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Once upon a-not-so-long-ago time, the mighty Russian Empire swallowed up Latvia, one of the many small countries of East Europe. Latvia is only just emerging from the shadow of big brother, the erstwhile USSR and tasting independence with the collapse of communism. The country is a beautiful one, with scenic vistas, dense forests and sunny beaches and a long history - of repression, foreign dominance, misrule and exploitation.

Latvia became a republic in 1994 and things began to change; today, life is more relaxed and free in Latvia. There are cafés; bars, crowded cinema halls, museums and palaces, finally open to the public. Shops are full of local produce, and the government is trying its best to replace the old economic system with a new, more dynamic and free-market economy. Most importantly, tourism is recognized as an important sector of this new economy.

Latvia is definitely worth a visit!

Lay your hands on one of the finest liquor in Latvia….Riga Balsams! Liquor made of herbs, flowers, juices and various roots is a must try with coffee, tea, cola, ice cream, or with some tasty cocktails!

Historically Speaking

The first tribes to settle in the area now known as Latvia were the Finno-Ugrics, who came here around 2000 – 3000 B.C. Then came the Balts in 2000 B.C, and started trading with neighbouring peoples- particularly the Germanic tribes. The Latvian tribes, despite the efforts of German missionaries, remained nature worshippers -`heathens’ to the Christian missionaries- till about 1290, when a crusading order, the 'Knights of the Sword’ forcibly converted them to Christianity.

From the 13th century till the tail end of the last century, foreign rulers governed Latvia. The first to establish their supremacy were the Swedes, whose rule is generally regarded as the most benevolent, as they introduced universal education and improved the lot of the peasants. By the end of the 19th century, Russia’s influence had started to dominate Latvia.

During World War I, Germany occupied Latvia. Years of resistance and fighting finally led to the defeat of the Germans and Latvia became independent- but not for long. In 1939, the country (which had by then come under authoritarian rule) became a Soviet satellite and was subsequently occupied by the USSR. Thousands of Latvians were killed first under Soviet rule and two years later, when Nazi Germany occupied Latvia - anti Jewish purges wiped out almost 90,000 Latvian Jews. After WWII, Latvia once again came under Soviet rule, only to meet the same fate at the hands of Stalin.

Nationalism saw a fresh upsurge in Latvia in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union and in August 1991, the country became independent. It was recognized as an independent nation by the Russians less than a month later.

Latvia joined the European Union on May 1, 2004 and also became the member of NATO in March 29, 2004.

Habitat

Latvia lies on the shore of the Baltic Sea, between the countries of Estonia and Lithuania, and covers a land area of about 64,589 sq km. In addition to Estonia and Lithuania, it also shares borders with Russia and Belarus. The country consists almost completely of low, flat plains- the highest point in Latvia is at Gaizinkalns, which is 312 m high. The main river of the country is the 365 km long Daugava River, which, along with the Gulf of Riga, suffers from severe water pollution. Contamination of soil, air and water, are serious problems almost all over the country, mainly because of a lack of efficient waste conversion equipment.

Flora & Fauna

Latvia is one of Europe’s more heavily forested countries- nearly 46% of the land area is classified as `forest and woodland, and consists of trees such as pine, spruce, fir and beech. There is only one national park (located in the Gauja River Valley), and 5 natural reserves, 11 landscape parks and 189 restricted areas, where much of the country’s indigenous wildlife has managed to survive more or less intact. Common fauna in the region includes birds, elk, wild boars, deer, lynx, wolves and brown bears; in addition, rivers like the Gauja and the Daugava are home to aquatic wildlife, including many species of fish, amphibians, beavers and otters. In recent years, logging and tree felling have taken their toll on Latvia’s flora and fauna, but they remain relatively unspoilt as compared to most other European countries.