Portal:Latvia

The Latvia Portal The flag of Latvia The coat of arms of Latvia Latvia (/ˈlɑːtviə/ or /ˈlætviə/ (listen); Latvian: Latvija [ˈlatvija], Livonian: Lețmō), officially known as the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Republika, Livonian: Lețmō Vabāmō), is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. Since its independence, Latvia has been referred to as one of the Baltic states. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia has 1,957,200 inhabitants and a territory of 64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi). The country has a temperate seasonal climate. The Baltic Sea moderates climate, although it has four distinct seasons and snowy winters. After centuries of Swedish, Polish and Russian rule, a rule mainly executed by the Baltic German aristocracy, the Republic of Latvia was established on 18 November 1918 when it broke away from the Russian Empire and declared independence in the aftermath of World War I. However, by the 1930s the country became increasingly autocratic after the coup in 1934 establishing an authoritarian regime under Kārlis Ulmanis. The country's de facto independence was interrupted at the outset of World War II, beginning with Latvia's forcible incorporation into the Soviet Union, followed by the invasion and occupation by Nazi Germany in 1941, and the re-occupation by the Soviets in 1944 (Courland Pocket in 1945) to form the Latvian SSR for the next 45 years. The peaceful Singing Revolution, starting in 1987, called for Baltic emancipation from Soviet rule and condemning the Communist regime's illegal takeover. It ended with the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia on 4 May 1990 and restoring de facto independence on 21 August 1991. Latvia is a democratic sovereign state, parliamentary republic. Its capital Riga served as the European Capital of Culture in 2014. Latvian is the official language. Latvia is a unitary state, divided into 119 administrative divisions, of which 110 are municipalities and nine are cities. Latvians and Livonians are the indigenous people of Latvia. Latvian and Lithuanian are the only two surviving Baltic languages. Latvia is a high-income advanced economy and ranks 39th in the Human Development Index. It performs favorably in measurements of civil liberties, press freedom, internet freedom, democratic governance, living standards, and peacefulness. Latvia is a member of the European Union, Eurozone, NATO, the Council of Europe, the United Nations, CBSS, the IMF, NB8, NIB, OECD, OSCE, and WTO. A full member of the Eurozone, it began using the euro as its currency on 1 January 2014, replacing the Latvian lats. Selected article - Map showing the statistical regions with their municipalities There are six statistical regions in Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas statistiskie reģioni) are Kurzeme, Latgale, Pierīga, Rīga, Vidzeme and Zemgale. Statistical regions were established according to the main principles set out in the Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (hereinafter NUTS Regulation), further amended. This NUTS Regulation directly concerns all Member States of the European Union and from 1 May 2004 it is also binding upon Latvia. Read more... List of selected articles Salaspils Constitution of Latvia Grobiņa Freedom Monument Riga 2006 Riga summit Rainis Art Nouveau architecture in Riga Livonian War Siege of Sidney Street Bikernieki Memorial 2019 Riga Masters Welles Declaration Anatols Dinbergs History of the Jews in Latvia Battle of Kokenhausen Burning of the Riga synagogues Vija Celmins Flag of Latvia Liepāja Baltic Way Language policy in Latvia Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 Salaspils Jelgava massacres Oto Grigalka Operation Priboi Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940) Remembrance day of the Latvian legionnaires Krišjānis Valdemārs (icebreaker) Andris Biedriņš Liepāja massacres Sandis Ozoliņš Nils Ušakovs Selected weekly picture Memorial to Andris Slapiņš, who was killed by OMON on January 20, 1991, in Riga Related portals Russia Lithuania Estonia Belarus Europe European Union Latvia Dates 1941, June 14 - People from Latvia deported to be resettled at various points throughout the USSR by Soviet Government 1940, June 17 - Day of occupation of Republic of Latvia 1919, June 22 - Joined forces of Latvia and Estonia wins battle at Cēsis during Latvian War of Independence Holidays and observances in Latvia 14 June - Commemoration Day of Victims of Communist Terror 17 June - Occupation of the Republic of Latvia 22 June - Heroes’ Commemoration Day 23 June - Midsummer Eve 24 June - Midsummer General images The following are images from various Latvia-related articles on Wikipedia. George W. Bush, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Arnold Rüütel, and Valdas Adamkus in Riga, May 7, 2005. Corded Ware culture area included Latvia Iskolat flag Stalinist architecture, Academy of Sciences building in Riga Baltic bronze necklace from the village of Aizkraukle, Latvia dating to 12th century AD now in the British Museum. Map of Riga and Reval Lieutenancies, 1783 Baltic Tribes, circa 1200 CE. Local counteroffensives, 1919–1920 Soviet Latvia's 5 rouble note Medieval Livonia in 1260. Maximum reach of Muscovite occupation, 1577 Church of Ikšķile, the first stone building in Latvia built by Saint Meinhard in 1185 Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg Āraiši lake dwelling site dates back to the late Iron Age Krišjānis Barons, 1910 Latvian peasant couple working, 18–19th century Nicholas gate of Daugavpils fortress Flag of the Latvian SSR. British Navy ships in Liepāja port, December 1918 Divisions of Livonia, 1560–85 Soviet offensive, 1918–1919 Valka Town Hall, where December 2, 1917 Declaration of Autonomy was issued. Now Valga in Estonia. May 1, 1919 celebrations in Soviet Riga All of Livonia was occupied by Sweden during the Second Northern War Neolithic bone tools Swedish Baltic possessions, with Polish Livonia Comb pottery example from Estonia, 4000–2000 BC Baltic tribes (purple) in 7–8th centuries Estimated territories under Jersika rule Barricade in Riga to prevent the Soviet Army from reaching the Latvian Parliament, July 1991. Hard times for the fatherland, sons, sons, help! A patriotic postcard, 1916. Winnig's note of November 26, 1918 Duchy of Courland and Semigallia in 1740 Flag of the Republic of Latvia. Latvian Song Festival, 2008 Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Categories Select [►] to view subcategories ▼ Latvia ► Latvia-related lists ► Buildings and structures in Latvia ► Latvian culture ► Demographics of Latvia ► Economy of Latvia ► Education in Latvia ► Environment of Latvia ► Geography of Latvia ► Government of Latvia ► Health in Latvia ► History of Latvia ► Organisations based in Latvia ► Latvian people ► Latvian society ► Sport in Latvia ► Images of Latvia ► Latvia stubs Main topics Things you can do Here are some tasks you can do from Baltic States notice board and WikiProject Latvia: Create: Bikur Holim Hospital (Riga) • Cīņa • Iskolastrel • Raimunds Čaks • Daugavas Vanagi • Suiti Translate: lv:Satversmes sapulce → Constitutional Assembly of Latvia • de:Salaspils (Lager) → Salaspils concentration camp Improve: Kārlis Ulmanis • Dienas Lapa Expand: Latvian Riflemen • Arvīds Pelše • Delfi (web portal) • Stubs Collaboration: Minox Add media: Helsinki-86 • Rainis • Jānis Čakste • Gustavs Zemgals • Alberts Kviesis • Litene (memorial to Latvian army officers) Update: Latvian security laws referendum, 2007 • Līvi • Portal:Latvia Associated Wikimedia Wikipedia in Latvian There is a Latvian version of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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