Corruption Perceptions Index. Riga’s astonishing skyline tells the story, as the timeless Gothic spires in the Old Town mingle with the fantastic fa… It was captured by Sweden in 1621 and then taken in 1709–10 by Peter the Great, with Sweden formally ceding the city to Russia by the Peace of Nystad in 1721. Latvia lies along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. Tens of thousands of people converge on Riga’s Meaparks choral stage every five years for a celebration of Latvian heritage in song. Search country. It occupies both banks of the Daugava (Western Dvina) River, 9 miles (15 km) above its mouth on the Gulf of Riga. The third sector is the strongest in the country, and there are opportunities for foreigners in a few markets. By means of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Latvia came under the Soviet “sphere of interest”, together with the other Baltic States, Finland and a part of Poland. Independent once again since 1991, Riga's Art Nouveau center has won it UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The ķegums hydroelectric power station was completed 30 miles (roughly 50 km) upstream in 1939, and domestic and international flights to Riga’s airport began in the 1920s. The New Town is easily reached by an efficient and modern bus and tram network. Monuments near Riga’s canal mark the spot where five civilians were killed by Soviet soldiers during the independence struggle. Riga is the capital city of the European country of Latvia. Riga hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, the NATO summit in 2006, and Latvia’s EU presidency in 2015. Ice hockey, followed by basketball, is the most popular sport in Latvia. Since Latvia's independence in 1918, it has been referred to as one of the Baltic states. The Old Town of Riga, Latvia, astride the Daugava (Western Dvina) River. The city encompasses an area of approximately 307.17 square km. The historic centre of Riga was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. Latvia was admitted to the United Nations in autumn 1991 and joined the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance in 2004. With the Russian border closed to eastern trade, the port’s transit role declined, but its agricultural and timber exports became the core of the national economy. Address Agent. About Latvia: Latvia is a small but very unique country that is located in Northern Europe, at the East shore of Baltic sea.Latvia is one of Baltic States. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Latvia is bordered by 4 Nations: by Estonia in the north; Lithuania in the south; Belarus in the southeast and Russia in the east. Use current location. The city’s Russian community, which accounted for some two-fifths of Riga’s population in the early 21st century, maintains strong ties to Russia, and it was instrumental in electing the city’s first ethnic Russian mayor in 2009. In 1995, the historical center of Riga, Old Riga, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Riga, Latvia Lat Long Coordinates Info. Biotechnology and information technology are growing economic sectors, and services, notably tourism, are increasingly important. Associate Professor of Baltic Studies and Head of the Baltic Studies Program, University of Washington. Open now. Three Brothers building complex in the Old Town of Riga, Latvia. Telephone connections with the United States are reliable; however, U.S. toll-free numbers cannot be accessed from Latvia. In its 800 years of turbulent history, everyone from German knights to Swedish kings and Soviet commissars have left their footprints, and today Latvia’s capital is an exciting European metropolis at the crossroads of eastern and northern Europe. 58. An ancient settlement of the Livs and Kurs, Riga emerged as a trading post in the late 12th century. Many medieval buildings survive, among them the 13th-century Riga Dom (cathedral), the 14th-century Riga Castle (1330), and merchants’ homes and warehouses. Riga, Latvian Rīga, city and capital of Latvia. Enter ZIP/Postal Code or City. Latvia – country at a glance A Latvian constituent assembly, elected in April 1920, met in Riga on May 1; and on August 11 a Latvian-Soviet peace treaty was signed in Riga, the Soviet government renouncing all claims to Latvia. Nazi Germany occupied the city from 1941 to 1944 during World War II, making it the administrative capital of Ostland, a territory encompassing Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus. Nearby, many elaborate facades in the Jugendstil artistic style testify to Riga’s wealth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 641,007. View a wide selection of all new & used boats for sale in Riga, Latvia, explore detailed information & find your next boat on boats.com. Daugavpils and Liepāja are other largest cities at a national level. For security purposes, it is recommended that visitors use ATMs located inside major hotels or shopping malls. 14 °F: 57. more. Current local time in Latvia – Riga. From 1915 to 1917, however, one of the war’s front lines lay along the Daugava, resulting in heavy damage on both shores; hundreds of thousands were relocated into Russia, and 400 factories were evacuated with all their machinery, never to return. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? The city’s manufacturing sector expanded to include foundries and machine works, shipbuilding yards, and factories that produced railroad cars, electric appliances, chemicals, and, from the early 1900s, automobiles and airplanes. Riga Aerial View Latvia. It’s not often that there are more highlights outside of a small country’s capital city than there are in it. The mayor of Riga is Nils Ušakovs. Across the border, Latvia awaits: scenic wetlands, country palaces, and Saturday’s chef-led tour through the converted zeppelin hangars of Riga’s food market. Latvia lies along the shores of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, and it is bounded by Estonia to the north, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and Lithuania to the south.

Marc Jacobs Snapshot Bag, Fifa 21 Mods, Puerto Calero Nightlife, Sea Stacks Ireland, Motorhome Ferry To Isle Of Man, Google Associate Product Manager, Presidential Debate Cleveland Time, Byron Burger Menu,