Latvia,officially the Republic of Latvia,is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states,along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east,Belarus to the southeast,and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia covers an area of 64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi),with a population of 1.9 million. The country has a temperate seasonal climate. Its capital and largest city is Riga. Latvians belong to the ethnolinguistic group of the Balts and speak Latvian,one of the only two surviving Baltic languages,a branch of the Indo-European language family. Russians are the most prominent minority in the country,at almost a quarter of the population.
Riga is the capital,primate,and the largest city of Latvia,as well as the most populous city in the Baltic States. Home to 605,273 inhabitants,the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga metropolitan area,which stretches beyond the city limits,is estimated at 860,142. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the Baltic Sea. Riga's territory covers 307.17 km2 (118.60 sq mi) and lies 1–10 m (3–33 ft) above sea level on a flat and sandy plain.
The Livonians,or Livs,are a Balto-Finnic people indigenous to northern and northwestern Latvia. Livonians historically spoke Livonian,a Uralic language closely related to Estonian and Finnish. Initially,the last person to have learned and spoken Livonian as a mother tongue,Grizelda Kristiņa,died in 2013,making Livonian a dormant language. In 2020,it was reported that newborn Kuldi Medne had once again become the only living person who speaks Livonian as their first language. As of 2010,there were approximately 30 people who had learned it as a second language.
The Latvian National Theatre is one of the leading professional theatres in Latvia. The building is in the eclectic style and is an architectural and artistic monument. The country of Latvia was proclaimed in this building in the year 1918. On 23 February 2002,the theatre celebrated its 100th anniversary. The director of National Theatre of Latvia since 2006 has been Ojārs Rubenis.
Rigas Laiks is a Latvian monthly magazine published in Riga,Latvia.
The culture of Latvia combines traditional Latvian and Livonian heritage with influences of the country's varied historical heritage. Latvia is divided into several cultural and historical regions:Vidzeme,Latgale,Courland,Zemgale and Sēlija.
Cinemas of Latvia date back to 1910 when the first short films were made. The first cinematic screening in Riga took place on May 28,1896. By 1914,all major cities in Latvia had cinemas where newsreels,documentaries,and mostly foreign-made short films were screened.
Māra Zālīte is a Latvian writer and cultural worker.
The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia is a museum and historic educational institution located in Riga,Latvia. It was established in 1993 to exhibit artifacts,archive documents,and educate the public about the 51-year period in the 20th century when Latvia was successively occupied by the USSR in 1940–1941,then by Nazi Germany in 1941–1944,and then again by the USSR in 1944–1991. Official programs for visits to Latvia of top level representatives of other countries normally include a visit to the Museum of the Occupation.
Helēna Demakova is a Latvian art historian,curator of art exhibitions,and politician. She served as Culture Minister of Latvia from 2004 until 2009 and was a Member of the 9th Saeima and lecturer at the Art Academy of Latvia.
Agnese Pastare is a Latvian race walker. She was born in Riga,Latvia,and is a student of Riga Technical University,Faculty of Transport and Mechanical Engineering.
Boriss Teterevs or Boris Teterev was a Latvian philanthropist and private patron in Latvia.
Agnese Āboltiņa is a Latvian alpine skier. She was born in Riga. She competed at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2013 in Schladming,and at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi,in giant slalom,slalom and super-G. She placed 31st in super-G and 37th in slalom at the 2014 Olympics.
Miss Latvia is a national beauty pageant in Latvia.
Ingmāra Balode,is a Latvian poet and translator.
Dace Melbārde is a Latvian politician. She is a member of New Unity,having defected from the National Alliance in 2022 and was the Latvian minister of culture from 2013 to 2019. In May 2019,representing the political party National Alliance,she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament,where she joined the European Conservatives and Reformists group.
Amida "Ada" Neretniece (1924-2008) was a Soviet Latvian film director.
Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce is a Latvian playwright and author.
Agnese Līckrastiņa is a Latvian chess Woman International Master (2001),Latvian Women's Chess Championships medalist (1996). Doctor of Engineering.
