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Welcome to Latvia

Welcome to Latvia. Welcome to Latvia. Geography. The State. Politics. Language. Economy. Cities. Population. Education. Religion. Culture. Nature. Sport. Welcome to Latvia. Geography. The State. Politics. Language. Economy. Cities. Population. Education. Religion. Culture.

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Welcome to Latvia

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  1. Welcome to Latvia Welcome to Latvia Geography The State Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport

  2. Welcome to Latvia Geography The State Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport > < Latvia is located on the East coast of the Baltic Sea. It is the central country of the Baltic States.

  3. Welcome to Latvia Geography The State Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport > < Area 64,589 sq. km (twice the size of Belgium) Time zone: EET (UTC+2), EEST (UTC+3)

  4. FreedomMonument Welcome to Latvia Geography The State Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport The name “Latvia” comes from the ancient Latgallians, one of four Indo – European Baltic tribes who formed the ethnic core of today’s Latvian people. Latvia has one of the oldest flags in the world that dates back to the 13th century. < >

  5. A massdemonstrationforindependencein 1991 Welcome to Latvia Geography The State Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport The Republic of Latvia was founded on November 18, 1918. After a 50 years’ presence of Soviet and Nazi occupational powers (1940-1990), Latvia declared independence in 1990 and regained full sovereignty in 1991. < >

  6. President AndrisBērziņš and General Secretary of NATO Anders Fog Rasmusen Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport Latvia joined the United Nations in 1991. Latvia joined NATO and the European Union in 2004. < >

  7. President of Latvia AndrisBērziņš Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport < > The State President is elected by the parliament(Saeima) for a four year term to be re-elected once.

  8. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport Presidents of Latvia Jānis Čakste (1922 – 1927) Gustavs Zemgals (1927 – 1930) Alberts Kviesis (1930 – 1936) Kārlis Ulmanis (1936 – 1940) < > Guntis Ulmanis (1993 – 1999) Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (1999 – 2007) Valdis Zatlers (2007 – 2011) Andris Bērziņš (2011)

  9. Saeima (The Parliament) Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Constitution of 1922 (Satversme). • Parliamentary democracy: • One chamber parliament (Saeima) of 100 members; • Proportional general elections for a four year term; • General suffrage from 18 years, to be elected from 21 years. < >

  10. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • TheofficiallanguageisLatvian. • Latvianis: • A balticlanguage; • A memberoftheIndo-Europeanfamilyoflanguages; • A non-slavicandnon-germaniclanguage. • MostcommonforeignlanguagesareEnglish, RussianandGerman. > <

  11. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • NationalEconomyandExport: • FarmingandAgriculturalProduction; • Forestry, Woodworking; • Logistics - Ports andRailways; • ChemicalandPharmaceuticalIndustries; • Culture, CreativeIndustries; • InformationandCommunication Technologies; • ElectronicalEngineering; • DesignandFashionIndustries. > <

  12. Riga Commercial Port Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport < > 2003 – 2007Rapid economic growth, causing overheating of the economy. 2008Financial crisis, considerable drop in economy (25%). 2009 – 2011Stabilisation and revival of the financial system, return to growth.

  13. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • 2008-2009 • 25% drop of GDP; • 18% unemployment; • 30% cuts in salaries and staff. • 2011 • 5.3% growth of GDP; • 30% increase in exports; • 11% unemployment; • 9% growth of production; • 20% increase of tourism. > <

  14. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport Latvia is a busy transit corridor between Europe and Asia, at the crossroads of major East-West and North-South transport routes. Transport and transit trade account for 16 % of GDP. Main trade partners - Lithuania, Estonia, Russian Federation, Germany, Poland. > <

  15. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Rīga is the capital of Latvia: • Founded in 1201; • Home to 700107 residents – one third of Latvia’s population; • Centre of finance and economy; • Popular tourist destination well connected withother European cities; • Diverse cultural and entertainment scene. > <

  16. HouseofBlackheadsand St. Peters church Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Rīga is the largestcityintheBalticStates: • Listedon UNESCO WorldCulturalSites; • Rigas’sOldtownsilhouetteis a EuropeanHeritageLabelsite; • Art Nouveau (Jugendstill) architecturalcapitaloftheworld. < >

  17. Daugavpils from above Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Daugavpils – population – 102, 870 (2011): • The second largest city in Latvia; • Centres in the „thousand lake” region of Latgale; • American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was born in Daugavpils. < >

  18. TheSquareofRosesandUniversityof Liepāja Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Liepāja – population – 83, 061 (2011): • The third largest city in Latvia (after Rīga and Daugavpils) and an important ice-free port; • Known as the city „where the wind is born”; • Latvia’s rock and roll capital; • Site of a sprawling 18th century Tsarist naval port. < >

  19. Ventspils port Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Ventspils – population – 42, 734 (2010): • Latvias’slargestandbusiestice-freeport; • Major transitpointforoilproducts, liquidchemicalsandmineralresourcesfromRussia, Khazakstan, UkraineandotherEurasiancountries. < >

  20. Cēsis castle Cēsis castle Roofsof Kuldīga Beachof Jūrmala Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport Kuldīga – population – 12, 706 (2011): The widest waterfall in Europe „Ventas rumba” and one of the longest brick bridges in Europe are the treasures of this city. Cēsis – population – 17, 873 (2011): One of Latvia’s oldest cities (1206) The Cēsis castle ruins is also used as an amphitheatre. Jūrmala – population – 55, 767 (2011): The largest resort city in the Baltic States, that is alsowell-known for its sand beaches and spas. < >

  21. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Latvia’s population in 2011 was 2,229,641 people: • Urban 68%, rural 32%; • Latvians are the historical people of Latvia; • Livs are the indigenous minority of Latvia. > <

  22. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport The Latvian State guarantees free primary and secondary (high school) education. More than 90% of children attend state schools. The State finances ethnic minority schools or classes for Belorussian, Estonian, Hebrew, Lithuanian, Polish, Roma, Russian and Ukraininan children. > <

  23. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport Latvia has 466 students for every 10 000 inhabitants, one of the highest ratio in the world. Latvia has a long history of a vibrant academic life and about 60 higher education institutions. > <

  24. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • 37 % of Latvians associate themselves with an organised religion. • Latvia’s prevalent religion is Christianity. The largest groups in 2011 were: • Roman Catholic, 37 %; • Lutheran, 34 %; • Eastern Orthodox, 27 %. • Strong pre-Christian traditions prevail when celebrating Latvian seasonal holidays. > <

  25. Alsunga dressfrom Kurzeme, 19th century AncientLatgalliandressesofthe 11th-12th centuries Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport Latvian cultural heritage dates back well over a thousand years. Latvian traditions, costumes, decorative designs and world views are closely tied to the land and nature and are passed down from generation to generation. < >

  26. Thecelebrationofthesummersolstice Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport For Latvians, the four most popular holidays are Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter and Jāņi. The celebration of the summer solstice, or Jāņi, is one of the oldest and most popular pre-Christian traditions in Latvia. < >

  27. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport > < • ForLatvians, singingissomethingthatunifies: • It hasbroughtLatvianstogetheras a nation, andled to thecreationofthestate; • A ‘singingrevolution’ wasinstrumentalinrestoringindependencein 1991.

  28. Mežparksopen-airstagewithsingers Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • TheSongandDanceCelebrationis a uniqueculturalphenomenonthathasthrievedfor 135 years: • Includedin UNESCO MasterpiecesoftheOralandIntangibleHeritageofHumanitylist; • More than 30,000 singers, dancersandmusiciansparticipatedinthe 2008 SongandDanceCelebration. < >

  29. TheLatvianNational Opera Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Contemporarycultureembraces a fullspectrumof arts fromclassical to modern. Latviancreativityandtalent manifests itselfinallthe arts: literature, painting, theatre, symphonicmusic, architecture, opera, balletandfilm. • Notablepersonalities: • Pēteris Vasks, Ēriks Ešenvalds – composers; • Mariss Jansons, Andris Nelsons, Ainārs Rubiķis – conductors; • Inese Galante, Elīna Garanča, Maija Kovaļevska, Egils Siliņš, Sergejs Antoņenko, Inga Kalna – opera singers; • GidonsKrēmers, Baiba Skride – violinists; • VestardsŠimkus, Reinis Zariņš – pianists. < >

  30. E.Siliņš inthe opera “Carmen” E.Garančainthe opera “Carmen” Thepopgroup “Brainstorm” Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • The Latvian National Opera is recognised as one of the finest in Europe. • The New Riga Theatre artistic director, AlvisHermanis, has won global acclaim for his innovative productions. • The pop group „Brainstorm” received the first ever MTV Europe Music award for the Best Baltic Act in 2006. • Co-production animation film „Les Triplettes de Belleville” was nominated for two Oscar awards. • 2012 Oscar nominated film „Chico & Rita”, was animated in Latvia. < >

  31. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Latvia’s rich architectural traditions thrive on imagination and innovation: • Exquisite, centuries-old wooden buildings are complemented by examples of European Gothic, Baroque, Classicism and Art Nouveau architecture; • More than 8500 objects have been listed as protected monuments. > <

  32. NationalLibraryofLatvia Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • While renovating the old, Latvia is boldly exploring the new: • Modern building incorporate hi-tech styles and avante garde approaches in commercial and private residence structures throughout the country; • Major projects of the 21st century are the Latvian National Library, the new Riga Concert Hall, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. < >

  33. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Latvia can truly be viewed as one huge nature park – white sandy beaches, green forests, clean air, water and soil, and an ecosystem barely touched by civilization: • A place for tourists who seek to experience a land where nature and tradition have coexisted in harmony from time immemorial. > <

  34. Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Lush forests cover nearly one half of Latvia’s teritory: • The longest beach in Europe – 500 km of sandy coastline; • 2 256 lakes and 12 500 rivers; • Latvian rivers are the largest spawning ground for salmon in the Eastern Baltics. > <

  35. WildBoar WhiteStork Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Approximately 27 700 species of flora and fauna have been registered in Latvia: • The Wild Boar is a typical inhabitant of Latvian forests; • Latvia has one of the largest white stork populations in the world. < >

  36. EuropeanLynx Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Latvia is home for variety of species, including many extinct in other parts of Europe: • 10% of the world’s black stork population nests in Latvia; • Although endangered elsewhere, beavers and lynxes thrive in Latvia; • Yes, there really are “blue cows” in Latvia! < >

  37. Athlete I.Radēviča Skeletonist M.Dukurs BeachVolleyballplayersM.PļaviņšandJ.Šmēdiņš Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • IceHockeyandbasketball, aswellasbobsleighandlugeareextremelypopular sports. TheLatvianicehockeyteamregularlyplaysinWorldChampionshipsandtheOlympics. • Latvianprofessionalsplayinthe NHL, KHL and NBA. Otherpopular sports stars: • Māris Štrombergs – BMX driver, first everOlympic BMX champion; • Martins Dukurs – skeletonracer, WinterOlympicssilvermedalist, WorldandEuropeanchampion • Ernests Gulbis and Anastasija Sevastova – professionaltennisplayers; • Ineta Radēviča – athlete, Europeanchampion, WorldChampionshipsbronzemedalist. < >

  38. WeightlifterV.Ščerbatihs BMX riderM.Štrombergs Luge racers A.Šics and J.Šics Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport • Latvians have successfully competed and won medals in the Olympics since 1924: • 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics; • 15 Gold, 22 Silver and 9 Bronze while performing for Soviet teams from 1956 until 1988; 2 Gold, 11 Silver and 4 Bronze since 1992; • AfanasijsKuzmins (shooting) has competed in 8 Olympic games; • Māris Štrombergs is the first Olympic Champion in BMX (Beijing 2008). < >

  39. Where proud heritage is building a better future… Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport < > www.latvia.eu

  40. The Latvian Institute promotes knowledge about Latvia abroad. It produces publications in several Ianguages on many aspects of Latvia Photo credits: L.Balodis; „Baltijas Koks” archives, J.Bērziņš – Soms (magazine „Sports” archives), Cēsis Town Council archives,  Daugavpils Tourism Information Centre archives, J.Deinats, A.Eglītis, JSC Grindeks archives; J.Krūmiņš (Press Department of the President’s Chancery), Kuldīga Town Council archives, Liepāja Tourism Information Centre archives, Latvian National Opera archives; M.Kudrjavcevs, A.Liepiņš (Ministry of Defence of Latvia), LIAA archives; LU Press centre, The National Library of Latvia archives, A.Meiers, Parliamentary Chancellery archives, popgroup „Brainstorm” archives, I.Prēdelis, FIVB archives, A.Tenas (Fotocentrs), I.Urtāns; Ventspils Tourism Information Centre archives; The New Three Brothers archives;  Z.Zālmanis (Latvian Olympic Committee), I.Znotiņš (Latvian Olympic Committee). For further information please contact the Latvian Embassy or Consulate in your country, or the Latvian Institute: Pils iela 21, Rīga, LV 1050, LATVIA Phone: +371 67503663 Fax: +371 67503669 E-mail: info@li.lv Internet: www.latvia.eu Welcome to Latvia Geography TheState Politics Language Economy Cities Population Education Religion Culture Nature Sport <

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