The University of Latvia, the Art Academy of Latvia, and the Latvian Conservatoire (now the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music) were established in 1919–22, and the Latvian Open-Air Ethnographic Museum (1924) was just one example of the repositories of national history and culture to appear in the 1920s. It occupies both banks of the Daugava (Western Dvina) River, 9 miles (15 km) above its mouth on the Gulf of Riga. It is yet another country boasting a beautiful Baltic Sea coastline, and it is only one of the many gorgeous, mostly natural, features that this country has to offer. The population grew exponentially in the 1800s, spurred by the 1817–19 abolition of serfdom in Lifland and Kurland as well as by the expansion of railroads (1861). Independent once again since 1991, Riga's Art Nouveau center has won it UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. An ancient settlement of the Livs and Kurs, Riga emerged as a trading post in the late 12th century. Latvia was occupied and annexed by the Soviets in 1940, and Riga lost thousands of people in 1940–41 to Soviet deportations and executions. The city was made a Soviet leader in metalworking as well as in the production of railroad cars and electronics. 58. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It occupies both banks of the Daugava (Western Dvina) River, 9 miles (15 km) above its mouth on the Gulf of Riga. The Latvian capital, the largest city in the Baltics, is a fascinating mixture of proud Latvian tradition and influences of the various countries that have occupied it. Riga Aerial View Latvia. Industry shifted to consumer goods, among them the world’s smallest camera, the VEF Minox. Can't-miss spots to dine, drink, and feast. The Old Town of Riga, Latvia, astride the Daugava (Western Dvina) River. The canal around the city’s Old Town was the fortress moat. The Soviets returned in October 1944, and for the next four decades Riga was the Soviet Baltic Military District’s command post. An ancient settlement of the Livs and Kurs, Riga emerged as a trading post in the late 12th century. Sort by: Distance; Name A-Z; 1 – 15 of 85. Ice hockey, followed by basketball, is the most popular sport in Latvia. Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. Riga. The Latvian capital, the largest city in the Baltics, is a fascinating mixture of proud Latvian tradition and influences of the various countries that have occupied it. Latvia is positioned both in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. (From left) Riga Dom (cathedral), St. Peter's Church, and St. Saviour's Anglican Church in Riga, Latvia. Riga’s German-speaking nobles and merchants retained local privileges under all of the above monarchies. Telegraph (1852) and telephone (1882) connected Riga’s citizens to the world, and modernizing infrastructure, such as gasworks (1862) and a centralized electrical supply (1905), improved the quality of life for Rigans. Latvia has 1,957,200 inhabitants and a territory of 64,589 km (24,938 sq mi). 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. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. If a passenger has arrived from a country with a Covid-19 cumulative 14-day incidence over 50 per 100 000 inhabitants, this person is subject to 10-day self-isolation when entering Latvia. Can you identify the world’s national capitals? Latvia is a Baltic country situated in North Eastern Europe. Riga’s hydroelectric power station went online in 1974. The Reformation gained a foothold in Riga in the 1520s; the Livonian Order was secularized, and, along with the Livonian Confederation, dissolved in 1561. Riga’s astonishing skyline tells the story, as the timeless Gothic spires in the Old Town mingle with the fantastic fa… 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. 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. Find locations. Park Inn by Radisson Residence Riga Barona. Latvia is a country in Northern Europe.The capital is Riga.It is one of the Baltic States, together with Estonia in the north and Lithuania in the south. Riga hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, the NATO summit in 2006, and Latvia’s EU presidency in 2015. Learn about the architecture of Riga, Latvia. Albert of Buxhoevden arrived in 1199 with 23 ships of Crusaders and established the military Order of the Brothers of the Sword (reorganized in 1237 as the Livonian Order, a branch of the Teutonic Order). 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. Search country. Public education tripled the number of municipal schools in the city, serving a diverse ethnic population with instruction in nine languages. To speakers of English in the city was made a Soviet leader metalworking... To most European countries and merchants retained local privileges under all of the charming modern! 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