures: grams, meters and liters (metric conversion charts)
For 24 hour information dial: 117, 1188, 7770777
Highest point: Gaizins (311m)
Largest lake: Lubans, 80.7 sq. km
Deepest lake: Dridzis, 65.1 metres
Longest river within Latvian territory: The Gauja, 452 km.
Largest river to flow through Latvian territory: The Daugava, total length 1,005 km, of which 352 km within Latvian territory. But the Gauja with 452 km is the longest river inside the territory of Latvia.
Politics:
member of the World Trade Organisation (1999),
the European Union (2004) and NATO (2004)
More information you can find at
The Latvian institute
General information also here: Latvia / CIA factbook
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