Location
Latvia borders to the north by Estonia, Russia to the east, Lithuania to the south and the Baltic Sea to the west. Its strategic location has made it an international crossroad for trade, commerce and cultural exchange since ancient times. Vikings followed the ‘Amber Road’ through Latvian territory along the Daugava River to reach Byzantium, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Colling code: +371
Emergency calls: 112
Time zone: GMT +3

Medical Care: Travellers with medical insurance are entitled to medical care in Riga.

Climate: Latvia’s weather features a temperate maritime climate, with mild summers, moderate winters and frequently high levels of humidity and precipitation.

• In summer: 15.8°C (in the capital 16.1°C)
• In winter: -4.5°C (in the capital -3.8°C)
• The warmest month: July
• The coldest month: January

Population
The population of the Republic is 2,3 million people, of which 59% Latvians, 28% Russians, 4% Byelorussians, as well as Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, Jews and other nations.

Religion
Evangelic Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Russian Orthodox. Since the 16th century Reformation, the Lutheran church has played a leading role in Latvia.

Languages
Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian

Hi - Sveiks!
Good-bye - Uz redzēšanos
Yes - Jā
No - Nē
Thank you - Paldies
Please - Lūdzu
Sorry - Atvainojiet

Latvia Government Type: Parliamentary democracy

Currency in Latvia
Latvia’s national currency is the lats consisting of 100 santims. Banknotes have nominal values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 lats, while coins have nominal values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 santims, and 1, 2 and 100 lats. The lats was reintroduced in 1993 and has been one of Europe’s most stable and secure currencies.

Visa
Persons, who use as a travel document a United Nations passport, a European Commission passport, a EU member state, Armenian, Ukrainian or Turkish diplomatic or service passport may enter Latvia without entry visa.

Industries: Synthetic fibres, agricultural machinery, washing machines, vans, buses, cars, railroad cars, electronics, fertilizers, processed fertilizers, processed foods, pharmaceuticals.

Natural resources: Limestone, peat, dolomite, wood, arable land, hydropower, amber.

Public holidays:

January 1 - New Year’s Day
April 6 - Good Friday Friday before Easter Sunday
April 9 - Easter Monday
May 1 - Labour Day
May 4 - Declaration of Independence Day. If the day is on the weekend the next Monday is a holiday.
June 24 - St. John' s Day Jani
June 24 - Midsummer Day St. John' s Day
November 18 - Latvian National day If the day is on the weekend the next Monday is a holiday.
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 26 - Second day of Christmas