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 and 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. Russians are the most prominent minority in the country, at almost a quarter of the population; 37.7% of the population speak Russian as their native tongue.
Riga is the capital, the primate, and the largest city of Latvia. 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.
Jūrmala is a state city in Latvia, about 25 kilometres west of Riga. Jūrmala is a resort town stretching 32 km and is sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River. It has a 33 km stretch of white-sand beach and is the fifth-largest city in Latvia.
Vaira Vike-Freiberga is a Latvian politician who served as the sixth President of Latvia from 1999 to 2007. She is the first and to date only woman to hold the post. She was elected President of Latvia in 1999 and re-elected for the second term in 2003.
Guntis Ulmanis is a Latvian politician and the fifth President of Latvia from 1993 to 1999.
The year 1987 in architecture involved some significant architectural events and new buildings.
The Latvian War of Independence, sometimes called Latvia's freedom battles or the Latvian War of Liberation, was a series of military conflicts in Latvia between 5 December 1918, after the newly proclaimed Republic of Latvia was invaded by Soviet Russia, and the signing of the Latvian-Soviet Riga Peace Treaty on 11 August 1920.
The Latvian Academy of Sciences is the official science academy of Latvia and is an association of the country's foremost scientists. The academy was founded as the Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences. It is located in Riga. The current President of the academy is Ivars Kalviņš.
The Latvian Song and Dance Festival is one of the largest amateur choral and dancing events in the world, and an important event in Latvian culture and social life.
Riga Central Market is Europe's largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998. It was planned from 1922 and built from 1924 to 1930. The main structures of the market are five pavilions constructed by reusing old German Zeppelin hangars and incorporating Neoclassicism and Art Deco styles. The market is 72,300 square metres (778,000 sq ft) wide with more than 3,000 trade stands.
Kazdanga Palace is located in the village Kazdanga, Kazdanga Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality, Latvia. The first manor house was made out of wood and the new palace was built in 1800–1804 in the late classical style, designed according to the project by the German architect J. G. Berlitz. Kazdanga established the first Latvian fish pond, now in operation for a number of important agricultural schools.
Ainārs Šlesers is a Latvian business oligarch and politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of Latvia, as well as Deputy Mayor of Riga. Currently he is a member of the Latvian Parliament with his political party, Latvia First, holding 9 seats in the parliament.
Dikļi Parish is an administrative unit of Valmiera Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. Prior to the 2009 administrative reforms it was part of Valmiera District.
Dikļi Manor is a manor house in the historical region of Vidzeme, in northern Latvia. Dikļi Manor was built for Baron Paul von Wolf in 1896 and includes a 20 ha park that is home to around twenty exotic trees, such as the balsam fir and the Coast Douglas-fir. Manor house now operates as hotel.
Bīriņi Palace is a palace in the village of Biriņi (no page), which is a part of the historical region of Vidzeme, in northern Latvia. The castle is surrounded by scenic parks, lakes, a manor house hotel, restaurant, rooms for weddings and seminars. Health serves itself from a variety of activities among horse riding, cycling and boating.
The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, previously Latvia University of Agriculture, is a university in Jelgava, Latvia, specializing in agricultural science, forestry, food technology and related areas.
Boriss Teterevs or Boris Teterev was a Latvian philanthropist and private patron in Latvia.
Ināra Tetereva is a Latvian philanthropist and patron of charities in Latvia.
Brīvības iela is the central street of Riga, the capital and most populous city of Latvia. It is more than 12 km long, cutting across all of Riga, from the historical centre to the outskirts.
The Grand Palace is a palace complex in Bangkok, Thailand.
