Explore Latvia

Location:
Latvia

Currency:
Latvian lat (LVL)

Communications:
The telephone code for Latvia: + 371

About:
Latvia, an ancient Baltic land, was controlled over the centuries by many factions, including the wide-reaching Russian empire of Catherine the Great.

After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. It quickly embraced the west, joined the United Nations, and began a rebuild of its economic base.

Latvia is a fertile land with a strong dairy industry, and a solid textile, chemical and electronic manufacturing base. Riga, the capital city, is a significant Baltic seaport.

The long, sandy coastline facing the Baltic, and its interior beauty and history are growing attractions for tourists from Europe and the Americas.

Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.