1. The Latvian flag is one of the oldest in the world. The first mentions of it appeared in the 13th century.
2. Official official language- Latvian.
3. Only Lithuanian is a related language to the Latvian language.
4. In the territory of Eastern Latvia, in Latgale, the Latgalian dialect is widespread.
5. Most often used when communicating with foreigners English language. German and French are spoken less frequently.
6. The national stone of Latvia is amber, the bird is the white wagtail.
7. Also the symbol of Latvia is the crane.
8. There are 109 regions and only 9 republican cities in Latvia.
9. The population of Latvia is 63% Latvians, 27% Russians, 3% Belarusians, as well as Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, and Jews.
10. Since 1999, Latvia has been a member of the WTO, since 2004 a member of NATO and European Union, and since 2007 a member of the Schengen Agreement.
11. In 2014, Latvia switched to the euro.
12. Riga is the largest city in the Baltic countries.
13. There is no metro in Riga, although construction was planned in Soviet times.
14. National currency - lat. For a long time was one of the most expensive currencies in the world. 1 lat = $0.5 or?0.7. Banknotes started from five lats, smaller only in coins.
15. In Latvia there is a category of citizens called stateless persons. And there is even such a passport (alien’s passport).
16. The Latvian language has seven cases and two genders, and the stress in most Latvian words falls on the first syllable.
17. In 1999, Vaira Vike-Freiberga became the President of Latvia - the first female president in Eastern Europe.
18. Travel on public transport costs?0.60. You can buy for several trips, then travel will be cheaper. Public transport equipped with air conditioning and runs on schedule. Each stop has a traffic pattern and timetable.
19. Old Riga is included in the UNESCO list of cultural attractions.
21. In Latvia, just like in Estonia, they pay the so-called parental salary - how much you earned before going on maternity leave is what you will be paid for a year and a half after the birth of the child.
22. Latvia has a professional army; it numbers only about six thousand military personnel.
23. Latvia celebrates Independence Day on November 18.
24. Riga is the birthplace of one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe.
25. Latvia has a long tradition of brewing. The brewery in Cesis is considered one of the oldest in Northern Europe. The first mentions date back to 1590.
26. Many films were filmed in Riga: “Seventeen Moments of Spring”, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, “Long Road in the Dunes”, “The Shield and the Sword”, “The Prisoner of the Chateau d'If”, “A Purely English Murder” and many others.
27. The most popular and famous resort in Latvia - Jurmala - is the venue for such concerts as “New Wave”, “Voting KiViN”, “Jurmalina”.
28. Most Old city Latvia - Ludza. The first chronicles date back to 1177.
29. Latvia is located in Northern Europe, and not in Eastern Europe, as is commonly believed.
30. The tallest building in Latvia is “Z-Towers”, 135 meters. The tallest building in Latvia and the third tallest in Europe is the Riga TV and Radio Tower (368.5 meters).
31. Latvia (in the 17th century, the Principality of Courland) had colonies in Africa and the Caribbean.
32. In 2003, the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Riga.
33. In 2006, Latvia became the first post-Soviet state to host a NATO summit.
34. The 2006 World Hockey Championship was held in Riga.
35. Riga Central Market is the largest in the Baltics and one of the largest in Europe, with an area of 72,000 m². It is also included in the UNESCO list of cultural sites.
36. The pavilions of the central market are former hangars for airships.
37. One of the most popular holidays among Latvians - Ligo - is celebrated on June 23-24 on the day summer solstice and is accompanied folk festivals. According to tradition, the most short night The year should be spent around the fire, staying awake, singing songs and enjoying traditional dishes - cheese with cumin and beer. During the holiday period, 5% of total beer consumption per year is drunk in Latvia.
38. There are a lot of types of beer in Latvia; there is simply no tasteless beer here.
39. Alcohol can be purchased in stores only until 22:00.
40. Ventas rumba (Kuldyga) - the widest waterfall in Europe. (249 meters)
41. Forests occupy almost 50% of the entire territory of the country.
42. The three stars on the coat of arms of Latvia and in the hands of the woman Freedom symbolize the three regions of Latvia - Kurzeme-Zemgale, Vidzeme and Latgale.
43. The flag of Latvia is often confused with the flag of Austria.
44. In Latvia there are two students per capita - this is one of the highest rates in the world.
45. Latvia is the only one of the Baltic republics that has a circus.
46. In Riga there are exemplary buildings built in the art nouveau style.
47. The Dartz Motorz company from Riga produces the world's most expensive armored SUVs under the Prombron brand.
48. There are more women than men in Latvia.
49. Russia in Latvia is called Krievia from the name of the Krivichi tribe.
50. Gray peas with lard are, of course, the most important Latvian dish; herring with cottage cheese and sour cream is one of the most unusual dishes.
51. In the Latvian calendar memorable days more than holiday ones.
52. Riga Airport is the largest in the Baltics.
53. Latvia is one of the top 10 fastest Internet countries in the world.
54. There is no official religion in the country, but the majority of the believing population are Lutherans.
55. 99.9% of the country is covered by a GSM network. About 80% is a 4G network, and the fee is very small. Everything is without a limit, connecting to all networks costs about? 10–15 per month.
56. In Latvia there is a law banning smoking in public places, prohibiting smoking within ten meters of a public place.
57. The tax on tobacco products is 80% of their cost.
58. By environmental safety Latvia ranks second in the world.
59. The country is very high level Literacy among adults: 99.8% received secondary education.
60. Average duration Life expectancy for men is about 77 years, and for women - 82 years.
61. Riga is home to SSE (Stockholm School of Economics), one of the top 20 universities in Europe in the field of economics and finance, according to the Financial Times.
62. Latvia boasts large deposits natural resources- limestone, peat, dolomite and amber.
63. One of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the Baltics is located in Latvia.
64. There are more than a million songs in Latvian folklore - they are called dainas.
65. Riga is home to one of the oldest museums in Latvia - the Museum of Nature, one of the five best technical museums Europe - the Riga Motor Museum, the only Porcelain Museum and the Aviation Museum in the Baltic countries. And also the only Museum of the Sun in the world.
66. Janis and Liga are traditional Latvian names.
67. Valentine's Day and Halloween are very popular in Latvia.
68. In 2015, Riga will host Euro Pride - a parade of European sexual minorities.
69. Latvians were the first to make a whole unique show out of wind tunnel flights, earning worldwide attention thanks to their participation in the closing ceremony Olympic Games in Turin.
70. In 2012, Jackie Chan filmed his film in this wind tunnel.
71. The world's first Christmas tree was installed in Riga on the main market square in 1510. Homeland Christmas tree Strasbourg is considered to be, but in Riga the festive tree began to be installed 95 years earlier.
72. Sigulda has the only bobsleigh track in Eastern Europe.
73. Most famous musical group from Latvia - “Brainstorm” (in the homeland of “Prāta Vētra”), founded back in 1989.
74. The famous dreamer Carl Friedrich Hieronymus von Munchausen - in fact a real man, born in Germany, but most lived his life in Latvia.
75. Black, plain and with various fillings, as well as sweet and sour bread, sprats, and canned fish in general, chocolate, marshmallows and other various sweets and candies from the Laima factory, chocolate cheesecakes "Karums", processed cheese "Dzintars" ", cheese with cumin - this is an incomplete list of product names that are still recognizable and associated with Latvia.
76. Laima Vaikule, Valdis Pelsh, Raymond Pauls, Mikhail Zadornov - all from Latvia.
77. Latvia is the only country in the Baltics where the World Motocross Championship in the MX1 class is held.
78. In Latvia there is a law prohibiting the ownership of fighting breed dogs.
79. The world's first portable mini-video camera was invented back in 1937 by Latvian Walter Zapp. And the first cinema to start broadcasting sound films throughout the Baltics was the Riga cinema.
80. It is not necessary to buy a New Year tree; you can cut down the one you like in the forest, but there are restrictions on the height and diameter of the spruce trunk.
81. On the day of a public holiday, a flag must hang on every building; if there is not one, then a fine is issued.
82. Receiving secondary education in Latvian schools lasts 12 years.
83. In Latvia you can find the rarest language in Europe - Livonian, which is now spoken by approximately 200 Latvian citizens.
84. Riga is the only city in Europe in which five different religions coexist with their temples.
85. In Latvia, you can take the manual and manual driving exams separately. automatic transmission transmission
86. In Latvia, you must take the “moped” category with any engine size.
87. In Latvia, children under 16 years old must take a bicycle license.
88. In Latvia, for driving while intoxicated, you are sent to prison (up to 15 days), your license is taken away (up to two years) and a fine is issued (up to? 2000), and the car is parked until the fine is paid.
89. In Latvia there is a municipal police.
90. The most popular surname in Latvia is Berzins, first name is Janis.
The capital of Latvia, Riga, is separated in a straight line from St. Petersburg by 490 km. Short distance and long period general history did not help Russians discover all the secrets and mysteries of this small Baltic country.
Formerly the Principality of Courland in the 17th century, modern Latvia is part of the EU and NATO.
Residents of the country like to call their country "Feast of Songs". Its shape on the world map resembles the body of a small chicken.
Since the Soviet period of history in the minds of Russians Latvia is associated with three things- Riga balsam, sprats and Dzintars perfume.
Few people know that the same Baron Munchausen lived in this country for a long time. The famous dreamer and inventor was a very real person. Born in Germany, he chose Latvia for his life.
Very often you can hear how Latvia is called the country of chimney sweeps and amber. They became symbols of the state many centuries ago, along with the wagtail and the crane.
Latvians are very careful about their history. Quantity memorable dates in their calendar significantly exceeds the number of holidays celebrated in the state.
Those who say that Latvia is in Eastern Europe are mistaken. It is located in its northern part. The country includes 109 territories.
Things are worse with cities in Latvia. There are only 9 large urban settlements in it.
Half of Latvia's territory is occupied by forests. On an area of 64.6 thousand square meters. km there are 12 thousand rivers and 3 thousand lakes.
Despite this abundance of reservoirs, finding a place to rest on their shores is quite difficult. All of them belong to private individuals, who determine the procedure for visiting the territory under their ownership.
Latvia can be proud of the fact that it is recognized as the largest salmon spawning ground in the Baltics.
Latvians like to spend their weekends on the beaches of the Gulf of Riga.
Main resort town countries - Jurmala. Its sandy shore was once very loved by the General Secretaries of the CPSU Central Committee Brezhnev and Khrushchev.
Latvians take the ecology of their country very seriously. More than 20% of its territory is a protected area. Black storks, red foxes, beavers and deer thrive here.
The country also has its own waterfall. It is famous for being the widest in Europe. It is located on the Venta River.
Recently, Latvia has adopted the French style grow lavender. Its fields can be found near a place called Kitas.
It is very interesting to look at the architecture of the country’s cities, which are reflected various styles, characteristic of certain historical eras.
The country's tallest building was named "Z-Towers". By Latvian standards it is a real giant. Its height reaches 135 meters.
Another Latvian high-rise one of the three buildings of the European Union - it became the country's main TV tower. Its height is 368.5 meters. At around 90 meters there is an observation deck.
Amazing fact: Latvia is the only Baltic country that has its own circus.
This is not the only thing that can surprise you in this country. In the city of Karosta tourists who love extreme adventures can stay overnight in a prison-themed hotel.
The oldest city in the country is Ludza. Its history begins in 1177.
There is still a narrow gauge railway in Latvia Railway, along which a passenger train runs. Her age is over one hundred years.
Latvians are big fans of their capital. It was founded by German crusaders. They chose the harbor in the lower reaches as the site for the construction of Riga. Western Dvina. In Latvia this river is called the Daugava.
The history of the city dates back to 1201. Modern Riga is the largest city not only in the country, but also in the Baltics. A third of the state's population lives in it. It is divided into new and old parts.
Riga is the birthplace of Sergei Eisenstein. The Latvian capital has a lot in common with cinema. Filmed in the old part of the city, known as Vetsriga a large number of documentaries and feature films.
Jauniela Street is familiar to many based on films about the Soviet intelligence officer Stirlitz. It also filmed stories about the legendary English detective Sherlock Holmes.
During Soviet times, it was planned to build a metro in the city, but the project was never implemented. There are a lot of interesting and surprising things in Riga. Two cats officially serve in her mayor's office - Kuzya and Muris.
The old part of the city is under UNESCO protection and is part of it historical heritage. The world's first Christmas tree was installed on New Year on the Riga market square. This happened in 1510.
The famous capital market occupies an area of 72 thousand square meters. meters. It is considered the largest in the Baltics. Airships used to be stored in its pavilions.
On the streets of the modern historical part of Riga you can find today the oldest European pharmacies.
In 2014, Riga was awarded the honorary title: she was recognized as the most cultural capital Europe. In the city you can find many buildings built in the Art Nouveau style.
Riga residents are big fans of coming up with original things. An example of this would be Riga restaurant Hospitalis Restaurant. The idea for the design of the establishment Catering can be called shocking.
The interior of the unusual restaurant is made in the style of a hospital, in which the chairs are replaced by couches and there is its own ward for the insane.
National cuisine of the country
The national cuisine of Latvians consists of simple but very satisfying dishes. They say that in Latvia Sorrel soup is very popular. The residents of the country themselves did not notice any particular passion for this dish.
Has a special taste Latvian Rye bread . It is baked according to ancient recipes and is recognized by experts as unique in its composition.
In traditional folk holidays they cook in the country pies with bacon and onions, baked rack of dairy veal, aged in juniper berries and currant leaves.
The main Latvian dish is gray peas with lard. Very often you can find on the tables of Latvians herring with cottage cheese and sour cream. It has a very delicate taste.
Latvians love to cook and all sorts of unusual things. Among them dumplings with cheese, cream soups, rhubarb marshmallows, dandelion honey, lilac ice cream and much more.
Most often Latvians drink for festive tables beer and kvass. They are cooked according to traditional old recipes. The first Lithuanian brewery was built in the castle of the city of Bauska.
In the 18th century, 700 breweries brewed the intoxicating drink in the country. Their products were considered the best in Europe.
Latvians - they are not always Latvians
The population of Latvia is considered one of the most educated in the EU. There are two students for every one person working here..
Latvians cannot be called wealthy people. More than 26% of them live below the poverty line.
Citizens of the country are called Latvians. People belonging to this nationality are called Latvians. They make up 63% of total number residents of the country.
The second largest people inhabiting the state are Russians. Their number is approximately 27%.
The number of women in the country exceeds the number of men. Their life expectancy is 82 years. Men live 5 years less.
Most Latvian women have good figures and almost model appearance. They are considered the tallest in the world. Their average height is 170 cm.
The main characteristic of Latvians is individualism. They are laconic and reserved, do not like to make any promises and rely only on themselves in everything. Most of all they love to appeal to reason.
They are very conservative and carefully preserve their traditions. In the Latvian family there is a matriarchal structure.
Language and writing
The official state language of the country is Latvian. It is spoken by just over 2 million people in the world. The Latvian language has seven cases and two genders.
It is very similar to Lithuanian. The main difference between these two languages is stress. In Latvians it falls on the first syllable of most words.
Almost 40% of the country's population speaks excellent Russian. But he doesn’t do it very willingly. The attitude of Latvians towards Russians is not very friendly.
Latvian writing appeared about 400 years ago.
Traditions and holidays
In November the country celebrates its independence day. He passes November 18th. Every citizen of this country must hang the national flag on his home on this day.
It is one of the oldest in the world. Its history begins in the 13th century. Only the flag of Denmark is older than the Lithuanian one.
Very often the Latvian flag is confused with the Austrian one. Anyone who does not display the flag of Latvia on its independence day will be subject to a heavy fine.
The country's second most popular holiday is Ligo.. It takes place on the day of the summer solstice. Most people in the country spend the shortest night of the year dancing around bonfires.
According to Latvian statistics, during Ligo celebrations, residents of the country drink 5% of their annual beer consumption.
Latvians love to celebrate Valentine's Day and Halloween.
There is no official religion in the country, so every people living in the country celebrates and honors the holidays recognized by their faith.
The biggest superstitions of Latvians are related to Jan's night. At this time, according to local legends, witches fly through the sky. In order to protect your home from their penetration, the doors of the house are decorated with rowan branches.
It is believed that on this night the fern blooms for just a moment. Everyone wants to see this. Anyone who bathes naked in the dew in the morning after this witch's night will receive greater strength and health.
The main celebration of this night takes place on Janova Gora.
The end of winter is associated with the celebration of Metheni. On this day, ditties are sung, sleigh rides and pork heads prepared according to a special Latvian recipe are eaten.
In fact, this is Russian Maslenitsa - a holiday of farewell to winter and welcoming of spring. These festivities are especially fun in Daugavpils.
The longest the night before Christmas is associated with mummers' festivities. Wrapped in a long rope tied to a log, citizens walk cheerfully and noisily along the streets of Latvian cities.
Celebration of Orthodox Easter in this country intertwined with pagan traditions.
Except traditional preparation Easter cake and colored eggs, Latvians go to the sea to scare the seagulls.
It is believed that colored eggs bring good luck, so they are hidden in secluded places.
Latvians love to sing. Every year it is held here a large number of music festivals.
Other interesting facts
Favorite jeans for most people on the planet were first sewn in 1870 by an American tailor of Latvian origin, Jacob Davis. His real name is Yakov Yofis.
He emigrated from Latvia to America in 1854. The durable and durable pants he invented were patented by his companion Levi Strauss.
The prototype of the famous hero of the Hollywood blockbuster about Crocodile Dandy was Latvian Arvids Blumentals. He was a native of Dundaga and went by the name of Harry the Crocodile.
After graduating from the Blumentlas school, he joined the Latvian Legion, and then the French. After wandering around the world, in 1955 he came to Australia. This is where his famous crocodile hunt began.
His arsenal of trophies includes more than 40 thousand specimens of these predators he caught.
One of the first tanks in the world was built in the capital of Latvia in 1914. Currently Latvia produces the world's most expensive armored SUVs. They are known by the brand "Prombron".
The history of Latvia has a large number of unsolved mysteries and secrets. One of them is located in deep forests and has the name "Star" object.
Close and unfamiliar Latvia receives more than 1.5 million tourists annually who come to it from all corners of the world. Many Russians have long turned this country into their summer cottage.
There is something to see here, a fun place to relax and retire.
This is the home of the Blackheads! Initially, this building belonged to the guild of merchants, then it was owned by an association of young foreign merchants - they called themselves the Blackheads. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in 1941 the building was completely destroyed. And in 2001, the building was restored and a monument to Bishop Albert, who founded Riga, was erected in front of it.
These three houses are called "three brothers". Funny name, isn't it? But if you look closely, it’s true that there are three brothers standing side by side - one, white, older, the other, yellow, is the middle one, and green is the youngest. And in fact, all three houses were built in different time, that’s why these buildings look very different.
This Powder Tower. It was built in the 13th century and until the 17th century it protected the main land entrance to the city - the Sand Road. Then the tower was called Sandy. And later they began to store gunpowder in it, which is why the tower began to be called it modern name- Powder. This tower was the largest of all the other 25 defensive towers that were then in Riga. Its walls are up to 3 meters thick! The Powder Tower is the only surviving tower. Now it houses the Military Museum.
However, outside the Old Town there are interesting places. Do you see five large hangars? Once upon a time, after the First World War, they were built specifically to accommodate airships. But soon airplanes appeared and airships were no longer needed, but the hangars remained. Now these hangars house the Central Market of Riga
The Nativity Cathedral is the main one Orthodox church Rigi. It was built in years, that is, almost 150 years ago. IN Soviet times it housed a Planetarium, and then it was returned to the Orthodox Church.
JURMALA DAUGAVPILS SIGULDA Do you see the red turret? This is Turaida Castle. Let's take a closer look at it? Sigulda – small town in Vidzeme. These places are called “Latvian Switzerland”. This is a mountainous area, not at all typical for flat Latvia. The Gauja River flows through Sigulda to the sea.
Kuldiga has the widest waterfall in Europe. True, he is very short - just over meters.
Listed 30 interesting facts about Kyiv.
They encouraged me to write 30 interesting facts about Latvia (I’m taking the country, not the city, because the entire Republic of Latvia is 2-3 times smaller in population than the capital of Ukraine).
1. The Latvian flag is one of the oldest in the world. The first mentions of it appeared in the 13th century. Only the Danish flag can boast a more ancient history.
2. Ventas rumba(Ventas rumba) in the city of Kuldiga is the widest waterfall in Europe (249 meters).
3. Latvia ranks second in the world in terms of environmental safety. About 20% of Latvia's territory is under strict protection. The country has four national parks, 42 natural park, 260 nature reserves, 355 natural monuments, seven protected marine areas, 24 micro-reservations and even biosphere reserve. In 2012, Latvia topped the ranking of countries in the environmental performance index.
4. There are more than a million songs in Latvian folklore - they are called dainas.
5. About 12.5% of Latvian residents were killed during World War II. In percentage terms this is the largest number killed residents of any European country, with the exception of Poland and Lithuania. Between 1945 and 1952, 190 thousand Latvians were imprisoned in Soviet camps.
6. Latvia has 494 km of sandy coastline.
7. Latvia has more models per capita than almost any other country in the world. Only Estonia, Iceland, Lithuania and Denmark rank higher on this list.
8. Riga is the largest city in the Baltic countries.
9. Old Riga is included in the UNESCO list of cultural attractions.
10. Riga is the capital of Art Nouveau: every third building in the Latvian capital is made in the Art Nouveau style, popular in Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century. There are more than eight hundred such houses in total.
11. Riga is the only city in Europe in which five different religions coexist with their temples.
12. In Riga, the only capital of the Baltic countries, there is a circus.
13. Riga Central Market is the largest in the Baltics and one of the largest in Europe, its area is 72,000 m2. It is also included in the UNESCO list of cultural sites. The pavilions of the central market are former hangars for airships.
14. The world's first Christmas tree was installed in Riga on the main market square in 1510. Strasbourg is considered to be the birthplace of the New Year's tree, but in Riga the festive tree began to be installed 95 years earlier.
15. Riga has the only Sun Museum in the world.
16. The tallest building in Latvia (directly in Riga) - “Z-Towers”, 135 meters.
17. The tallest building in Latvia and the third tallest in Europe is the Riga TV tower, 368.5 meters (after Ostankino and Kyiv).
18. Latvia, or more precisely the Duchy of Courland, had colonies in Africa (an island in the Gambia) and in the Caribbean (the island of Tobago) in the 17th century.
19. The oldest city in Latvia is Ludza. The first chronicles date back to 1177.
20. The famous dreamer Carl Friedrich Hieronymus von Munchausen is actually a real person who was born in Germany, but lived most of his life in Latvia. In the town of Dunte, where his estate was, there is a museum dedicated to him.
21. "Crocodile Dundee" was actually Latvian. According to some reports, the creators of the Crocodile Dundee films were inspired by the story of the Latvian Arvids Blumentals, nicknamed Crocodile Harry. He was born in Dundaga in 1925 and later emigrated to Australia, where he began hunting crocodiles. During his life, Blumenthals caught about forty thousand crocodiles.
22. A resident of Latvia is the inventor of jeans. Tailor Jacob Davis (Jacob W. Davis / birth name Jacob Yofis) was born in Riga, and emigrated to the United States in 1854. One of his clients once ordered durable pants from him for her husband, who worked in the forest. In 1872, Davis came up with a way to attach pockets to trousers with copper rivets so that they would not come off. His clients liked this type of trousers, and Davis decided to patent his idea. To do this, he turned to his partner Levi Strauss. Two years later, Strauss and Davis received a patent for the use of metal rivets on clothing. This was the basis for the production of classic Levi's jeans.
23. Latvia has a long tradition of brewing. The brewery in Cesis is considered one of the oldest in Northern Europe. The first mentions date back to 1590.
24. The Dartz Motorz company from Riga produces the world's most expensive armored SUVs under the Prombron brand. 
25. There are more memorable days in the Latvian calendar than holidays.
26. Riga Airport is the largest in the Baltic countries.
27. Latvia has one of the fastest Internet connections in the world. His average speed nationwide is 13.8 Mbit/s. For comparison, in the UK this figure is 11.6 Mbit/s, in the USA - 11.9 Mbit/s, in France 7.5 Mbit/s, in Brazil 3.4 Mbit/s and only 1.7 Mbit/s in Egypt.
28. The world's first portable mini-video camera was invented back in 1937 by Latvian Walter Zapp.
29. The national bird of Latvia is the wagtail.
30. The most popular surname in Latvia is Berzins (born Berzinya), which means birch tree. (And who will talk about Russian birches after this?).)))
I present a flash mob: tell us something interesting about your country or region (region).
For more than 800 years, the beautiful Riga has lived on the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Could Bishop Albert, the father of Riga, who arrived in the distant Baltic shores from prosperous Bremen to convert pagan tribes to Christianity, how difficult, and at the same time interesting fate awaits the city he founded. Whoever ruled here - Germans, Swedes, Poles, Lithuanians, Russians...
Being at a crossroads trade routes, the city has absorbed the culture and traditions of many peoples, and today Riga is perhaps the international capital of the European Union itself.
Latvian, Russian, English, German - all kinds of languages you hear on the streets of the city. The number of tourists who come here annually exceeds the number of local residents!
Let's take a closer look at this wonderful city.
1. Riga was founded in 1201 by Bishop Albert of Bremen. According to a special papal bull, all immigrants coming to Riga at the beginning of the 13th century permanent place residence, granted indulgence (remission of sins)
Crossroads of Alberta and Strelnieku streets in Riga
2. Nowadays Riga - The largest city Baltic countries with a population of about 700 thousand inhabitants. The city reached its peak in 1990, when more than 900 thousand lived in Riga. It was planned that by 2000 the population of the capital would be one million. History has its own way.
3. In the 17th century, during Swedish rule, Riga was considered the second city of the Swedish kingdom, after Stockholm.
4. Siege of Riga during Northern War Russian troops lasted almost 9 months - from November 14, 1709 to July 4, 1710. The decisive assault lasted 10 days (from June 14 to 25, 1710), during which almost 3.5 thousand bombs were fired at the city.
5. Latvians and Russians live in Riga almost equally - about 46% and 41%, respectively.
Riga Russian Theater, former Russian Drama Theater
6. Riga Airport is the largest in the region. Over 20 years, passenger traffic has grown more than 10 times: in 1993 it served 310 thousand passengers, and in 2012 - 4.8 million. At the same time, the airport’s design capacity was initially planned at 2.5 million passengers per year.
7. The historical center of Riga is included in the list World Heritage UNESCO as an outstanding architectural and cultural monument of humanity.
8. Absolute fixed temperature minimum in Riga - 34.9 degrees, and maximum +34.1
9. B opera house The outstanding composer Richard Wagner worked in Riga for two years.
Sphinx on Albert Street. According to legend, Sergei Eisenstein drew him as a child
11. In the second half of the 19th century, Riga was the second largest port in the Russian Empire in terms of cargo traffic, after St. Petersburg.
12. Among Riga's sister cities are Moscow, Beijing, St. Petersburg, Minsk, Warsaw.
13. Women's basketball club TTT-Riga is one of the most titled clubs in European women's basketball (18 victories in the FIBA Women's Euroleague). Between 1960 and 1984, the club became the champion of the USSR 21 times. In the 70-80s, one of the best basketball players in the world of all time, Ulyana Semenova, shone in its composition.
14. In the 80s of the last century, a decision was made to build a metro in Riga. However, opposition from the local population slowed down the development of the project, and the collapse of the USSR completely buried it. In the 21st century, plans to build a metro in the city are not even considered in the long term.
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