Latvia — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Latvia: capital Riga, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Latvia is in Europe. Its capital is Riga.

Climate

Maritime with cool summers and mild, wet winters; frequent overcast skies

Low-lying fertile plains and moderate hills; extensive bogs and forests; long sandy coastline

Riga has the largest collection of Art Nouveau architecture in the world.

Latvia is one of the least densely populated countries in the EU, with vast untouched forests covering over half the land.

The first Christmas tree is claimed to have been erected in Riga in 1510.

1201: Bishop Albert founds Riga as the seat of the Livonian Order

1561: Livonian Confederation dissolves; Latvia falls under Polish and Swedish rule

1721: Latvia comes under Russian Imperial control after the Great Northern War

1918: Latvia declares independence from Russia

1991: Latvia regains independence from the Soviet Union

2014: Latvia adopts the euro as its currency