WELCOME TO LATVIA

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WELCOME TO LATVIA!
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October, 2008., RIGA
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WHAT IS LATVIA?

• Latvia is a country in north east Europe, on
  the Baltic Sea shore.
• Bordering with Estonia, Russia, Belarus and
  Lithuania.
• Area 64 589 km 2, population 2,32 million.
• Official language - Latvian
• The capital and largest city is Riga.
• Latvia is a democratic parliamentary republic.

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Historical development

• The earlest human in the area of Latvia arrived
  in 9th mill. BC.
• Approximately in the 5th mill.BC Finno Ugric
  groups settled here.
• The Indo European tribes arrived in area of
  Latvia in the 4th mill. BC.

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Historical development

• In the Iron Age, the area of present day Latvia
  was populated by Finic and Baltic groups the
  Livs, Curonians, Latgallians, Semigallians and
  Selonians.

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Historical development

• 13th 14th century invasion by German
  crusaders.
• 1237 1561 State of the Livonian Order and
  Archibishopric of Riga.
• 1561 present day Latvia came under the rule
  of Poland Lithuania.
• 1561 1795 Duchy of Courland and Semigallia.

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Historical development

• Vidzeme under Swedish rule from 1621.
• from 1710, Vidzeme in the Russiam Empire, later
  Latgale and Courland becomes the Provinces in the
  Russian Empire.

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Historical development
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Historical development

• In the second half of the 19th century, the Young
  Latvians ( K. Barons, A. Kronvalds, K. Valdemars
  and others) begin a National Revival movement
• 18 november 1918 independent Republic of Latvia
  proclaimed.

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Historical development

• The USSR occupies Latvia in June 1940.
• 1941 44 Nazi German occupation.
• 1945 1991 Latvia was a part of the USSR as
  the Latvia SSR

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Historical developments

• From the midle -1980s a national Revival begin
  with the restoration of national independence.
• 4. May 1990 Declaration of Independence.
• 1. May 2004 Latvia injons the European Union.

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Districts, people and culture
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The regions of Latvia
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Kurzeme (Courland)
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Kurzeme

• Kurzeme (Courland), the western part of Latvia,
  consisting roughly the counties of Liepaja,
  Kuldiga, Talsi, Saldus and Ventspils. The bigest
  river is Venta.
• Historic centre of Kuldiga an architectural
  monument of national importance

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Vidzeme (Livland)
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Vidzeme

• Vidzeme, meaning "Middle land", is also known as
  Livland, though it comprises only a small part of
  traditional Livland.
• Present Vidzeme is the Latvian part of Swedish
  Livonia and Riga. It roughly corresponds to
  Aluksne, Cesis, Gulbene, Limbai, Madona, Valka,
  Valmiera counties and parts of Aizkraukle, Ogre
  and Riga counties north of Daugava river.
• There are many protected areas Gauja National
  Park,Notrh Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, etc.

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Zemgale (Semigallia)
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Zemgale

• Zemgale (Semigallia) is the central part of
  Latvia. Zemgale is bounded by Kurzeme in the
  east, Gulf of Riga and Daugava river in the north
  and Latvia-Lithuania border in the south.
• It consists approximately of the counties of
  Bauska, Dobele, Jelgava and Tukums and parts of
  Aizkraukle.
• There are one of examples of baroque architecture
  Rundales pils( 1736 1768).

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Latgale (Letgallia)
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Latgale

• Latgale (Latgallia), the part of Livonia still in
  hands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after
  the Treaty of Altmark in 1629, so called
  Inflanty.
• It roughly corresponds to Balvi, Kraslava, Ludza,
  Preili, Rezekne counties and parts of Daugavpils
  and Jekabpils counties north of Daugava river.
• Near the Preili is Aglonas Basilica, importent
  chatolic piligrims place from 18th century.

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Seasons

• Spring.
• The beginning of spring is considered the period
  when the days average temperature rises and
  remains above 0oC. When the snow is starting to
  melt, when the rivers are breaking free after
  long months of confinement under the thick layer
  of ice, the nature is awaking. In the southern
  part of Latvia the arrival of spring is observed
  around March 20.

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Seasons

• Summer.
• Summer is the warmest season of the year, when
  nature's processes are more active. Summer begins
  in the mid of June, when the apple-trees and
  lilac bushes have finished blossoming, and the
  days average temperature remains above 15oC. On
  June 21 the sun is at its highest above the
  horizon and it is the longest day of the year.
  The temperatures are gradually starting to rise,
  and they reach their peak in July.

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Seasons

• Autumn.
• First frost means that the autumn has arrived.
  It is first noticed in the beginning of September
  in the northeastern part of Latvia. Then it will
  gradually spread all through the territory of
  Latvia, reaching the coastal area only by the end
  of September. In the same way a little bit later
  the days average temperature will drop -10oC
  below zero - the period of active vegetation is
  over. In autumn there can be a period of clear
  and sunny weather, which is called The Indian
  Summer.

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Seasons

• Winter.
• Winter begins when the days average temperature
  drops and remains below 0oC. Lakes and reservoirs
  are getting frozen, the topsoil is getting frozen
  too and the ground is covered by the layer of
  snow. Normally it snows for the first time in the
  mid of November in the northeastern part of
  Latvia. In clear winter nights temperatures can
  drop as low as -25oC and even lower.

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