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. 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. Home to 605,802 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 (3.3–32.8 ft) above sea level, on a flat and sandy plain.
Zolitūde is mainly an apartment house neighbourhood located in the western part of Riga, the capital of Latvia. Zolitūde is a centrally planned estate, consisting mostly of prefabricated concrete block Brutalist style homes built in late Soviet times. Construction started in 1984, and was mostly halted in 1991, when Latvia obtained its independence from the USSR. Large parts of the population, as in similar neighbourhoods of Riga, are Russian speaking. Zolitūde had been a mixture of council housing and co-operative flats, but many properties have been privatised since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Purvciems is a neighbourhood in the Vidzeme Suburb of Riga, Latvia. Its name literally translates as "marsh village". It is located on the east bank of the River Daugava, to the east of the City Centre and is defined roughly as the area between A. Deglava Iela and Ieriķu Iela. The area is characterised by apartment blocks from the late Soviet and the first years after the restoration of Latvian independence (1980s–1990s), though there is also some detached housing. The district is Latvian and Russian-speaking.
Vecrīga is the historical center and a neighbourhood of Riga, Latvia, located in the Central District on the east side of Daugava River. Vecrīga is famous for its old churches and cathedrals, such as Riga Cathedral and St. Peter's Church.
Maskavas forštate also known as Maskavas priekšpilsēta and colloquially as Maskačka, is a neighbourhood of Riga situated on the right bank of the Daugava. The neighborhood is located to the south of Old Riga along the road historically connecting Riga to Moscow, from which its name is derived.
The House of the Blackheads is a building situated in the old town of Riga, Latvia. The original building was erected in 1334 as a warehouse, meeting and celebration place for merchants. It was the biggest public building of Riga. From mid 15th century it was also used by Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried merchants, shipowners and foreigners in Riga. Major works were done in the early 17th century, adding most of the Mannerist ornamentation. In the 19th century some of the sculptures were made by the workshop of August Volz. Additionally, it is the site of the first decorated Christmas tree, which was erected in 1510.
The Riga Marathon is an annual road marathon held in Riga, Latvia, since 1991. A flat, single-lap marathon course in the Baltics' largest city. The marathon course has been measured and certified by AIMS, the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races and is categorized as a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics. All courses are traffic-free. Rimi Riga Marathon is one of the fastest-growing marathons in Northern Europe. In 2019, there were 25 659 participants over five different distances from 82 countries.
Stopiņi Municipality is a former municipality in the historical region of Vidzeme, and the Riga Planning Region in Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2005 through the reorganization of Stopiņi Parish, the administrative centre being Ulbroka. The municipality consisted of the following villages and settlements: Ulbroka, Saurieši, Upeslejas, Dreiliņi, Vālodzes, Līči, Dzidriņas, Rumbula and Cekule. The population in 2020 was 11,458.
Riga Film Museum is the only museum of its kind in Latvia. It holds various exhibitions that display different aspects of cinema art, actors and film history. The museum was founded in 1988 and is located in two buildings: an 18th-century building located on 10 Peitavas Street in Vecrīga, and the building of Eduards Smiļģis' Theater Museum on 1 Talsu Street in Pārdaugava.
Jaunmokas Manor is a manor house in Tume Parish, Tukums Municipality in the historical region of Zemgale, in Latvia. Since 1991 the building has housed a woods and forestry museum, exhibiting the respective techniques and the history of forestry in the country.
Durbe Manor is a Neoclassical manor house located in Tukums, in the historical region of Zemgale, in Latvia. One of the most interesting classical manor houses in Latvia. Today it houses part of the Tukums Museum collection.
Biksēre Manor, also previously known as Libe Manor, is a manor house in the historical region of Vidzeme, in northern Latvia. The estate has a large 14.7-hectare park with 26 sculptures, and an antiques museum has been installed in the stone barn. The manor building currently houses the Sarkaņi parish administrative offices and library.
Dole Manor is a manor house on Dole Island in the Daugava River, in the historical region of Vidzeme, in central Latvia, not far from Riga.
The Iron Bridge or Semigallia Bridge was a bridge that crossed the Daugava river in Riga, the capital of Latvia. It was built in 1871–72. The bridge was bombarded twice, during World War I and World War II, and was not rebuilt after the last war. The only remains of the bridge are its pillars in the river.
The Southern Bridge is an extradosed bridge built across the Daugava River in Riga, the capital of Latvia. The bridge was constructed between 2004 and 2008, and was opened on November 17, 2008. Construction of the access roads lasted until 2013.
Defenders of Riga is a 2007 Latvian feature film directed by Aigars Grauba starring Elita Kļaviņa, Jānis Reinis, and Artūrs Skrastiņš. The film depicts the Latvian defense of Riga in November 1919 during its War of Independence. It was selected as the Latvian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 81st Academy Awards, but was not nominated.
Mūkupurvs is a neighborhood of the city of Riga, the capital city of Latvia and in Pārdaugava, a suburb of Zemgale. Mūkupurva neighborhood is located in the R part of Riga. It borders Beberbekai, Zolitūde and Pleskodāle neighborhoods, as well as Mārupe parish of Mārupe county, which is adjacent to the D part of Mūkupurva neighborhood. The boundaries of the Mūkupurva neighborhood are a line parallel to Beberbeķu line 5, Krotes iela, a line along the residential massif, the city boundary and Kārļa Ulmanias gatve.
Dream Team 1935 is a 2012 Latvian biographical sports drama film directed by Aigars Grauba about the Latvia national basketball team which won EuroBasket 1935, the first FIBA European basketball championship.
The Pagan King is a historical fiction action film directed by Aigars Grauba and co-written by Max Kinnings and Grauba. The film stars Edvin Endre, James Bloor, Aistė Diržiūtė and others.
